Search found 45 matches

by vann evans
Thu Oct 13, 2011 9:20 pm
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: pics of my canoe in progress 'freedom 15'
Replies: 18
Views: 7522

Re: pics of my canoe in progress 'freedom 15'

Hello finrod, I also built a Freedom 15-I love it!!-I'm sure you will also. I spent about 9 months making it, so don't rush. Take your time and enjoy the work as well as the result. Here is a website with pictures of the process that I did http://picasaweb.google.com/cboaternc/Freedom15CedarStripCan...
by vann evans
Tue Dec 14, 2010 9:31 pm
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: Sanding too smooth?
Replies: 5
Views: 4918

I would think that the major problem of not sanding enough would be that the fiberglass would stick to a rougher hull and perhaps create runs in the material if it was moved around while trying to position it or apply epoxy. Most of the glass weaves are fairly tempermental about splinters or rough t...
by vann evans
Mon Oct 18, 2010 6:40 pm
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: Light weight Canoe
Replies: 43
Views: 22743

for what it's worth--- I built a 15' Freedom. I weighed it a couple of times during the build. The complete hull (strips only-no glass or epoxy or trim) only weighed half of the finished total. the fiberglass/epoxy and all wood trim equaled the weight of the hull. I have also considered building a t...
by vann evans
Mon Aug 16, 2010 9:08 pm
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: Mounting seats in a Freedom 17' 9"
Replies: 3
Views: 1663

I built a Freedom 15 and mounted the seats as low as possible with a 6" bronze bolt. I would drop the front edge 1/2" for comfort-if the seat is level, the front edge of the crosspiece will dig into your butt cheeks uncomfortably. I also beveled the front edge of the wooden crosspiece for ...
by vann evans
Thu Jul 29, 2010 10:18 am
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: Installing Seats
Replies: 7
Views: 4874

I know you don't want to use metal fasteners(I used bronze bolts that I think look ok after weathering) but I wanted to show you the seat hangers that I used. They will not allow any sway or movement of the seats since they have 2 attachment points on each side. I can't figure out how to display a s...
by vann evans
Wed Jul 21, 2010 7:42 am
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: Is 9oz. fiberglass cloth too heavy for my Rob Roy?
Replies: 11
Views: 5846

Hello Dave, I think the 4 oz cloth is perfect for the inside. I also used the 6 oz cloth on the outside along with an extra layer of 4 oz on the outside football for my Freedom 15. This seems to be a great combination. I have not used 9 oz cloth. I would be afraid that the 9 oz cloth would have seve...
by vann evans
Tue Jul 20, 2010 3:12 pm
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: Had a Bad Day
Replies: 9
Views: 5902

Now you are an expert--I've always said that an expert who is someone that's already made that mistake-and learned from it. congratulations on joining the rest of us as experts!! We've all made mistakes-some show, some cost money-all cost time, effort and brain drain. learn from your mistakes and he...
by vann evans
Thu Jul 15, 2010 7:26 am
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: interior glassing
Replies: 3
Views: 1734

I would suggest that you cut the glass first as you lay it in the boat. Just make vertical cuts straight down (or angled depending on the shape of the ends) from gunwale to keel on both sides and both ends of the boat. The reason for cutting it short lengthwise is that the glass will actually stretc...
by vann evans
Mon Jun 07, 2010 7:04 am
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: epoxy requirements, clarification needed please
Replies: 6
Views: 2455

On my Freedom 15, I used one layer of 6 oz cloth on the exterior hull and one layer of 4 oz cloth on the football. I precoated the exterior and then applied both layers of cloth at the same time. After the wet-out coat, I applied two additional layers of epoxy, making a total of three exterior coats...
by vann evans
Sat Jun 05, 2010 6:34 pm
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: epoxy requirements, clarification needed please
Replies: 6
Views: 2455

I built a Freedom 15 and bought 1 1/2 gallons of west system . I precoated inside and out, put on 3 coats outside and 2 coats inside. The key is light coats rolled on. I had a small amount of resin/hardner left over.
Vann Evans
by vann evans
Sun May 09, 2010 9:06 pm
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: Fiberglass weight and cutting the sheerline
Replies: 5
Views: 2447

I used 6 oz cloth on both the inside and outside of my Freedom 15. I added a second layer of 4oz cloth on the football. As said earlier, put the second layer on last, but wet out both layers at the same time. Make sure you get all of the wrinkles out of the first layer before laying out the second l...
by vann evans
Wed Apr 14, 2010 8:06 am
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: Football stripping
Replies: 25
Views: 11199

Regarding the strength of fiberglass--I agree that the wood substructure adds strength, rigidity and certainly beauty. However, there are many boats(canoes, kayaks, c-1 and c-2 )that are made completely of fiberglass without any additional core or matrix materials.. I have eight of them -most are wh...
by vann evans
Sat Apr 10, 2010 9:52 pm
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: Football stripping
Replies: 25
Views: 11199

To answer your question about the seats/hangers, I built the seat hangers from a design my wife made. We have several other canoes, and our Bell has a similar design. I cut them from 5/4x6 ash, 2 coats of epoxy and 2 coats of varnish before installation. I used bronze carriage bolts for the seats an...
by vann evans
Sat Apr 10, 2010 5:07 pm
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: Football stripping
Replies: 25
Views: 11199

I built a Freedom 15 that had a combination of the two options that you listed. I put 2 strips straight from stem to stem in the middle of the football. The 2 strips were equal to the width of the stems. then I followed the normal curve from each side until the center. I thought it made the bottom s...
by vann evans
Thu Feb 18, 2010 8:24 am
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: deck and seat dimensions
Replies: 3
Views: 1734

I think the deck plate dimensions are personal choice-no right or wrong size. Look at pictures of other boats and you will see a great variety of sizes and configurations. When I was building my boat, I looked through all of the pictures on the Bear Mountain web site(launchings/guestbook) and any ot...