One more Redbird

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tom in caledonia
Posts: 45
Joined: Tue Jul 20, 2004 1:13 pm
Location: Caledonia ON

One more Redbird

Post by tom in caledonia »

Well, another Redbird hits the water.....finally. About 2 years (no winters) to the month. What a sweet canoe. I can't believe how well it paddles and how happy I am with it. Thank you so much everyone that has helped me in the past. I couldn't have done it without you!
All strips one piece WRC, walnut and basswood accent strip, solid walnut decks, cherry gunwales and seats, bloodwood inlays of peregrine falcon silhouette and maple leaf. Weighs in at 62lbs. on the bathroom scale so it could be a pound or two out.
Approximate cost - $1500 but not sure. I'll have to go over my bills.

I've christened it R'bird (as in Our Bird). I was wondering what to name it when my youngest daughter, who talks like "I'm going for a s in the l" i.e. swim in the lake, gave me the idea. It's initial baptism in the water included myself, two Retrievers, my wife, daughter and sister in law. Way too much but it was a very short although poignant paddle in beautiful Killarney Prov. Park. When properly loaded it is a thing of wonder to me at how nice it is to paddle. I'm used to a very heavy fibreglass "barge".

Again, thank you all for your help. For my second boat..... don't know...perhaps a shorter canoe or a kayak. In the meantime, I've got to work on the job jar. It's kind of full.

[IMG:120:160]http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m62/ ... G_0070.jpg[/img]
[IMG:160:107]http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m62/ ... larney.jpg[/img]
[IMG:106:160]http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m62/ ... risten.jpg[/img]
[IMG:159:107]http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m62/ ... h_seat.jpg[/img]
[IMG:160:120]http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m62/ ... G_0067.jpg[/img]
[IMG:160:109]http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m62/ ... h_full.jpg[/img]
[IMG:160:120]http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m62/ ... G_0074.jpg[/img]
[IMG:160:120]http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m62/ ... G_0063.jpg[/img]
canoeblderinmt
Posts: 415
Joined: Sat Jul 03, 2004 12:04 pm
Location: Butte, MT

Post by canoeblderinmt »

Tom,
You have lots to be proud of creating that beautiful "Bird". :applause :applause

I hope she brings you joy for years to come.

Greg
" Choose to chance the rapids, Dare to dance the tide..."
DP
Posts: 2
Joined: Sat Jun 03, 2006 5:34 pm

Post by DP »

Tom

WOW! Very fine work, worth the two year wait. Enjoy.
User avatar
Glen Smith
Posts: 3719
Joined: Sat May 08, 2004 9:08 am
Location: Baie-St-Paul, Quebec, Canada

Post by Glen Smith »

That is one beautiful Bird, bravo!
Rick
Posts: 727
Joined: Thu May 27, 2004 9:23 am
Location: Bancroft, Ontario

Post by Rick »

Perfect place for a Redbird, too, George lake, Killarney.... beauty!
tom in caledonia
Posts: 45
Joined: Tue Jul 20, 2004 1:13 pm
Location: Caledonia ON

Post by tom in caledonia »

Thanks very much. It was a labour of love. Rick, you're obviously well acquainted with my favourite park. I hope to do much paddling there soon.
It was actually quite funny. Everyone was saying they were not going to be the first to put a scratch in it, they were going to leave that to me. Well, my wife had to help me out of the garage with it and managed to hit the side of the 'bird against my van becoming the first to put a scratch in the varnish. You should have seen her face. I started to laugh, she I'm sure felt like crying. I told her that there would be many more by the end of the season and they would disappear when I revarnished. :wink Didn't make her feel any better at the time but I think the pain is fading now.

Thanks again for the kind comments guys.
Regards,
Tom
Rob from Hamilton
Posts: 47
Joined: Fri May 21, 2004 9:09 pm

Another Redbird

Post by Rob from Hamilton »

Hi Tom,
We were amazed how nice your boat looked a few months ago when we visited, and it looks fantastic now! I'm glad it's finally in the water! When we saw the pictures here, we recognized Killarney right away.
We're just scraping and sanding the inside of our new 'Bird. We never got the strips cut in time to have it ready for our camping trip, so we just rented a second canoe when we went to Killarney last month. (Of course I paddled the rented "tub" while Kyle paddled our Redbird )
We started building about 10 days ago. Kyle stripped the new one in three days, and we 'glassed on the fourth. We took a couple of days off, but now we're getting right back on it. We'll be in the water next month.
Congratulations on a beautiful boat! :applause
Rob from Hamilton
tom in caledonia
Posts: 45
Joined: Tue Jul 20, 2004 1:13 pm
Location: Caledonia ON

Post by tom in caledonia »

Thanks Rob, for your compliments then and now. I can't believe how fast you guys are at building a boat. I guess after building a few you get better and quicker at it. Let me know when you're finished so I can drop by and see it.
Regards,
Tom
geordie
Posts: 41
Joined: Fri May 21, 2004 9:28 am
Location: South Africa

Post by geordie »

Congratulations from as far away as South Africa. I’ve been at my Bird since January and hoping for a mid October launch, just in time for our summer. Watch this space.
Mine will be christened Umoyo Omneni, the Zulu for gentle wind.

Many happy paddles
Geordie
Rob from Hamilton
Posts: 47
Joined: Fri May 21, 2004 9:09 pm

Post by Rob from Hamilton »

Hi Tom,
I'll let you know when it's done. Kyle is trying to build this one all by himself, and I'm only helping him when he needs it. I've only helped him with a few strips (some easy ones) and the fibreglassing, and he'll probably need help with gunnels, and seat placement. He's getting pretty good at it, but I don't think our quality will match yours. Kyle and I were both very impressed.
Keep in touch.
Rob
tom in caledonia
Posts: 45
Joined: Tue Jul 20, 2004 1:13 pm
Location: Caledonia ON

Post by tom in caledonia »

Thanks Geordie. Wow, you're launching in October and I'm putting away. Best of luck with your 'bird. I'll be watching for it.

Rob, I'm sure the quality is there. You're just being modest. Keep me informed.
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mtpocket
Posts: 562
Joined: Wed Sep 08, 2004 2:48 pm
Location: Indiana

Post by mtpocket »

Tom,

That's a beautiful Redbird. You do great work. Bring it to the rendezvous next year so we can see it up close.
tom in caledonia
Posts: 45
Joined: Tue Jul 20, 2004 1:13 pm
Location: Caledonia ON

Post by tom in caledonia »

Thanks mt. I was also very impressed with yours when I first saw it. That rope feature is amazing. I would've liked to make this years rendezvous (it's only 3 hours away) but other things got in the way. I will try for next year.

Regards,
Tom
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Ramps
Posts: 10
Joined: Thu Jun 15, 2006 7:33 am
Location: Australia

Well done

Post by Ramps »

Tom
That is one fantastic 'bird
Something I can aspire to

I am in the process of making my first Redbird with nothing like like the selection of woods you have over there. I'm not complaining about the beautiful timbers we have over here (Oz) it's just that half of the sink even when kiln dried and the others barely float ... not good for "portable" boats.

I Just love the work you've put into it, you've done justice to the great timbers.
Ramps from Oz
tom in caledonia
Posts: 45
Joined: Tue Jul 20, 2004 1:13 pm
Location: Caledonia ON

Post by tom in caledonia »

Thanks very much for your comments Ramps. What are you using for your strips? Western Red Cedar is still obtainable in clear 20' lengths over here but it is expensive. It's much more cost effective to use shorter lengths and butt them together.
Don't forget to post some pictures of your 'bird!! Thanks again.

Regards,
Tom
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