The Bear Mountain Boat Shop

I used three sets of legs.


So far so good. I'm also using that weight set, just like I promised.

I'd use it. You can't beat free. I used 5/8ths particle board. Just be aware of the thickness of your forms when you're setting everything up. Due to a few minor deviations from standard my 15' Hiawatha is actually 15' 6". I'm sure there are a lot of things you can use free 3/4" cabinet gr...

I actually used cheap particle board for my forms. Pros: It was cheap. Cons: the sheets were extremely heavy and I almost injured myself getting them down into the basement where my project is happening. I would not recommend particle board if you're working where there might be high humidity. Since...

That is a beautiful canoe Steve! I hope you get a lot of enjoyment out of it. Post more trip photos as you use it.

the 3/8ths bead and cove on 3/8ths strips should work the best. I'm glad that you don't want to start out with poor joints with gaps. Stuff happens! You're better starting out with tight fitting strips. That way zero gap might turn into a small gap, instead of a small gap turning into a large gap. W...

I do not think a 1/4" bead will work right on a 3/8" strip. I would use a 3/8' or 1/2' or something in between. I used a ball nose bit to do my coves because it was much cheaper than the "canoe bit". I just ran the strips through the router standing up on edge. Route the bead fir...

I have no idea about the value of the canoe, but thank you for putting in all the hard work for a good cause! That is priceless!

I would also like to know what glue is letting go on you. And how bad is it? Any pictures?

Will do! USA

I used a mahogany board to make strips for the bottom of my Hiawatha. My board was only 14 foot long so the shorter strips weren't long enough to be full length except on the bottom. http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l103/ME-262/CopyofIMG_2500.jpg I think having the heavier wood on the bottom may ad...

Thanks for the link. It looks nice.

What was the cost and availability of butternut compared to cedar? I think I'm slightly allergic to cedar dust, so I may have to try to avoid using any if I make another canoe.

Can we see a photo. I've never seen a canoe made of butternut before.

As Glen recommends, if your sheer strip bows away from the bottom of the canoe at both ends then the strips on the bottom will have to bow a little less if you keep stripping it the same way the whole way down. Adding some bow to my shear strip made the rest of the stripping go easier. Some people a...

Jim and Tim are right. Your canoe will not be stiff enough with fiberglass only on the outside. You'll find this out when you pull it off of the mold. You need the fiberglass on both sides to make it into a sandwich panel. Two layers of 6 Oz. fiberglass covered in epoxy is still really flexible but ...

Thanks HIEROGLYPHE. The white strips are from a 16 foot 2X6 I found in my basement left over from when they built by house. So I can say with some certainty that it is most likely SPF (Spruce, Pine, or Fir). :laughing The thinner light red strips are redwood. The redwood 1X6 was only about 3/4 inch ...