New Solo Canoe - Freedom 15'3" and 16'2"

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Cruiser
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Re: New Solo Canoe - Freedom 15'3" and 16'2"

Post by Cruiser »

Heading out to figure out best way to do the bottom planks to the sheerline .... that should be fun
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Jim Dodd
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Re: New Solo Canoe - Freedom 15'3" and 16'2"

Post by Jim Dodd »

Interested !
The shouldered tumblehome has always put me off on this design, and others built this way.
Staples would help, but that's not an option.
Anxious to read your solution.
Keep your paddle wet and your seat dry!
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Re: New Solo Canoe - Freedom 15'3" and 16'2"

Post by Cruiser »

Hi Jim,

This was my first boat and first time in the forums, the rest of the build continues under the project directories ( building forum wasn't the right place for it).

The question you are asking isn't there though, in fact I had to go looking to see if I had a pic.

I had "softened" the actual tumblehome profile by rounding the square edges as Randy suggested in his build and that seemed to make a lot of sense to me, plus it worked out very well. I started stripping with three 1/2" strips, bracketing the actual tumblehome bend and left the strips from there to the shear until I completed the rest of the stripping. I highly recommend using the smaller strips around the bend, as it really makes the sharp turn pretty straight forward.

The solution for the post you queried was to use the standard "tape it", although I did use fiber tape which is a little more aggressive and can be pulled tighter.

Image

I also used the standard "L" wood brackets to keep the strips tight to the moulds, there weren't many strips, so it wasn't too fiddly.

Brian
fanoplane
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Re: New Solo Canoe - Freedom 15'3" and 16'2"

Post by fanoplane »

Hi All,

I started building a Freedom 15'3" a little over a month ago. Now that the molds and strongback are finished, I am getting ready to begin planking in the next week or two. I've decided to stick with the chine in the plans, but now I want to make sure I understand how to plank it. When Steve Killing was putting the design together, there was a post where he described how he would go about planking it (viewtopic.php?f=1&t=1885&p=11592&hilit= ... olo#p11634), but unfortunately the corresponding picture is gone.

From the description, I drew up what I think is a reasonable approach? I am planning to begin with the plank that has the bead at the chine, and after becoming comfortable with the planking process (this is my first build), come back to the other strip at the chine with most of the inside cove removed. If there are any suggestions about a changes that should be made to get started, I would appreciate the feedback.

Thanks!
Cooper

Image
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Patricks Dad
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Re: New Solo Canoe - Freedom 15'3" and 16'2"

Post by Patricks Dad »

Cooper, your picture is not visible....

edited: But I can now see the drawing by clicking on your link. I think that will work. Steve's original guidance is to add a filet of thickened epoxy on the inside of the sharpest portion of the chine. This will add strength and make glassing easier (this is probably important).

When I built this design, I started by taking the sharp corner off the form at the chine leaving a 3/8" flat spot for a narrow strip. This allowed for a somewhat larger radius at the chine, a softer curve and no need for an inside filet. I think the chine as designed is too sharp. It will only cause problems. It will be harder to glass (but of course not impossible). The sharp chine will also attract dings and banged knuckles.

best of luck on your build!
Randy Pfeifer
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Re: New Solo Canoe - Freedom 15'3" and 16'2"

Post by Cruiser »

For my build i went with the 16'3" option and I don't regret that for a minute. I also listened to Randy's suggestion and took the sharp corner off by creating the 3/8" flat spot he mentions.

I took it a step further and did a few 1/2" strips ( bass and red cedar) and used those to strip around the chine and create an accent at the same time. The narrower strips aren't hard to make, but I believe they made the stripping around the sooo much easier.

Don't forget, you have to finish what you create, and a hard edge like that is hard to sand, hard to glass and in general will likely be a lot of extra work to get tit to look good.

Brian
fanoplane
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Re: New Solo Canoe - Freedom 15'3" and 16'2"

Post by fanoplane »

Thanks Randy and Brian for the advice. I read this thread a month ago and I missed the point about glassing which seems like a good reason to round the corners. I took some strip offcuts and made a replica of the chine of the center station, adding the chamfer, to test out the approach. Looks really good, and will definitely be easier to work with!
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Patricks Dad
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Re: New Solo Canoe - Freedom 15'3" and 16'2"

Post by Patricks Dad »

I have a bunch of pictures of my Freedom Solo build at the link below:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set ... ed02c625b8

There are a couple in there showing my build of the chine...
Randy Pfeifer
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Re: New Solo Canoe - Freedom 15'3" and 16'2"

Post by Cruiser »

Close up of the first 2 chine strips, plus the flat to soften the angle:

Image





Brian
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Re: New Solo Canoe - Freedom 15'3" and 16'2"

Post by Patricks Dad »

Funny Story:

So I was standing in the park at the Bear Mountain Boats Makers Rendezvous in Westport Ontario a few weeks ago (9/14). I had brought along my Freedom Solo and a Carbon/Kevlar version of the Freedom 17 that I had built. It was great fun to talk to other builders (or lots of different things). One gentleman walked up and asked about the Freedom Solo with interest in the carbon fiber yoke/backrest I had designed. He asked if I had designed the Freedom Solo as well.

I said: "No this hull was designed by Steve Killing. He's a wonderful designer who has drawn many of the Bear Mountain Boat designs as well as many other boats including work on America's Cup racing boats. Steve was very engaged with the Bear Mountain Boat builders forum when he was designing this hull. A really great guy".

There was another gentleman standing behind the guy I was talking with. He caught my eye and simply said "Thank you".

I was astounded that the real Steve Killing was standing there as I praised his work. It was an honor to shake his hand. We had the opportunity to chat a bit more about his career at the wonderful dinner held at a local winery after the event.

This one incident made the trip to Westport worth it all by itself.
Randy Pfeifer
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Re: New Solo Canoe - Freedom 15'3" and 16'2"

Post by Cruiser »

O.o that would be awesome.

I was going to attend, but ended up making a lumber run for some 16' northern white cedar for my next build and had to forego the get together.

Brian
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Jim Dodd
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Re: New Solo Canoe - Freedom 15'3" and 16'2"

Post by Jim Dodd »

Patricks Dad wrote: Tue Oct 08, 2019 10:15 am Funny Story:

So I was standing in the park at the Bear Mountain Boats Makers Rendezvous in Westport Ontario a few weeks ago (9/14). I had brought along my Freedom Solo and a Carbon/Kevlar version of the Freedom 17 that I had built. It was great fun to talk to other builders (or lots of different things). One gentleman walked up and asked about the Freedom Solo with interest in the carbon fiber yoke/backrest I had designed. He asked if I had designed the Freedom Solo as well.

I said: "No this hull was designed by Steve Killing. He's a wonderful designer who has drawn many of the Bear Mountain Boat designs as well as many other boats including work on America's Cup racing boats. Steve was very engaged with the Bear Mountain Boat builders forum when he was designing this hull. A really great guy".

There was another gentleman standing behind the guy I was talking with. He caught my eye and simply said "Thank you".

I was astounded that the real Steve Killing was standing there as I praised his work. It was an honor to shake his hand. We had the opportunity to chat a bit more about his career at the wonderful dinner held at a local winery after the event.

This one incident made the trip to Westport worth it all by itself.
Cool Story Randy !
Thanks for sharing !

Jim
Keep your paddle wet and your seat dry!
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Re:

Post by Emillymoh »

[quote="Patricks Dad" post_id=20207 time=1229986127 user_id=298]
Well, I just ordered a set of plans. I'll be really disappointed if I'm actually first to build one of these (I won't get started for a few months).
[/quote]

Glad someone is starting to build it up. :applause
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Patricks Dad
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Re: New Solo Canoe - Freedom 15'3" and 16'2"

Post by Patricks Dad »

I don't need a loan for a canoe I built yeas ago. Emily, your post is unrelated to building and soliciting business. Please refrain from any such posts in the future.

Thank you
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Re: New Solo Canoe - Freedom 15'3" and 16'2"

Post by GP Stick »

I'm starting to layout the station blocking while the stems are being glued. Re-read the book which was a little confusing on the layout. That question was answered by looking and scaling the plans. Im going with the 16'3" so the spacing is 12.75" and the location of the blocks then gave me pause until I noticed the the block on station 8 on the plans is on the bow side of the mold. I'm using 1/2" material for molds so I measured 1/4" past the 12.75" marks towards the bow to keep everything on the correct spacing.(Scaling the plans helped me figure this out even if they are drawn for the 15'3" boat). But, and now for the question; station 9 does not scale 12" so I'm confused. Is the center to center spacing from 8 to 9 not supposed to be 12" (or 12.75" in my case)?

Joe
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