Search found 92 matches

by Todd Bradshaw
Thu Feb 03, 2005 7:38 pm
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: Oiling trim
Replies: 7
Views: 4471

Tung oil, or better yet, a tung oil based product like Watco Oil doesn't eventually turn black the way linseed oil often does. It also keeps water out better. Deks Olje #1 is also excellent and gives a better initial buildup than the others for more protection while the boat is still fairly new. The...
by Todd Bradshaw
Thu Feb 03, 2005 5:08 pm
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: Some Blisters in the epoxy coat - what to do
Replies: 11
Views: 4260

The first thing to do is NOTHING - for about three or four days! Maybe I should just shut up and go away, since many of my views seem to go against the 'gods" of strip building and many of the members of this forum, but this is exactly what I have been preaching about for quite a while here. Ep...
by Todd Bradshaw
Thu Feb 03, 2005 12:16 pm
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: A few newbie questions on epoxy layup step.
Replies: 18
Views: 7456

I'll go with Rod on this one. I can't think of a better way to screw up a perfectly good glassing job than to sand green, unfilled fiberglass and I don't care what Ted does. There shouldn't be any hills or valleys there that need sanding and even if there were, they should be small enough that the f...
by Todd Bradshaw
Thu Feb 03, 2005 11:56 am
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: A few newbie questions on epoxy layup step.
Replies: 18
Views: 7456

This is obviously one of those "more than one way to skin a cat" things. By contrast, I never put any kind of solvent on a hull at any stage of fiberglass or filler coat application as I don't believe it does anything except introduce possible chemical contaminates to the equation. I'll va...
by Todd Bradshaw
Tue Feb 01, 2005 9:39 pm
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: deck wood
Replies: 20
Views: 8431

The round designs painted on the bows of fur trade canoes were generally thought to be variations on a compass rose and were introduced by the French. It was likely another "good luck" gesture - to prevent the canoe and crew from ever getting lost. Designs depicting animals and other thing...
by Todd Bradshaw
Tue Feb 01, 2005 3:39 am
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: deck wood
Replies: 20
Views: 8431

Under the base of the mast. Guess you better build a sail rig for the boat....
by Todd Bradshaw
Sun Jan 30, 2005 4:51 pm
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: deck wood
Replies: 20
Views: 8431

Traditionally, walnut used in boats was supposed to bring bad luck. On the other hand, the coin is supposed to bring good luck, so maybe they would cancel each other out. Either that or create one of those matter-anti-matter things and destroy the space/time continuum...... :shocked
by Todd Bradshaw
Fri Jan 28, 2005 2:50 pm
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: Fiberglass selection
Replies: 12
Views: 7755

For hand layup, like we do on strippers, multiple layers of 3.2 oz. cloth make it possible to get a higher glassfiber-to-resin ratio, which translates almost directly to higher impact strength and more of it for a given laminate weight. Along with this, it's can also produce more trapped bubbles bet...
by Todd Bradshaw
Fri Jan 28, 2005 11:29 am
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: Question for the experts
Replies: 7
Views: 3695

The inner glass is not likely to lock the boat into it's designed shape either, so don't throw away those spreader sticks. Installation of the gunwales (straight stock forced into a curve) will also want to narrow the boat at the sheer. This is perfectly normal and things won't be locked in place un...
by Todd Bradshaw
Fri Jan 28, 2005 3:05 am
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: Ke Kalakupua Damage Pics
Replies: 13
Views: 4286

I wouldn't waste too much time trying to find out what exactly happened to the boat because the chances of getting a straight answer are very poor. You will likely never get to talk to anyone who knows the real story or even anyone who knows anyone who knows the real story. Back when I was a dealer ...
by Todd Bradshaw
Fri Jan 28, 2005 2:34 am
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: Question for the experts
Replies: 7
Views: 3695

While pulling the stemheads together may flare the midship sheerline width back to what it was, I have my doubts about it bringing the rest of the hull accurately back to where it's supposed to be. If you pick up an un-gunwaled, lightweight hull from some materials by the ends, the boat will actuall...
by Todd Bradshaw
Thu Jan 27, 2005 7:03 pm
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: Fiberglass selection
Replies: 12
Views: 7755

That was me. I don't know what I screwed-up that day, but it logged me on as "Guest". Rebuttals can be aimed in my direction.... The 22' long boat you see on the left is built that way with 10 oz. cloth and hollow fiberglass half-ribs in the bottom. It's almost 30 years old and currently s...
by Todd Bradshaw
Tue Jan 25, 2005 7:11 pm
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: Vertical seams
Replies: 11
Views: 4052

On first glance, I think most of us tend to ponder the idea of vertical strips as if the likely outcome might be the boat breaking in half and the bow floating away while we sit dumbfounded in the stern. In reality, it may not actually be the case or anything to get overly concerned about. To a pret...
by Todd Bradshaw
Mon Jan 24, 2005 1:02 pm
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: Best method to attach gunnels?
Replies: 6
Views: 8602

John's post about water intrusion with screwed-on gunwales brings up an interesting point. Canoe builders (including most of the major manufacturers of traditional wood/canvas canoes) have been screwing bare wooden gunwales to hulls and then varnishing over the tops for better than 100 years. They h...
by Todd Bradshaw
Sun Jan 23, 2005 4:03 pm
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: Best method to attach gunnels?
Replies: 6
Views: 8602

Red oak is one of the more difficult woods to get a good bond with using epoxy resin. It also tends to be more prone to rot than most other oaks and similar woods. Buy a box of bronze screws and save yourself a major hassle later.