Two Years in the Making - My "Bucket List" Project

Welcome to the new Bear Mountain Builders Forum - an interactive internet service we provide to encourage communication between canoe and kayak builders
FCPO
Posts: 8
Joined: Mon Jan 08, 2007 2:22 pm
Location: Chester Basin N.S.

Two Years in the Making - My "Bucket List" Project

Post by FCPO »

As a way of introduction, one of the things on my "Bucket List" is to paddle the Everglades in a "Ceder Strip Canoe" that I built myself. Well if all goes well, this appears to be the year. It's taken me two years to complete my "Prospector, but considering I have had the plans since 91, and been planning to get at it since then, I guess the actual construction time wasn't all that bad.

During that two years I have done a lot of reading, including Caneocraft, as well as the information on a variety of related websites. That said however, it has been this forum, and the advice provided by the people who contribute to it, who unknowingly helped the most. I do not believe there was one step taken during construction, that did not incorporate something I had read about here.

So thanks to all.

I'll include the link to all the pictures taken during construction(for anyone really interested) at the end of this post, but for the majority here are a few pics of the "finished canoe", (excluding seats). The reason there are no seats is that I intend on picking them up on my way south (Florida), and fitting them once I get there.

Overview

Image

And Another

Image

The accent strip on the sides are Walnut/Poplar/Mahogany/Walnut/Poplar/Walnut

The Compass Rose and Thwart

Image

The Compass is constructed of Walnut and Poplar and is epoxied into the bottom. The thwart is Lacewood and as you can see the grain just "pops" when it's varnished.
I'll admit, that when it came to the moment of actually cutting the hole in the football to fit the Compass.....there was some real sole searching as to whether I really wanted to do it or not.

The Design in the Bottom

Image

The idea for the two patterns in the bottom, which you can see here, and how to do them, actually came from John Michne's website. They are made of Walnut/Poplar/Walnut.

The Forward Deck and Carrying Handle

Image

Both Decks and Carrying Handles are made of: Lacewood/Walnut/Birds Eye Maple/Walnut/Lacewood. The gunnals are constructed of ash with a walnut accent strip, and mahogany blocks to form the scuppers, with the idea coming from the Green Valley Boat Works website. Martin Step took the time to show me how to do the wrap around on the ends.

The After Deck, Carrying Handle and Mounted Coin

Image

The mounted coin is the "Veterans Commemorative Coin" which was minted by the Canadian Mint in 2004. The "red circle" in the middle of it (which you can just see) is actually a Poppy which in Canada is a symbol of "Remembrance". Having spent 38 years in a Naval Uniform, I wanted to somehow acknowledge "The Service" of all Canadians who have worn, or will wear the Uniform of their Country. This was my way.

And that's about it. The link to all the pic's :pictures is:

http://s819.photobucket.com/albums/zz111/FCPO200/Canoe/

Again thanks to all those who unknowingly helped my build my first "stripper".

Regards

FCPO

:cool (George)

P.S. Glen not sure if you'll move this to projects or not, but wanted to post in the forum to start. Thanks.
FCPO
BearLeeAlive
Posts: 196
Joined: Tue Aug 18, 2009 7:00 pm

Post by BearLeeAlive »

George, that looks wonderful. I am just starting into my first build now, and can only hope to get something near that classy.
-JIM-
User avatar
Glen Smith
Posts: 3719
Joined: Sat May 08, 2004 9:08 am
Location: Baie-St-Paul, Quebec, Canada

Post by Glen Smith »

Wow, absolutely gorgeous :! It was well worth the wait. :applause



I will leave it where it is for a few months so all our current members can see how meticulous and precise your work is. It is an example to be followed.

PS: Thank you for wearing the uniform. :wink
Big Woody
Posts: 71
Joined: Tue Apr 07, 2009 9:18 pm

Post by Big Woody »

Great work FCPO. What a beautiful canoe. Be careful when you're trolling yourself as bait amongst the gators.
:applause
User avatar
mtpocket
Posts: 562
Joined: Wed Sep 08, 2004 2:48 pm
Location: Indiana

Post by mtpocket »

Glen took the words right out of my mouth, it was well worth the wait. Wow!

I wouldn't even put it in the water. Nice
Snowman
Posts: 233
Joined: Tue Jan 25, 2005 6:21 pm
Location: Gatineau, QC

Post by Snowman »

Wow- outstanding!!! I am sure that this project is something very dear for a Navy man!

Very nice detail. I also like the lacewood - I have to admit that I have never heard of it (had to Google it to find out more).

I have to ask - why the everglades???

Happy paddling (and a safe journey).


Snowman
Snowman back East
willo
Posts: 156
Joined: Sun Jul 15, 2007 12:48 pm
Location: Echo Bay ON.

Post by willo »

Great work ! I really like the look of the compass .
User avatar
Patricks Dad
Posts: 1476
Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2004 1:11 pm
Location: Warrenville, Illinois

Post by Patricks Dad »

Looks Awesome!! You should be very proud!
Randy Pfeifer
(847) 341-0618
Randy.Pfeifer1@gmail.com
User avatar
Redbird Bernie
Posts: 28
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2010 3:14 pm
Location: Illinois, USA

Post by Redbird Bernie »

Wow is right! FCPO your boat is absolutely outstanding and a testimony to your skills as a craftsman! The accents are artwork in themselves. You must be very proud.

After spending so many hours toiling away in the workshop, I hope that you are ready for all the attention you'll be getting from now on. Rest assured that you are going to turn heads get lots of stares, compliments and inquiries.

Don't ever let it out of your sight and be sure to secure it well at all times. Something of that quality is especially prone to disappear.

Like mtpocket said, "I wouldn't even put it in the water"

Bernie
User avatar
Aljo
Posts: 25
Joined: Sun Jan 03, 2010 4:02 am

Post by Aljo »

This is one of the prettiest canoes I have ever seen.WOW! How many hours went into the build? I looked at your album, but I'm still not sure how you went about the stripes and compass. I think many of us would appreciate more details about that. I just grought home some dried lumber and will start to rip it into strips, so this is excelent motivation!
My hat is off to you! :applause
User avatar
Jim Dodd
Posts: 1359
Joined: Wed Feb 08, 2006 11:08 pm
Location: Iowa

Post by Jim Dodd »

Beautiful job !!
I like the stemless construction, not to mention strp combinations !

I guess AWESOME would be appropriate !

What's next ?

Jim
Keep your paddle wet and your seat dry!
User avatar
Bryan Hansel
Posts: 678
Joined: Fri May 14, 2004 6:36 pm
Location: Grand Marais, MN
Contact:

Post by Bryan Hansel »

Looks great! I love the inlays.
FCPO
Posts: 8
Joined: Mon Jan 08, 2007 2:22 pm
Location: Chester Basin N.S.

Post by FCPO »

Gentlemen,

Thanks for all the kind comments. Makes it all worthwhile when fellow builders appreciate the time and work.

To answer Aljo's questions about the inlay in the bottom and the compass:

a) The wider strips are just pieces of walnut and poplar that I machined the same as I did the ceder strips, then I just glued them in like the rest.

b) The narrower strips are again walnut and poplar cut thinly, and glued together ahead of time, which I then glued in when it was time. I got the idea and how to from two different sites:

The first is John Michen's site in his builders corner, under the heading a "Different at: football"; http://michneboat.com/A%20Different%20Football.htm

The second is on the "One Ocean Kayaks" website under the Section "Inlay Techniques" at: http://www.oneoceankayaks.com/Wshophtm/Shop6b.htm

and under the Section, "Inlays" at:
http://www.oneoceankayaks.com/Wshophtm/Shop7a.htm

To do the Compass I cut four pieces of both walnut and poplar - 1 3/8th " by 6 3/4" and four pieces 1 3/8" by 4 1/4" (eight pieces total). Those were then cut "diagonally", resulting in two half's for each "point". It was then a matter of gluing one piece of walnut and one piece of poplar together to form a complete "point". From there just a lot of "fiddling" to get them to fit together properly and then finally epoxying them to form the completed Compass.

Hope that makes sense.

Regards

George
FCPO
User avatar
Gomer
Posts: 20
Joined: Fri Jun 25, 2010 8:06 am

Post by Gomer »

That is the most beautiful canoe that I've ever seen. You definitely have an eye for style and grace. You should be extremely proud. :shocked :applause
User avatar
Aljo
Posts: 25
Joined: Sun Jan 03, 2010 4:02 am

Post by Aljo »

Hope that makes sense.

Regards

George[/quote]

It makes perfect sense, and thaks for the links!!! I can't stop starring at your pictures...
Post Reply