Flotation chambers

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Jim Dodd
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Joined: Wed Feb 08, 2006 11:08 pm
Location: Iowa

Flotation chambers

Post by Jim Dodd »

I've been a long time fan of flotation chambers.
Here's a pic of one I just finished shaping, now for glassing it in.Image


Jim
Keep your paddle wet and your seat dry!
User avatar
Jim Dodd
Posts: 1359
Joined: Wed Feb 08, 2006 11:08 pm
Location: Iowa

Re: Flotation chambers

Post by Jim Dodd »

I thought I'd update this thread with a few more pics.ImageImageImage
Keep your paddle wet and your seat dry!
Beanfiend
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Joined: Sat Apr 09, 2016 9:36 pm

Re: Flotation chambers

Post by Beanfiend »

Absolutely beautiful! Assuming this would be much quicker to do than trying to sand out my disappointing workmanship at the stems, I'd like to do the same! Before I go ahead and attempt to build the floatation chambers, do you have any advice?
Thanks.
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Jim Dodd
Posts: 1359
Joined: Wed Feb 08, 2006 11:08 pm
Location: Iowa

Re: Flotation chambers

Post by Jim Dodd »

First off Welcome to the site ! A lot of good info here !
Definitely not quicker to build, than just glassing the ends.
Be sure to do a good of glassing the stems ! If water should enter the chamber, you don't want it to be absorbed by the hull. So in either case, you want to do a good job of sealing the hull!
I build the chamber insert from 1/4" strips, and partially glass the back side, for added strength.
This also helps if you want to drill an inspection hole, and plug it.

When I first started doing chambers, I had dumped a few of my strippers. They would float with the gunnels just above the water. When I tried to reenter, they would submerge, and take a long time to return to the surface. The chambers make my canoes ride higher above the surface, and when forced deeper, they return to the surface quickly.
I started adding designs, because it was easy, and to me eye appealing.
I've installed chambers, to all my canoes, since I did the first one, over twenty canoes ago.
I used to cut out a cardboard pattern, and transfer it to the glued up strips.
I'll post a few pics of how I do it now
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Hope this helps !

Jim
Keep your paddle wet and your seat dry!
Beanfiend
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Joined: Sat Apr 09, 2016 9:36 pm

Re: Flotation chambers

Post by Beanfiend »

Hello Mr. Dodd,
Thanks for the welcome! I must say, you do beautiful work! I wish I had your skills. Hopefully over time...
Thanks for posting the pictures. They are a big help. I'm working on my first canoe and the stems need to be...ahh...hidden. Thanks for the advice regarding making sure they are completely epoxied. I'll make absolutely sure they are before I add the pieces.
On a side note, this forum is a definite asset to the canoe builder. Tons of experience on here! I visit it frequently.
Again, Thank you!
Cheers.
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Jim Dodd
Posts: 1359
Joined: Wed Feb 08, 2006 11:08 pm
Location: Iowa

Re: Flotation chambers

Post by Jim Dodd »

More pics

Image

Image
Keep your paddle wet and your seat dry!
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Jim Dodd
Posts: 1359
Joined: Wed Feb 08, 2006 11:08 pm
Location: Iowa

Re: Flotation chambers

Post by Jim Dodd »

Image

Image

Image
Keep your paddle wet and your seat dry!
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