The Bear Mountain Boat Shop

Hi Herby The more strips you cut, the better ! You'll be able to sort, and end up with better quality strips. You should need about 65, give or take, depending on the thickness of your planks to build your hull. I'd cut a 100. When you look at the endgrain of you planks, make sure the grain runs fro...

I've never built a canoe with a keel. I'd hate to run screws through a hull I wanted to keep waterproof. So I guess I'd glue the keel to the outside, over the glass, and maybe add a fillet of thickened epoxy, where the keel meets the hull. As for screws, I always hide mine under the outwhale, but Us...

Hi Dennis I've scarfed planks, and butt joined on the forms. I guess it depends on how you're going to cut your strips. If your using the skillsaw method, I'd scarf my planks ! If your trying to push planks through a table saw, I'd butt join my shorter strips on the forms ! Bead and cove makes butt ...

Hi Dennis Lately I've been using Elmers Wood Glue "GEL" it's Exterior. I know you don't need exterior, but it can't hurt ! Discard the cap and pick up one of those fine tipped caps from a hobby shop. The gel stays where you put it better than regular glues. It's a very light brown, and won...

Hi Doug The glue looks like my first boat ! I scraped and sanded until I was blue in the face ! That was before my first random orbit ! Several thoughts. Sanded glue can end up in the swirl pattern of the sander and show up later under the epoxy. Change discs often, and remove saw dust with a vacum....

Ah The old "Outglassing Debate" ! Many times while glassing the inside of a hull with the seal coat (Which I always do), I 've left for a few minutes, only to return to "Champain" bubbles in the bottom of the hull. What ever term you use, they are a pain ! I use a blow drier to h...

Hi Brad Three tips: 1 : Stay with the canoe until the resin has set to the point that moving it is difficult. 5 to 6 hours depending on the resin. I've walked away and came back to bubbles too many times! 2 : Apply resin when the temperatures are falling ! Rising temperatures expand the air in the w...

Hi Will
I strip past center, and cut the center line, the nice thing about this method, you are only fitting half the strips on the bottom, this saves time, and can look cool if you do it right !
I also bead and cove my strips.

Jim

Hi Will I have a set of 38spl. plans from Bruce Kunz, the designer. The plans came the same way. These are "Stemless plans", and in my opinion the best way to build. I don't do the "Sabot" thing. I've built this boat in several variations, and if you put the seat's front edge at ...

Nice build Tom !!! How did your glue applicater extension work ? Next time try Elmers new "GEL" glues ! They make them in interior, or exterior. They work great, no runs, and good work time. I've learned to be very minimal with my glue, as the epoxy will seep into small voids and make the ...

Thanks Rod !!

That is just cool ! Kelvin did a very nice job, and it's evident he's a real craftsman !

My curiosity is going now Thanks again !
I'll contact Kelvin.

Jim

Yeah I know !

What's that ?

I just saw this on Youtube, and I'd like to build a cedar strip surf board !

Can anyone be of assistance ?

Thanks !
Jim

I have'nt used Silvertip, is it a "Blush Free " epoxy ?

If it blushes, that could be the problem.

Jim

It really is the best method ! I don't believe you can cut strips as accurately with a tablesaw, unless you have elaborate powerfeed, with long infeed, and outfeed tables. Cutting 1/4" strips, I get 31, or 32 strips from 1X12" lumber. For every 4" of lumber, you throw away 1" in ...

Hi Dennis Why shorten your strips ? Lay your planks on your strongback. Put spacers between the plank and the strongback, and cut your strips with a skillsaw, and a thin kerf blade. Take a piece of angle iron (I use aluminum) 3/4" X 3/4"X 16" long. Use two small clamps and attach to t...