Minor Freedom 17'9" update

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Kermit
Posts: 62
Joined: Mon Nov 28, 2011 9:01 pm
Location: Ottawa, Ontario

Re: Minor Freedom 17'9" update

Post by Kermit »

2nd update of the year... hold on to your hats, we are getting crazy around here!!!!! :laughing


Here is the centre line, all nice and pretty;

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Bow interior, a few light gaps;

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Stern interior, a few more light gaps :sad ;

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Finally, pregluing my football strips, going for 3 as the very last strip is barely 1/16" wide;

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May do another football, just in case, but hoping to have the strips all closed up in 2 weeks...


Cheers,

Chris
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Cruiser
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Location: Bowmanville, Ontario

Re: Minor Freedom 17'9" update

Post by Cruiser »

Very nice job cutting that center line, this is a pretty exciting time ..... have a cold one and a chair ready for the last piece, then you will be prepared to sit back, have a drink and admire your work.



Brian
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Jim Dodd
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Re: Minor Freedom 17'9" update

Post by Jim Dodd »

Kermit
From that inside pic, looks like you saved yourself a lot of sanding by being minimal with the glue !
Great job !

Jim
Keep your paddle wet and your seat dry!
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Kermit
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Location: Ottawa, Ontario

Re: Minor Freedom 17'9" update

Post by Kermit »

Be afraid, be very afraid!!!! 3 Updates in 2014..... :sleepy

Not as productive as I would have liked this week, my herringbone isn't lining up and I required the use of the patented "Ingenious strip" (Thank you Forum search) :applause .

2 strips to go before installing the football (visible on the right side of the canoe).

Image

Cheers,


Chris
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Kermit
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Joined: Mon Nov 28, 2011 9:01 pm
Location: Ottawa, Ontario

Re: Minor Freedom 17'9" update

Post by Kermit »

I have seen the light at the end of the tunnel, which unfortunately is passing through some of my strips... :laughing

Some spectacular gaps aside, I am really happy with how she has gone together.

Here is a photo of my ugly mug just as I successfully dry-fitted my football.

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I am ecstatic to see that the strips are nicely matched up, I didn't go ahead with the 2nd backup football, so I really took my time shaving the insert with my palm plane.

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I did have some serious issues getting the last single strip in (basswood), it tore the heck out of the previous cedar strip, and after 4 failed attempts, I'm living with the gaps a the centre-line, I was already resigned to becoming a gap-filling expert anyway.


Thank you all for your support and encouragement, you have no idea how helpful you all have been!!!


Chris
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Jim Dodd
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Re: Minor Freedom 17'9" update

Post by Jim Dodd »

Looks good !
If fitting that last strip was easy, it wouldn't be memorable !
Filler is a necessary evil.

Jim
Keep your paddle wet and your seat dry!
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Kermit
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Joined: Mon Nov 28, 2011 9:01 pm
Location: Ottawa, Ontario

Re: Minor Freedom 17'9" update

Post by Kermit »

Back with a much delayed update.

Family gatherings, funerals and sickness all colluded to hinder any real progress on the canoe.

Here is the stern stem after the resin had cured, I had removed the lower straps, don't worry... there were 5 originally.

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Have trimmed the stern stem, quite happy with the result, although I have noticed one issue, which I will cover in a separate post to prevent confusion.

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Cheers,

Chris.

EDIT: Removed questions related to Stem alignment and created new post - and spelling... :sleepy
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Jim Dodd
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Re: Minor Freedom 17'9" update

Post by Jim Dodd »

Looks Great !

Life seems to throw more than its share of delays at us builders !
Sometimes I wish I was living on top of a mountain to escape lifes demands !
Again if building strip canoes was easy, everyone would be doing it !
Hang in there !!!
Jim
Keep your paddle wet and your seat dry!
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Kermit
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Joined: Mon Nov 28, 2011 9:01 pm
Location: Ottawa, Ontario

Re: Minor Freedom 17'9" update

Post by Kermit »

Good Morning everyone!!!

A full weekend of filling gaps with thickened epoxy and sanding with 80 grit ROS, and we have....

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There is still some residual epoxy on the strips, but I am hoping that the 120 grit sanding will clear that. I also have some offset strips in the football that I need to plane a bit more to get to epoxy that has pooled in the low-spot.

Also, the fix for the stern stem seems to have offset the centreline, so I need to go back and trim the other side.

Cheers,


Chris
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Kermit
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Location: Ottawa, Ontario

Re: Minor Freedom 17'9" update

Post by Kermit »

Glassed the beast last night, 12 hours start to finish. :sleepy

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Not too happy with the end result, but I know from reading the forums, that it is salvageable. :crying

Some pretty serious runs, also quite a few more shallow spots than I would have liked to see (weave is visible - looks like I missed the spot on the 3rd coat). Going to scrap the runs, and give a good general sanding, then either apply a few (well, more than a few) touch up spots, or do a 4th coat.

Will post photos once I am actually awake enough to operate the camera.

Cheers,

Chris
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Kermit
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Location: Ottawa, Ontario

Re: Minor Freedom 17'9" update

Post by Kermit »

Recoated the sanded 3rd coat yesterday, MUCH better results, I can deal with the odd bubble and dust particle.

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Had some help building the cribs for the next stage, also did some weight bearing tests...

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Cheers, and as always, Thank you all SOOOOO much for you help, guidance, and support!!!!!


Chris and the Boys.
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Grumple
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Re: Minor Freedom 17'9" update

Post by Grumple »

Very nice! It looks so smoooooooooooooooth!

Did you end up using a roller for that final coat?
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Kermit
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Joined: Mon Nov 28, 2011 9:01 pm
Location: Ottawa, Ontario

Re: Minor Freedom 17'9" update

Post by Kermit »

Yup, definitely needed to tip the surface with a brush. It picked up a lot of dust somehow, but that is a MUCH easier issue to deal with than the drips and voids.


Cheers,


Chris
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Kermit
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Joined: Mon Nov 28, 2011 9:01 pm
Location: Ottawa, Ontario

Re: Minor Freedom 17'9" update

Post by Kermit »

Back from the dead!!! Sorry, with the forum switch, I am only able to connect from home and phone... and I needed to actually upload photos. So this update is a WEE late. :sad

Here is the post-pop photo, with all my helpers;
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Probably one of the most exciting parts so far!!

Rainy day profile;
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She's a big girl.

First round of sanding the interior;
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Done sanding, getting ready for the cloth;
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Just Making sure, before epoxy goes down;
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Be still my heart!!!
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Thanks for all the help and patience. Will upload another batch, didn't want to overload this update.

Cheers,

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

Re: Minor Freedom 17'9" update

Post by Jim Dodd »

Nice work Chris !
I always love it when I'm done glassing, and can work on the trim !
Up to fitting trim, everything has to be done, somewhat by the book.
Now is where every builder separates himself from the herd, and can put his mark on the boat, so to speak.
Enjoy the build !
Thanks for sharing pics !

Jim
Keep your paddle wet and your seat dry!
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