The Bear Mountain Boat Shop

WOW A fire can make you Totally forget about building a canoe! Glad to hear you survived as well your canoe building spirit! I trace the stations out on posterboard, it's easier to work with , and I can still save the plans, in case of an error. Will you use a small piece of wood to prevent your nai...

If you're sealing bare wood, a vacuum will be enough!
Those towels Bryan suggested should work!
Jim

Has anyone started building?
I had the plans out Saturday, and worked on transferring them to posterboard.
Now to decide the length.
I can squeeze 15ft 8 or 9in. out of 16ft lumber.
Do I splice or not? That's the big Q now!
Jim

Thanks Bryan!
I've seen your vacuum bagging article before!
I had planned on doing a lot of the don'ts, so now I'm stalled until I get the equipment, and time.
Saved me! Thanks!
Jim

I used the Window heat shrink.
A hair dryer shrunk up the wrinkles.
Jim

The skillsaw I use is an old Makita 13amp. I've used blades with 40 teeth and ones with 24 . The 40 tooth seemed slowed, and the strips were no better than those cut with a 24tooth. Having said that, there was absolutely no need to plane strips! Thickness uniformity was very near perfect! If I could...

Eliminate runs by applying successive coats while epoxy is still tacky!!!
The tackiness of your previous coat holds your resin in place, and prevents runs.
This will not harm the epoxy while it cures
I use rollers,they work great!
Jim

Another thought, if you preshrunk the shrink wrap, pulled it off before the resin was applied.
Definitely worth some more thought!
Jim

AWESOME Arne! Great pics, and no sanding on the inside! Bryan! I think you're on to something! Keeping the wrinkles out seems to me to be the problem. The shrinkwrap is flexable enough. but it really likes to stick to the wet resin. Spring clamps along the shear might work, and no heat gun.. I'm goi...

I was pleased with the shrink wrap also, it seemed to cover slight flaws in the mold.
If My outside came out that smooth, I would've been happy!
Keep up the great pics!
Thanks
Jim

Hi Arne I have a hull hanging from my garage rafters, waitng to be finished. I did the same method as you have with the shrink wrap, it worked great except where the tumblehome is, it pulled away from the mold a little. I purchased 9oz kevlar from RAKA. The only complaint with this cloth was the sti...

I try and set my seats on my solos at about 9in. This seems comfortable enough, but I want to try 8in. especially on one hull.
Start low, it's easier to shorten than make them longer.
Good luck!
Jim

I'm on board with with the skillsaw method too!
I first learned of this technic from the Minnesota Canoe Assc., and it is still the best trick I've learned!
Good luck!
Jim

I built a Hiawatha from the earlier Canoecraft, and set it up as a tandem.
It is a great solo boat, and after the teenagers are gone, that might be how it's paddled most!
I'd position that bow seat to do double duty if it were me.
Enjoy the Hiawatha!
Jim

I don't know how your prices convert to U.S. dollars, but here in the States, cutting and bead and coving your own strips can save you a lot!
Another option would be to buy square edged strips and do the bead and cove yourself!
Just food for thought!
Jim