The Bear Mountain Boat Shop

Alick, Looks pretty sweet! We are our own worst critics, amigo. When people see your boat, they will be blown away by the beautiful rich color and contrasting woods. They won't even notice the little blemishes you are seeing now. Plus you can always do some spot filling as needed. I think your canoe...

Aleck, Glad your sanding went OK. The next coat of epoxy should fill in the scratches left by sanding. When I am at your stage, and I have a few low spots that are still glossy, I just take some 100 grit and scratch them up a bit by hand to be sure I have a good bond throughout. The last coat or two...

Dear Ed, I don't think there is an easy or fast fix. I believe you could use a technique similar to what I used when I discovered that I was going to close in the football before I got over the stems. Follow the link: http://s7.photobucket.com/albums/y258/canoeblderinmt/BooBoos/ Hope that helps, Greg

Sluggo, Floating cloth is indeed a bummer. If you are to the cloth and not through the cloth, I'd wash the area with Acetone and squeegee on a little more epoxy. If you are through the glass, you're on the right idea, you'll need to apply some small patches. Which are a pain to feather, but pretty w...

Pretty cool Bryan! If I can EVER get back into the shop...well, if I can ever get my shop set up...I'll do something like that for my kids. We have a big canoe, and 5 kids. Each having their own paddle will make a trip that much more fun. And a good project to do with Dad. Thanks for showing us your...

Paulie, I think that would work OK. The challenge will be getting the whole area epoxied. Several holes like you suggest will probably do fine. You might consider cutting the epoxy a little to help it flow and sink in to the cedar, and heating the whole area first is probably a good idea. You should...

Sure, Robbie, you can either mix up some epoxy thickened with cedar dust or use a wood filler. I have done both. I use the Elmers stuff in tubes because it is water soluble, can be mixed to get the color you need, and it sands easily. But any of it will work.

Greg

PS: Glad you liked the pics.

Robbie,
i am guessing your gaps are between the strips rather than where they butt together at the ends? Try this technique:

http://s7.photobucket.com/albums/y258/c ... ng%20Gaps/

Hope that helps,

Greg

Glen, first, pardon my ignorance about stems, as you know, I don' t use them. If someone wanted to extend the stems to act as a kind of partial keel or for protection when beaching, say, could you build your stem in three pieces, with the extended piece to be added after the hull is closed in? A nic...

So are all those loopy things on the gunwales for lashing down gear?


Pretty boat, fellas! Nice work and congrats to Ted for another successful class.

Greg

The 18.5 White was my first boat also. Yours is sure prettier than mine was! Very nice use of wood and color. Hope you enjoy her for many years to come!

Greg

Very nice canoe, Bill

I really like the detail on the bottom!

Greg

You can buy them or make them. Flatten a stable board (ash, maple, etc) and glue a piece of leather to it, rough side up. Add jewelers rouge and run your newly sharpened blade over it a few times for a mirror, razor sharp finish. Picture in the old westerns the barber stropping his razor: Same idea.

I second the Duostones. Great value for the money(I know, they are pricey), lifetime warranty, and very handy in the shop. I second also the use of a jig. I use the Veritas one and love it. Get the set with the angle setting tool. A nagura is a good way to finish, but I get a razor edge with a strop...

I build stemless (wonder why?) so I may be off base, but just looking at it from a joinery standpoint, I'd consider shaving the 1/4" off of the "inside" if the inside stem; i.e. the part against the form. The "outer" or "upper" part is already formed to meet the ou...