The Bear Mountain Boat Shop

That is one pretty boat! Good job.

Thanks Glen. Yea, they have the plans for the original J. MacGregor and a few others but I am just curious if the Bear Mount version has ever been built clinker.

Has anyone made the 13' Roy Roy as a lapstrake? I really like the Bear Mount. design over the other variations out there, but cannot do the epoxy/glass. I'm one of those that physically react to the epoxy as I painfully discovered when I made my Hiawatha.

Any thoughts?

I'd take a few band-aids as well. Not to frighten anyone...maybe it's just me and my "Princess" soft hands...but I've had the odd occasion to need one or two when caning. That stuff can be sharp.

Post us a photo when you return with the finished seats.

It's usually recommended to double (or there abouts) the grit for each sanding level. Ie. for your sequence 80, 180, 220 is very good. I often use 100, 180, 220, 320 and if I want a really nice finish 400. Your finish will only be as good as it's base so a lot depends on the amount of time you take ...

Cottonwood is an excellent wood but you do have to take note of a few special techniques. I've not made a boat out of it but I don't see why it wouldn't work just fine. I've used it for furniture a few times. The fuzzing mainly comes about with less than sharp tools, keep them super sharp, and with ...

Bryan gives a good solution. I think I'd carry it a bit further. I'd plane off the last bead/cove, which ever is next to the center line (I'm not sure which way you're are setting your strips bead up or cove up) and finish your last two strips. Then finish up the other side of the football doing the...

Yes, Happy July 4th to all our southern neighbours. Have a safe holiday and enjoy some time on the water in your "hard earned" canoes..

Dennis, in my musical instrument building, as an alternative to French polish, I sometimes do use shellac as a base and top with a good oil varnish. The main reason for this, in my case, is to protect the shellac from water damage. Some players perspire profusely and can damage a beautiful French po...

Over the last couple years I had my shop built . It's 20' x 30' and I've got to say that's barely enough. "Go big or Go Home" should be the motto. I filled it up with tools and boats real fast. A couple points I'd like to pass on are: If you can have a loft or at least open rafters it woul...

Thanks so much for taking the time to pipe in Steve. I appreciate it greatly. It sems it was a good idea to soften the hollow a little for more than one reason. One complaint I've heard concerning the original Bob's is the "leg room" available to the stem paddler is lacking. That should ma...

Reading about the Bob's Special in Canoecraft I noticed that "In order to adapt to strip planking, some modifications to the original lines have been made". I've compared the lines drawings in Canoecraft with those from another plans supplier and find the most obvious modification is the s...

WOW! Nice score Glen! After studying the photos a bit I don't think it's as bad a project as it first appears.....famous last words! But it ain't me doin' it :big grin I have one (Unknown maker but certainly not Gordon) of near the same vintage waiting in my storage shed for me to get up the guts to...

John, I haven't used Westsystem epoxy in a joint that needed steaming but I have used Industrial Formulators G2 and have not had a problem. Although this was not in canoe building but guitar sides. The bend was significently sharper than you will need for the Prospector. Epoxies have been tested for...

The design that I have in mind tackling is the William English 20, which is detailed in the first Canoecraft book (1983). It was a design intended for the original cedar strip technique. And I'd be doing it clinched lap. http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/innovations/023020-2820-e.html It's a 16' na...