Hello Everyone,
After three years of work I finally launched my canoe at the beginning of this summer.
Here are a few pics.
My son trying out the seats.... but backwards:
The inlays (there is an identical one on the other side)
The decks
Here you can see my pale imitation of Martin Step's wraparound inlay
The decks are composed of curly maple, cherry, and lacewood.
The boat was launched on June 15th at Lac Leamy (Gatineau, QC)
I hope you enjoy the pics.
I even took the canoe out for a 3 day expedition in the Papineau Labelle Reserve... and put a few scratches on her.
The boat weighs in at 72 pounds. It is heavy because my decks are over-sized and the trim is mostly hard maple. The seats are my design and also made of hard maple and of plastic cane in the daisy pattern. I carved the yoke out of the same wood as well, and I fitted it perfectly for my shoulders.
I also used Martin Step's hidden hardware (the helicoils) to attach the seats, thwarts and yoke.
Despite the weight she is a dream to paddle and portage (I am on the heavy side too so I can handle her). She runs effortlessly through the water and tracks really well. I am quite pleased of the result of my first boat building experience.
Thanks to all of you for the inspiration and for all the problem solving and troubleshooting advice I found here on this forum. I must have spent as much time reading on this forum as I did working on the boat ... no kidding. I probably would not have been able to do half the stuff I did without the information I found here.
The next step is now to prepare her for canoe sailing ... build a mast, leeboards, and the rudder and sew some sails. I guess I'll be busy for the next three years...
Cheers
Martin, Gatineau
Launch of Freedom 17'9"
Launch of Freedom 17'9"
Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep. - Scott Adams
http://s133.photobucket.com/albums/q49/ ... 20prjoect/
http://s133.photobucket.com/albums/q49/ ... 20prjoect/
- Juneaudave
- Posts: 522
- Joined: Sat May 08, 2004 12:42 pm
- Location: Juneau, Alaska
- Contact:
- Glen Smith
- Posts: 3719
- Joined: Sat May 08, 2004 9:08 am
- Location: Baie-St-Paul, Quebec, Canada
-
- Posts: 196
- Joined: Tue Aug 18, 2009 7:00 pm
- Patricks Dad
- Posts: 1476
- Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2004 1:11 pm
- Location: Warrenville, Illinois