The Bear Mountain Boat Shop

Just dropping by to say, "Hey." And post a link to a trip report for a trip we just took. I used my Freedom 17, which proved itself as the perfect canoe for tripping in the BWCA--canoe country. For new builder's looking for a canoe country tripping canoe that can handle rivers, the Freedom...

Jimbo -- Looking good. I've been waiting to see how this one would turn out. I saw that Blue Water canoe is marketing a kevlar Freedom solo. I wonder if it's the same boat.

Try using a C-stroke instead of a J-stroke. Years ago on Nessmuking, I wrote about how to solo a tandem canoe : Using these three canoe strokes (draw, pry, forward) in combination allows more control over a canoe when paddling on one side of the boat. When a forward stroke is used on just one side o...

Just a quick drop-in to show my new paddle off. It's decorated via wood-burning. More about How I decorated my canoe paddle.

On my Iggy, I built recessed hatches using carbonfiber and fiberglass. Before that on my Siskiwit Bay I built hatches with plywood and strip recesses. The carbonfiber/glass version was easier to make and looked better, IMHO. http://www.nessmuking.com/nessmuking/wp-content/uploads/cache/2008/11/08083...

For a center thwart, I balance the canoe and then put the yoke slightly back from center. For the rule of thumb, you just measure to the center.

Is this the norm for the way plans are delivered? It is from Northwest. I have a set of plans that arrived in the exact same way. I bought the book also, but can't remember if it told you where to put the seat, thwarts, etc... I've also received plans from other places in the same state. But most a...

Pick the keyhole shape. A kayak is designed to be controlled with several points of body contact including the knees, feet, rear. The keyhole will give you more control over the boat and better contact with the boat via knees. This extra contact makes the kayak more responsive and more stable.

Have you seen this: http://www.nessmuking.com/lightjaycanoe.htm

Use 3/16" strips on the bottom of the canoe and 1/8" strips on the sides. Switch to two layers of 3.2 ounce tight weave instead of a 4 ounce. Maybe 3 layers on the football. Thin softwood gunwales. Leave out the thwart behind the front seat.

Finish nails go a long way in helping hold the hollows in place.

Thanks for the suggestions everyone.

We don't have any in town.

Could try heating the epoxy until it gives...

...this is exactly why I don't like glued on gunwales. Replacement is near impossible. With screws, you don't need to worry about that.

Absolutely!