The Bear Mountain Boat Shop

Very nice looking boat, you should be proud of the result.

Every time you paddle it, you will feel a real sense of pride and accomplishment.



Brian

Got very lucky and the plans and vision for the football all seemed to work better than I expected ... so it finished up pretty fast. this is an overview of what it finished up like ... https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/HltJwwb8F3WCGEq4zRw-Ri706SWRJ8P8Zs87T5GSZXYcQ89HKvRYq0Tvr0Pu5p1m_z42Tui4KFuzVeFA...

Just a build update, it's moving along pretty well. Starting the final "close in" push. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_gmob_MteRVtTHozpKcEhjQS8O7hcv_Y06L5bNBSzBDp8uNBdeKTzSNy-LkLPVQdYyWyybnfzaeXIjeEnh9yupCXcitlHEUD7ckIgDYmt26R5j0uqgCTop3TrhQOTFmXJAwCEDLlojC0jro6O5XeINHQ_5r-8wz2jXKIzmqu...

Hi Digger, 1/8" isn't bad at this point and won't actually show until after you turn the bilge and the pieces start meeting at the ends. If you adjust now, it will likely be easier, but there is always the possibility that you may need small adjustments, depending on if you add a pattern to the...

Nice job Jim. A question about your strip alignment, it seems almost inevitable that strips from each side will be slightly out of alignment and that will not be apparent until after you start the final stripping after the centre line cut. What do you do to "adjust" that alignment? I notic...

I doubt you will use 2 gallons, I know on my projects I have lots left over. Having said that, i wouldn't want to run out in the middle of a project. To be honest, after doing the first boat, I keep a gallon in the shop, it is just too useful to not have around. Most places have a complete fiber gla...

My first reaction was ..."Metal is heavy" since I trip with my canoes that is a big concern, for me, if you don't, it may not be for you. Second, if the caps are seated in epoxy to seal them, it eliminates the worry of water getting under the metal and sitting ... waiting for a chance to r...

Nice build Jim, seems like it is a complete family affair.


Brian

Thanks for sharing this, it is a really awesome tip ... definitely in my bag-o-tricks now.


Brian

Hi Jim, I used bead and cove on the previous builds as well, I was referring to taking the extra time in making the strips .... I cut slightly oversize and planed both sides slightly to take them back to 0.25", was very careful with router setup etc. ... what I found is that strips directly fro...

First few strips are done and i have a stable base, so it's time to swap to the cam buckles to hold the strips closely to the molds (modified from Randy's method using large nylon ties). https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/9QcjbEywpmfsvz1EmStEjhEQSnDBTc6PU65wPuKkt6iE0Jx4jTRK8gzbxMQNoxfMnPD2n3aDq4MlCfg...

After all the preparation, I have finally started the Freedom 17. It will be made of NWC and be a stapleless build. I drew up the molds from the table of offsets in CanoeCraft and that was very rewarding. I had to be in the Bear Mountain area and arranged to go pickup the plans, met Ted & Joan, ...

Hi Ian, I just made up a couple of simple work tables, when I can use my strongback I do, when I can't i use the 2 simple work tables. I work out of my garage and this is a pic of the strongback with a piece of ply on top to make it the right height, and using the work table to collect the strips Fr...

I used a round over bit and it worked fine, just pay attention to the grain direction. If you are worried, you can sand the edges, but routing is a better shape IMO.


Brian

Question #3 gives their suggestions:

http://ru.epifanes.com/qanda.htm

I thin up to 50% first coat, 20-25% second and about 10-15 % on the third. Anything after that would be 5-10%.




Brian