Search found 31 matches

by themrbruceguy
Tue Aug 30, 2022 4:05 pm
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: Epoxy on trim? Or straight to varnish?
Replies: 2
Views: 4392

Re: Epoxy on trim? Or straight to varnish?

Thanks for your response, Jim! I did indeed bond the inwales and outwales to the hull using thickened epoxy. I used 4 stainless steel screws (per side) at the decks as well for the outwales. I covered those up using tapered plugs cut from my leftover ash which looks very clean. Hopefully those gunne...
by themrbruceguy
Fri Aug 26, 2022 6:36 pm
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: Epoxy on trim? Or straight to varnish?
Replies: 2
Views: 4392

Epoxy on trim? Or straight to varnish?

Hey all, I am getting dangerously close to finishing my canoe build of a 15' Prospector Ranger (started in 2017, so it's about time). My wife and I are expecting our first kid in January, so it's time to up the tempo and get this thing done. I was wondering if I could get your guys' thoughts on whet...
by themrbruceguy
Sun Oct 31, 2021 6:49 am
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: Attaching decks & outwales - opinions?
Replies: 6
Views: 9480

Re: Attaching decks & outwales - opinions?

No worries, Jim! Thanks for the reply!

~ Jake
by themrbruceguy
Fri Oct 29, 2021 5:38 pm
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: Attaching decks & outwales - opinions?
Replies: 6
Views: 9480

Re: Attaching decks & outwales - opinions?

Thanks for the reply, Jim! I will follow suit and use only epoxy for bonding the outwales to the canoe.

How do you attach your decks then? Do you use epoxy + screws prior to installing the outwales?

Thanks,
~ Jake
by themrbruceguy
Thu Oct 28, 2021 7:37 am
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: Attaching decks & outwales - opinions?
Replies: 6
Views: 9480

Attaching decks & outwales - opinions?

It's now finally time for me to install my decks and outwales on my 15' Ranger canoe. Progress picture just for fun! https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AM-JKLXJA_f20J5lE9H004ZeapOm3O9hgbp4OBXQoTrDXo-eui1NCvm23FpJby74Ejb99m_iOMwAQo0jSmgvDLB6JJNX5dFqKGTjfhkS_kJdNOcmmCDvLHCgtzu6SxweODLvTIxLr00quv9tcV...
by themrbruceguy
Fri Nov 20, 2020 9:32 am
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: Fiberglass Creases, Wrinkles, Bubbles, oh my!
Replies: 18
Views: 16257

Re: Fiberglass Creases, Wrinkles, Bubbles, oh my!

Thank you for all of the help so far on this thread! I took full advantage of yesterday's weather here in Kansas City (73F) to fiberglass the inside of the canoe before winter sets in. It feel so good to have both of those big layups behind me. There are far fewer wrinkles to address on the inside c...
by themrbruceguy
Thu Aug 13, 2020 8:43 am
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: Fiberglass Creases, Wrinkles, Bubbles, oh my!
Replies: 18
Views: 16257

Re: Fiberglass Creases, Wrinkles, Bubbles, oh my!

Didn't you have trimmings left from glassing the outside ? I make my widest bias strips about 5" wide, and the narrow one about 3". Hey Jim. Yes, I do have some trimming left from glassing the outside. However, Brian mentioned in his link that the strips must be made with 45 degree orient...
by themrbruceguy
Wed Aug 05, 2020 7:32 am
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: Fiberglass Creases, Wrinkles, Bubbles, oh my!
Replies: 18
Views: 16257

Re: Fiberglass Creases, Wrinkles, Bubbles, oh my!

I have read your write-up on installing fiberglass strips multiple times, it is very thorough and helpful! However, I mistakenly have already sanded my entire hull (80 grit, 120 grit, then 220 wet sand) which took a long time. I was very careful and thorough in these sanding stages, so I'm pretty pr...
by themrbruceguy
Tue Aug 04, 2020 3:42 pm
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: Fiberglass Creases, Wrinkles, Bubbles, oh my!
Replies: 18
Views: 16257

Re: Fiberglass Creases, Wrinkles, Bubbles, oh my!

Thank you for the responses, sedges and Brian! One more question related to this topic: I currently do not have any fiberglass protecting the edges of the bow and stern stems. Is it okay to basically seal this exposed section with several coats of epoxy, or would it be more wise for me to wrap a pie...
by themrbruceguy
Thu Jul 30, 2020 2:17 pm
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: Fiberglass Creases, Wrinkles, Bubbles, oh my!
Replies: 18
Views: 16257

Re: Fiberglass Creases, Wrinkles, Bubbles, oh my!

Brian, thank you so much for all of your feedback! I appreciate it very much! I received my scraper in the mail yesterday and have put it to use. I'm very pleased with how well it works leveling out the high spots! Lucky for me, I haven't exposed any fiberglass yet (which really surprised me), but t...
by themrbruceguy
Mon Jul 27, 2020 11:17 am
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: Fiberglass Creases, Wrinkles, Bubbles, oh my!
Replies: 18
Views: 16257

Fiberglass Creases, Wrinkles, Bubbles, oh my!

Hey there. I fiberglassed my first canoe 9 days ago, so I think the epoxy is pretty well set to begin scraping/sanding. I used West Systems 105/207. The day of fiberglassing was ~97F, which made time between coats fairly short. About 1.5-2.0 hours. We didn't use a seal coat. We performed 1 wet-out c...
by themrbruceguy
Mon Jul 27, 2020 10:22 am
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: Wilderness Tripping in a 15' Ranger?
Replies: 7
Views: 4882

Re: Wilderness Tripping in a 15' Ranger?

Thanks for the feedback everybody. I'll follow your collective advice to soldier on with my build and get her on the water :) I just got worried that I had spent the past 2.5 years creating a canoe that isn't suitable to the types of trips that I'd like to take it on. But these replies made me feel ...
by themrbruceguy
Tue Jul 21, 2020 4:05 pm
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: Wilderness Tripping in a 15' Ranger?
Replies: 7
Views: 4882

Re: Wilderness Tripping in a 15' Ranger?

Thanks for the reply, Maddog! Has your 15' Ranger felt slow or sluggish on those two trips you've taken it on? My question was less concerned about packing space, and rather more concerned about the Ranger's design / paddling characteristics for longer trips. Although I didn't make that very clear i...
by themrbruceguy
Tue Jul 21, 2020 2:51 pm
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: Wilderness Tripping in a 15' Ranger?
Replies: 7
Views: 4882

Wilderness Tripping in a 15' Ranger?

Hi all, I finally fiberglassed the exterior of my 15' Prospector Ranger that I started back in the fall of 2017. My wife and I are so excited to use our canoe next year for some extended trips (4-10 days at a time). However, there have been a couple places online that I've read of people bashing on ...
by themrbruceguy
Wed Mar 28, 2018 12:13 pm
Forum: Boat-Building Tips & Techniques
Topic: NewSpring Clamps for Bead and Cove Stripping
Replies: 17
Views: 59359

Re: NewSpring Clamps for Bead and Cove Stripping

Hey Jim! My goodness, that's a very clever idea! I'm planning on finishing up my stem shaping this Friday and begin planking on Saturday. Planning on building a set of these clamps for applying clamping pressure in between forms. I will probably use the typical wedge method for clamping at the forms...