19' 9" Chaa Creek Expedition

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Cruiser
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Re: 19' 9" Chaa Creek Expedition

Post by Cruiser »

As long as you are always in the back, that could pass as entertainment.


Brian
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jimlgordon
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Re: 19' 9" Chaa Creek Expedition

Post by jimlgordon »

wondering if i should hang the seats from the gunnels or mount on the hull
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Jim Dodd
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Re: 19' 9" Chaa Creek Expedition

Post by Jim Dodd »

jimlgordon wrote:wondering if i should hang the seats from the gunnels or mount on the hull
Either way is fine. I've always hung mine. If for some reason I want to change the height, it's easier.

You might be able to save some weight by mounting the seats to blocks epoxied to the inside of the hull. That way you could minimalise the size of the inwhales.

Jim
Keep your paddle wet and your seat dry!
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Re: 19' 9" Chaa Creek Expedition

Post by Cruiser »

On my current build I am doing just what Jim stated. Minimizing the gunnels and using cleats on the side.

I am fitting the cleats (cherry) now, so I will share a few thoughts on the process:
- you need to shape the hull side a bit, as I don't believe there is a flat spot anywhere on a hull
- set the cleat as low as you think you will ever want the seat, you can always add a spacer to raise the seat
- plan to shape the cleat block to save weight, I reduced my cleat weight by 30% just sculpting it
- I used 3/4" x 2" x 16" cleat block with an additional 3" x 2" blocks where the seat rails are ... it's nice to have a bit of leeway where the seats actually mount
- rather than thru bolts, I plan on using helicoils in the cleat ... you drill and tap the wood, saturate the hole with epoxy, remove excess and screw in the insert, very strong and avoids trying to get a bolt through the entire cleat

Brian
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jimlgordon
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Re: 19' 9" Chaa Creek Expedition

Post by jimlgordon »

IMG_7255med.jpg
gluing laminate gunnel
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Cruiser
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Re: 19' 9" Chaa Creek Expedition

Post by Cruiser »

Hey ... that looks the exact carpet I have on my canoe rack.

Image
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jimlgordon
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Re: 19' 9" Chaa Creek Expedition

Post by jimlgordon »

IMG_7257 (1).jpg
laminating another outer gunnel
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jimlgordon
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Re: 19' 9" Chaa Creek Expedition

Post by jimlgordon »

IMG_7262 (3).jpg
sanding the gunnels
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jimlgordon
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Re: 19' 9" Chaa Creek Expedition

Post by jimlgordon »

IMG_7274.jpg
I started cutting strips to steam and laminate for seat parts. This canoe is a three seater. I am trying to figure out how to make the middle seat removable and interchangeable with a portage yoke. Maybe big bolts and wing nuts will work for that.
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Jim Dodd
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Re: 19' 9" Chaa Creek Expedition

Post by Jim Dodd »

Portage yoke idea.
Image

Jim
Keep your paddle wet and your seat dry!
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Cruiser
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Re: 19' 9" Chaa Creek Expedition

Post by Cruiser »

If you cleat mount that middle seat, you could use a Hela coil in the cleat, then a short bolt with a small knurled handle to fasten the seat in place.

Use another hela coil in the gunnel to hold the yoke in place, when you portage you take the seat bolt out, remove the seat and just install the yoke with the seat bolts. It could also work just using dedicated bolts for each.

The Hela coils open a whole new set of installation options for these types of builds. On my seat post that you commented on, if you look at the mounted seat pics, you will notice that the bolts don't show on the gunnels. There is a hela coil installed underneath the gunnel and the bolts screw in from the bottom, so nothing shows (hidden hardware). This will be the 5th year on the water for that boat and I am calling the hidden hardware a success.

If you are interested this is the source I started with: http://www.greenval.com/FAQhidden.html

I have progressed a bit since then, but fundamentally, this explains it.

Brian
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Patricks Dad
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Re: 19' 9" Chaa Creek Expedition

Post by Patricks Dad »

Here's another approach for a solo yoke that doubles as a backrest. Weighs almost nothing

Image

Image

It accommodates a movable seat while maintaining exact balance point for the yoke. Converts between backrest and yoke in about 30 seconds.
Randy Pfeifer
(847) 341-0618
Randy.Pfeifer1@gmail.com
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jimlgordon
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Re: 19' 9" Chaa Creek Expedition

Post by jimlgordon »

I am sure they work very nice but big, black foam pads are not the look I am going for :-). The hela coils sound very interesting. Most of our paddling involves saltwater so we have to ensure all hardware is for marine use.
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jimlgordon
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Re: 19' 9" Chaa Creek Expedition

Post by jimlgordon »

gunnels
gunnels
outer and inner gunnels glued up and hardened
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jimlgordon
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Re: 19' 9" Chaa Creek Expedition

Post by jimlgordon »

thwarts
thwarts
test laminating a thwart from maple strips
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