The Bear Mountain Boat Shop

I do - checked them once last year, didn't see much that I liked but good thought - will check the local boxes and lumber yards but would like to get some 18' boards if I can.

The closest board source I've found is L.L. Johnson in South Bend, IN. 6 hour round trip so before heading out wanted to know if there's anything closer that I'm missing?

Many thanks

Brian - That's really helpful - great to see shots of your progress and also the hull contours. Looks like a fantastic job on the transition to the bow and stern - your photos capture those curves very well, and they look really good. I will definitely be bothering you for more details on your strip...

Anyone have any experience with plans from Green Valley? Just wondering if there's an advantage to paper plans vs. the CD rom where you have them printed, for example does GV print them on some super-duper, not affected by humidity paper, vs. some loss of accuracy in translation at Kinko's, or is it...

Just downloaded it and did a quick skim. Looks like a VERY useful addition to Canoecraft which is saying something since Canoecraft is such a great builder's manual. But it appears to go into even more step by step detail which is great - perfect timing. Many, many thanks for the recommendation. Gre...

Rabbit -

I've been searching those terms on the 'net, 'build a boat" and wooden boat and can't find an article by Ted on the Bob's

Any more clues?

Rabbit -

You're killing me - I'm working from the offsets so didn't know that. I thought it was a good question! .

- many thanks!

I'm laying out the forms for a Bob's Special and am wondering if the centerline on form 7 (the form that is on the stem form) accounts for the thickness of the stem form, or if it is to the centerline of the strongback and I then have to remove half the thickness of the stem form from the centerline...

That's great advice, and much appreciated. Part of the reason it takes me a while is that I get fascinated by the various designs and approaches, and I kind of have to work through all those enthusiasms before coming back to earth! I've been reading this site, the BWCA site and the reviews at the pa...

Thanks Randy. As I'm looking at designs and reading reviews its clear that Steve Killing's designs are top notch. The F17 gets raves, my only concern is that it might be a bit lively for a couple of newbies. I'm now leaning a bit towards the Bob's in a 16 ft version - appears to be a great all aroun...

While looking at designs I was on Steve Killing's site and ran across the Freedom 16/6: http://www.stevekilling.com/freedom16_6.htm More info and specs here: http://www.bluewatercanoes.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=55&Itemid=177 I asked Joan about it this morning and s...

Thanks again for the thoughts. I do love the process, so that's just me. It won't lead to paralysis by analysis, just a level of comfort for my decision making. I appreciate the input on the various sizing methods and results - I'm still curious about a 5% or 6% scale reduction in the Traveler but t...

I appreciate the thoughts. I'm still curious - reducing all dimensions by 6% gets the measurements very close to other 16' canoes so would think it would be okay, but you're right - that will change its characteristics more than just shortening it and that might be good or bad - which is risky. Modi...

Yes....was starting to realize that. If I reduce everything by 6% it starts to fall in line I think: 16' long, 33.6" beam, 33.4" BWL. May have to add a strip to the sheerline... Interesting! Please tell me if I'm nuts. I have a call in to Newfound to get their thoughts. Thanks, Clay

Yes, we both feel it should have a traditional look, so I've been coming back to the Prospector but then I stumbled upon the Traveler; a Newfound plan designed by Hans Friedel: http://www.newfound.com/traveler.htm Modern asymmetrical hull with traditional profile (what is this magic?). I quick searc...