hardware & mounting seats/thwarts/yolk question

[Erik]

I have seen boats with two bolts per thwart, and some with four bolts per thwart... do you need two? if the end of the thwart is only 2" wide i dont want holes to close to the edge... splitting cracking etc...

For the hardware itself, is silicon bronze the only way to go? Ron Frenett of canadian canoes told me he preferes s/s seat hanging hardware... wonder why? it is likely much easyer to get, does it come down to looks?

Thanks
Erik

[hoz]

I think the 4bolts per thwart comes from the same people that would wear a belt AND suspenders. It is harder for 4 bolts to all loosen at the same time.

As far as SS vs Silibronze I feel it all comes down to personal preference. SS might be easier to come by. Whichever one I started with i wouldtry to use thoughout the cnaoe.

[Erik]

are there any vendors for sillicon bronze in Canada? ontario specifically?

[hoz]

Check Noahs' Marine
http://tinyurl.com/49z7p

Phone #: (800) 524-7517 Fax (800) 894-1783

I think they are in Toronto

[Erik]

I have been to their site many times and to the store... ill have to call them, i thought they only had brass.

[Rick]

Here's one opinion on why double-bolting is stronger, about 3/4 down:

http://www.piragis.com/cliffjacobson/cl ... tesv7.html

I double-bolt the yoke, just in case.... still, my oldest canoe (a 35-year-old) has the original spruce inwales, mahogany yoke, and single bolts, with no problems after all that time.

[hoz]

Good old Cliff, now HE's a good example of a belt and suspenders guy.

Yoke, yes, thwarts, maybe.

I'd use nyloc bolts anyway.

[jcolten]

Ya need to realize that a large part of Cliff's canoeing is in places where early bailout is difficult and the cost/effort to get there makes it very undesirable to cut a trip short .... makes multilpe layers of protection attractive.

[Erik]

Just an update for everyones info, I was able to find two local suppliers of Silicon Bronze hardware in Ontario. Fastenall Canada carries them, but for a 5" carriage bolt they wanted 26$, i was able to buy 5" 1/4-20 carriage bolts from Pacific Fasteners (27 Chauncey Ave, Toronto, ON PH: 416-231-7295) for $5.50/each and the 2 1/2" bolts for $2.80/each. :big grin

I will be putting 316 S/S Nylock nuts on these, should i use any type of washer for any reason other than ethstetics?

Thanks

[davidb54321]

I would use a flat washer of the material of your choice between the lock nut and the wood to give a greater surface area. Probably a SAE washer would be fine and it is less noticable.

[sedges]

I have always used one 3/16" carriage bolt for thwarts and yokes. On the underside I use an additional fender washer(lots of surface area). If the fender washer is too big to fit between bolt and hull, I cut of one edge with a hack saw. I have an 80# canoe that I have been portaging for years in rough conditions with this hardware. Its never failed. I would worry more about the gunnel spliting with two holes so close together.

I prefer to use 3/16" carriage bolts for thwarts, yokes and seat hanging. Its a smaller hole in the gunnel. The only folks I have found that have long 3/16" carriage bolts are

http://www.wooden-canoes.com/material.htm#hardware

They happened to be silicon bronze, which has worked well for me for decades. SS is fine too if you can find it in the longer lengths for hanging seats. (I want them all to match) They are $1.25 each. A bit steep, but I don't use many.

[Doug]

Lee Valley came up empty (bummer) for Silicon bronze or this marine screw ( http://www.leevalley.com/hardware/page. ... 1306,41314 )

Any luck a Noahs, can not find anything on there website?

Doug

[AlanWS]

Silicon bronze looks more traditional, and you may consider it a better look. If you are considering stainless, you don't need anywhere near that thick a bolt. A 10/24 bolt (actually a machine screw) is plenty strong in tension. This is the only place I've been able to find them long enought to hang seats: http://www.northwestcanoe.com/store/pro ... d=NWC10013

[Doug]

Silicon Bronze screws;

http://www.stright-mackay.com/pages/asp ... egoryID=13

and
Pacific Fasteners (1981) Ltd.,
27 Chauncey Ave.,
Toronto, ON

Tel: 416 231 7295


Doug


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