The Bear Mountain Boat Shop

I'm posting a link to some pictures of the 20 foot White Guide I started yesterday. I really like this fishing line method: it is FAST! I'm using strapping tape and clamps also, but it's way easier than staples and much cooler. http://photobucket.com/albums/y258/canoeblderinmt/ Will someone try this...

Dear Tom, My first canoe was the White (Gilpatrick) 18 1/2 footer. She was a real gazelle for a boat her size, but I agree with all the above challenges. I had a lake crossing in high wind and had my hands full, though she was stable and cut the 2 foot waves just fine, shipping almost no water. It' ...

Hello all! I'm 20 strips in with my modified twenty foot White Guide. Thanks to all of you who've written in with all of the technques over the last year. I am shamefully borrowing many of them on this, my second effort. I had to drive 3 hours one way into Canada to pick up 23' 4/4 WRC from the grea...

Erik,
did you use sliding dovetails (swallow tails) on the sliders and the seat supports? I am wondering how you keep them from falling out during portaging. It looks like a great technique, and I might use it on the 20 footer I'm starting on.

Greg

Bob, after much wailing and gnashing of teeth on my first boat last year, I used Raka, and was very pleased with it. I waited a couple of days between coats and sanded with 3M's new Sandblaster Between Coats (that stuff is AWESOME!, no loading up), so I didn't worry about the chemical bond. There ha...

Reinbilt, One caution about Padauk: It looks beautiful when it's just cut but it is VERY succeptable to UV and will turn a muddy brown with time. Bocote is beautiful but is a little brittle. I used it for a yoke but was worried each time I picked it up that it would split. IMHO, these woods would pr...

Borinn,
What a pretty boat!!! You did a nice job and I bet she handles great.

I used the "plastic" cane from HH Perkins. When I got it, I thought they had shipped me the real cane by accident! It peels just like real cane, I had to melt it with a lighter to verify it was plastic. I cannot recommend it strongly enough. It retains it's shape even when wet, and require...

Dear John, My first effort was with staples. If you go this route, get a power stapler! It will be several thousand staples. Cut some strips from plastic milk cartons to staple through into the wood. This will eliminate the denting and make the staples easier to remove, just pull the strip. (Thanks ...

Brian, Grab Gil Gilpatrick's book; there is a great section on repairing in there. Basically, you will need to sand down to bare wood until you get to the place where the glass is still adhered to the wood. This may be several inches. Then cut a glass strip to size and epoxy it on. Feather the edges...

I used S-glass from Raka on my boat. I didn't notice any greenish cast, and have a pretty good eye for that kind of stuff. No one who has seen it said anything either. It was good to work(I squeegee'd it on) and strong.

Greg

Erik, VERY FINE WORK!! :lol: I went to your website and I appreciate all the documentation of the process. I'm still mentally wrestling between staples or no on my next project, and your photos really helped me see what I'm in for going stapless. It doesn't look bad, but I really want to try and get...

KARKAUAI, I noticed the same little annoying spots on my Guide. I know they are low spots, and to get rid of them completely means sanding off a lot of epoxy! For my last sanding, I used 320 without a pad so I could scuff those spots up. The varnish went on and held great, even after lots of scrapes...

Erik, VERY nice work! I hope you are proud of your excellent efforts. I can' t wait to see it glassed!! :D

RiverRat, as you know, until recently I owned a White 18.5 footer. It was my first canoe. LOVED it! After reading all the posts, and remembering having the Guide on the water, some thoughts: 1. Is there any place else you could build it? A neighbors, who might want to go halvsies, or become a paddli...