The Bear Mountain Boat Shop

Duncan.....fellow Bluenoser (and Haligonian) here. I am fortunate enought to have a shed (20x12), altought unheated, to have built my Bob's Special (I'm currently building a 16' sea kayak) I just decided to delay 'glassing and work on the deck this winter. it's surprising how many good 'glueing' day...

Bryan - excellent feedback - thank you. I'm still quite a way's away from this step - lots of time to consider things. I appreciate the pictures - I poked around your sight too - booked marked it for future reading. I'll play with design on paper , and keep looking for inspiration from other designs...

Thanks Greg for those hidden tips and Bryan, you're right, no sheer clamps, I think I was comparing the difference in instruction details too severly. My only previous building experience was the Bob's (which is extremely detailed) - but Joe (at Redfish) is also supportive. I might have been a littl...

Hi All. When I built my 15' Bob's Special for my son - this forum was indispensible. I paddled it last year with much enjoyment and pride. http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b388/Marinoni/Launch%20Day/1bde874b.jpg We have another boy due in April and I will build a kayak for him. I ordered plans for ...

Did the very thing myself. Sheared the mortise level. It was the single biggest mistake I made and gave me pause to consider the wisdom of having a 'moaning chair' around as Ted's book suggested. I used strips of white ash butted up against the outer stem - then spoke shaved them fair. It looks bett...

You bring back such (similar) fond memories of glassing the inside of my 15' Bob's...

As for scuppers - tape gunnels together and drill centres with a 1/2" forstner bit for 1/4" scuppers. 4-in-hand rasp to clean and shape.

Stuart

I built this canoe for my son. It will serve as a vehicle upon which he will gain access to rivers and waterways to learn about his integral place in the web of life. With all your keen interest, interesting questions and supportive assitance to others, this unskilled, first time builder has made a ...

Well, naivete is often our greatest assest. It's my first time attempting this too. I've experienced a good mix of luck and common sense though. Just got it from the 2nd coat - I'll see in the AM. I live in an area rich in boatbuilding history. And I grew up between 2 pretty old yacht squadrons (one...

Excellent timing on this gentlemen. Last night, after much delay, I started varnishing my Bob's 15'. I was so nervous as I regarded this as my last opportunity to screw this project up. I used Epiphanes with their brush thinner to a 50/50 mix (poured by hand) I'm working in a shed and it was raining...

Mark and Rick - thanks for the fast replies - the confidence level is back up again - it's a sunny windy day here (~8 celcius) so I can take the hull outside and finish sanding after lunch!
Thanks again,
Stuart

I sanded the outside hull as per book instructions (80/ 120 with my ROS) - no problem - when the tempurature warms I can varnish. However, I intentionally used two coats of epoxy on the inside to maintain a bit of relief for traction (I think I read it somewhere in this forum??). It looks nice and u...

How much varnish will I need for my 15 foot Bob's Special? I have 1 litre of Epifanes varnish and 1/2 litre of thinner - is this enough for 3-4 coats??? I've searched the forums for an answer, but came up dry... I have to wait till spring for varnishing, but I thought I'd ask. thanks in advance, Stu...

Thanks Dave...inspiration counts doesn't it. Rob...a "broken stick collector" eh? Cool ideas - this Sunday, the guys on my team will have a place for their broken sticks. Decks, I like that idea.....decks... Norman - no sir - I'm at my fighting weight (155 steady - always am) - just didn't...

Hi all; I'm in the seat building stage and I was looking around the shed for materials and a few broken hockey sticks appeared. (I keep 'em for inspired occasions such as this) Hockey sticks are made from 3/4 x 1 1/8 laminated ash. (2 Lousiville, 1 Easton and a Sherwood 5030) Ted's book suggests 3/4...

1 week after successfully applying 'glass/ epoxy (West 105/ 207) to the inside hull I have to apply a 2nd coat. I was very nervous about that step BTW, but it worked out quite nicely (even after the 105 pump snapped off!...and no Glen, Alexander Keith was not helping this time) I know I have to &quo...