The Bear Mountain Boat Shop

Well I put two layers of fiberglass on the stems today. It'll look pretty good once I get it sanded out.

I'm very happy with the results. Thanks to all for your help!

Check out this website link http://michneboat.com/Building%20the%20 ... ter%20hole

I followed those directions and it worked great. It's a little intimidating to drill into the hull.


Also, put one in the stern too

Its hardness is only 660. Check out Wikipedia to see where it compares http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janka_hardness_test

Ash is 1320 for comparison.

I searched the pile at the lumber dealer and found some very light ash boards. Pine is too soft and I'd worry about it cracking if you bend it.

OK, I'm throwing out the brass stem bands and will round over the stems lightly as Glen suggested. It's more work but I feel very comfortable with that decision. Can you guys please walk me through the fiberglassing procedure for the stems? I know I need to bias cut the fiberglass and I have enough ...

A short time ago I installed the stem bands on the wood canvas canoe I refurbished. Sounds like they are pretty much the same as you have, 3/8" width, concave back. likely 4 foot length... I asked on the WCHA forums for advice on how to install them and if interested the thread for that is her...

You could lightly round over the edges and go without brass bands. The cove back is actually for applying a bedding compound but screws are still needed to hold the bands in place. Some builders have installed them with epoxy but at least one reported that one of his bands came off when he hit an o...

I already shaped the stems with a flat 3/8" area to accept them.

I thought the stem bands were placed over thickened epoxy. The ones I bought from beam mountain have a concave back

Question on the brass stem bands. I assume they get epoxied into place before varnishing. Do I varnish over them or not?

I wish I'd not made the decision to use them but the stems are prepped for them now and I'm committed.

I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I hope this post is not a violation of the life-jacket rule. :laughing Her name will be "Sweetness Dream" http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k154/wb9tpg/Canoe%20build%20a%20long/IMG_0046.jpg http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k154/wb9tpg/Canoe%20...

I have it on rollers and move it outside to work on when the weather is nice.

I waxed the tape to guarantee it would not stick to it.

I cut my strip a little thick, scarfed them, then ran them through the planer to get to final thickness. It allowed some error in aligning the scarf.

I bought a 7" West System roller and cut it in half and to make two parts on a 3" roller. I used it on the inside. I just used a brush on the outside and not a roller.

I'm putting bulkheads in my Ranger with deck plates for access. Do I need to worry about varnishing the inside of the compartment? I'm thinking of not doing it but I wanted to get your opinions