The Bear Mountain Boat Shop

Hi There... I notice the question about sanding between coats of Epifanes 'High Gloss Clear' varnish. I'm just sanding the final epoxy / fiberglass coat on the inside of my Freedom 17, and I also have Epifanes 'High Gloss Clear' varnish to apply. So while I'm sanding and thinking ahead, I was wonder...

Hi Mel...

I used a piece of 6" aluminum heating duct - about 5 feet long. Cut one end to fit snug around the spout of my camp kettle, and used my propane Coleman stove as the heat source.

Worked like a charm!

Bill

Thanks Rehd, for the advice. I'm interested in your exclusive use of the squeegee. In my epoxying, I used a brush, roller and squeegee at various times. Although I was most nervous about using the squeegee - as it was something I had never done - it did in fact give me the best results and least gri...

Hi Sluggo... I'm just in the process of epoxying the hull of my first build - a Freedom 17. When I sight along the length - along the sheer, bilge and keel - the curve appears to be even and smooth. Again, sighting around the curves(cross section view), it appears to be one smooth evenly faired curv...

Hi Glenn...

I should have mentioned...I'm using West System 105 / 207...

I was just out looking at it - now that my last spone job has dried, I see I still have a few shiny spots and pits. But after 4 coats, I think I have enough epoxy build-up to sand them out.

Bill.

Hello again... I'm hoping I can call upon your collective advice once again. I'm finding that epoxying the hull of my Freedom 17 to be one of the most frustrating things I've ever done. You may recall, I posted a message two weeks ago about a flaw I discovered in my cloth (a hidden crease) , where I...

Hi Everyone... Thanks for all the advice and tips. I wish I had asked the question before the cloth was on the boat! The good news is that I went after the ridges with variety of scrapers, followed up with 400 and 600 grit sandpaper, and the end result is that I've gotten rid of virtually all eviden...

Hello... Last weekend I epoxied the hull of my Freedom 17. First canoe - first time ever working with epoxy. I thought I had done everything right - read every imaginable article I could find, went through all the topics on the forum etc. Even had Canoecraft open on my workbench through the whole pr...

Hi Folks... I'm at the point in building my Freedom 17 where I'm ready to epoxy on the outer stems. I have them tapered, and have cut the mortices, and it's a beautiful fit. Never having done any epoxying before though, I wonder if I may ask you all a couple of questions... I have West System 105 Ep...

Thanks for your comments... I'm thinking for my next build, it'll be smaller - a solo canoe maybe. Though, I'm also thinking a Prospector might be in the works!. As for stripping parallel to the waterline - well, I find I don't start any step without researching through the forum first, and the cons...

Hi Folks... I started my first ever canoe in mid-November (a Freedom 17). Today I reached a milesone - I closed the bottom! I saw a pattern for the hull a few weeks ago on this forum, and I 'copied' it - and I'm quite happy with the progress and appearance so far. But I announced to my wife tonight ...

Hi Steve... I'm just about to start stripping my boat - a Freedom 17. I'm stripping parallel to the waterline. My thinking is that the Freedom 15 or 17 is a pretty sleek canoe to begin with, and the horizontal lines will just enhance the look. I'm also putting in an accent strip - as I tell my wife ...

Hello... I spent considerable time yesterday shaping my forward inner stem for a Freedom 17. I found that in order to get the strips to reach the 1/8' leading edge, I had to take considerable material off the inside of the inner stem - to the point where it is now 1/2' thick on the inside of the can...

Hi Ed.

I have cut the molds, but have no yet attached them. Just about to though!

Bill

Phew...lot's to consider... Thanks everyone for your suggestions, advice, and experiences. In reading your replies, I realize there's lots of options available, but I think I'll go with slugo's ideas...Where it makes sense to use a nail - I'll use a nail. Where I need a staple, I'll use a staple. An...