Search found 69 matches

by Ben
Mon Dec 12, 2011 9:32 pm
Forum: Project Directories
Topic: 15' 0" Bob Special
Replies: 4
Views: 25414

Re: 15' 0" Bob Special

Here is the Bob's Special that I finished up in October. It was definitely a pleasure to build. It planked up great and the curves are excellent on the eyes. I lofted it from the offsets in Canoecraft, and it was much easier than it looks! The strips are all WRC, gunwales, seats, and yoke are cherry...
by Ben
Mon Dec 12, 2011 9:27 pm
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: Tiger Maple
Replies: 6
Views: 3834

Re: Tiger Maple

Here are the decks from my Freedom 17-9 and Bob's Special. Curly Maple is a pain to work with, but it is worth it. Obviously, it gets its figure from dramatic waves in the grain, which catch and tear on just about any blade that gets within 2 feet of it. Surface planers and planes are probably the w...
by Ben
Sun Dec 11, 2011 9:22 pm
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: what size and type of clamps?
Replies: 5
Views: 3092

Re: what size and type of clamps?

I purchased 40 6" quick grip clamps when I built my first boat. They were on sale at Menards for 4 for $15. It was one of the best investments I have made! I am always working alone, so it imperative that I can operate the clamps with one hand.
by Ben
Sun Jul 03, 2011 1:07 am
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: Sheer strip placement question
Replies: 3
Views: 1567

Re: Sheer strip placement question

Ditto. I just installed my inwales and I need to do a little bit of filling. :rolling eyes
by Ben
Sun Jul 03, 2011 1:02 am
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: New canoe
Replies: 10
Views: 4602

Re: New canoe

I plane my strips for one reason alone. I bead and cove them, and planing them first gives me much more consistent results on the router. With 1/4" thick strips you have quite a bit of lee-way. I own a planer, and it takes less than an hour to set it up and feed them all through. If you are bea...
by Ben
Sat May 14, 2011 12:03 am
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: Wood for steaming (stems)
Replies: 7
Views: 2501

Re: Wood for steaming (stems)

I have also had great success with cherry...just watch the grain.
by Ben
Wed Apr 13, 2011 11:28 pm
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: Strongback complete
Replies: 6
Views: 2933

Re: Strongback complete

That strongback is the soul of your canoe. You need to be absolutely sure that it is level, plumb, free of twists, etc. everywhere that you are working on your boat. Working outside sounds romantic and all, but you need to be sure that the strongback is not twisting or bending during your build. FWI...
by Ben
Wed Apr 13, 2011 7:57 pm
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: Strongback complete
Replies: 6
Views: 2933

Re: Strongback complete

Are you planning on moving the strongback after the forms are set up?
by Ben
Sun Mar 13, 2011 10:49 am
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: Ok, stupid question number one...
Replies: 6
Views: 2586

Re: Ok, stupid question number one...

1. Cut your molds an inch or so longer than the sheer line marks (your first strip will be easier to attach. 2. Cut a notch into the station molds at the sheer line (rather than just a pencil mark). These notches will be easier to see and use for transfering the sheer line to the hull when you are ...
by Ben
Sat Mar 12, 2011 11:18 am
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: Anyone use Last n Last Varnish from Raka ?
Replies: 3
Views: 3756

Re: Anyone use Last n Last Varnish from Raka ?

Bump...

I am getting ready to order fiberglass and epoxy and I will probably use Raka. Last time I used US Composites epoxy and, well, you can do a search for the posts from last year. If anyone has a positive review of this varnish I will probably use it.
by Ben
Mon Feb 28, 2011 10:18 pm
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: Scarf Orientation Question
Replies: 6
Views: 6325

My only issue with the "A" orientation is that if you are bending the strip around the boat, the outside face is under tension. IMHO, you are better off having a diagonal face in the area of the largest stress. It probably doesn't matter on the strips, but I would be extremely nervous of t...
by Ben
Sun Feb 27, 2011 2:33 pm
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: Scarf Orientation Question
Replies: 6
Views: 6325

I used butt joints on my first boat. I am now closing the last side of the football using your method "B" on my second boat and I feel that it is faster and looks better than the butt joints. I would only consider using "A" if I was splicing entire boards together before making t...
by Ben
Wed Feb 09, 2011 12:52 am
Forum: Boat-Building Tips & Techniques
Topic: Scarf Joints
Replies: 1
Views: 4278

Scarf Joints

On my first canoe, a Freedom 17-9, I purchased 10 foot WRC and EWC and butt joined during the entire build. I was pretty happy with the results, but thought I could do better. For my second canoe, I decided to scarf all of the joints as I built the canoe. I built a prototype miter box that was ugly ...
by Ben
Tue Sep 07, 2010 11:58 pm
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: Prospector Inwales, Scuppers, Steam Bending
Replies: 6
Views: 2388

Ditto on the clamps. I did the gunwales on my Freedom 17-9 by myself with just thickened epoxy. The outwales took all 43 of my clamps, and I wished I had a couple more. I used cherry without steaming, but there is much less stem rise on the Freedoms.
by Ben
Mon Aug 30, 2010 9:38 pm
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: Beech for stems?
Replies: 3
Views: 1719

Oops! My father was teaching my daughter how to rip on a bandsaw and use a drum sander last night. They ended up making my strips out of cherry instead of the beech. I am not going to complain! Thanks for the advice, though! I may need to keep it for the third boat.