The Bear Mountain Boat Shop

Larry, that looks really good! It would be easiest to put the HIN on my outwale (starboard, stern) however I think the guidelines for SD say it has to be 2 inches below? And Jim we don't have to put "OR" or the registration numbers if the boat is under 18 feet. If the boat is OVER 18 feet ...

I was confused earlier. The HIN is required but the "boat number" is something else entirely that is given to you after you have registered your boat. I did burn the smaller -- and less conspicuious -- HIN into my outwale on the underside. I guess its ok but I wish that is all I had to do....

I bought a wood burning tool to put the HIN on the gunnel as you did. ...but hadn't thought about if it would be dark enough, so adding ink and covering with epoxy might be a good idea. However, as I am reading the South Dakota hand book on boating laws, I ran across a paragraph that says "Non ...

.... what would happen if I tried to burn the number (lightly) into the already existing varnish/epoxy/glass ... maybe it wouldn't get to the glass or even the wood.... but then varnish over it again a couple times? Would that work? I think the engraved brass plate would be the best way to go, and I...

Correct, the HIN is a Hull Identification Number and by South Dakota state law (and I believe the National Coast Gaurd) there are speciic instructions about registering any boat, motorized or non, that is over 13 feet long. My kayak is 12 feet and I do not need to register it but since other surroun...

It turned out great! Interesting to learn of yet other wood species I've never heard of.

Ya, you have to put an ugly sticker up at the bow end as well. Or at least that is where it was affixed when I had my aluminum canoes licensed several years back. The HIN has to be in two places and the second place can be somewhat hidden (I'm thinking bottom of the outwale or inside under the deck....

That was my first thought too Glen... but the directions say it can't be a "sticker"? Or anything that is easily removable. Letters/numbers not to be less than 1/4" tall and 2 inches below the sheer line on the starboard side near the stern.

BradRob... I am just wondering what you did to put a hole in your hull the first time out! I would die. Ya ya, sure I guess I could fix it but really don't want to have to. Would rather learn from other's mistakes/experiences first! I also had a thin spot on one of my strips while stripping. Not fro...

Hey there.... I would love to tell you that I was out in that canoe today. We got up to 75 and I got on the phone this afternoon and called the maker's of my varnish to ask them if I could put my canoe in the water yet??? I just put the last coat of Coronado Marine Spar varnish on the hull exterior ...

I want to be able to sleep at night, so I went ahead and ordered the silicon bronze screws from Jamestown Distributors. I hope there will not be an issue with removing the stainless I already put in (as far as how the threads already cut the wood) and re-inserting the sb screws. I had to buy lubrica...

... The very first time I saw the Redbird design I thought it was the most beautiful canoe ever designed. I still prefer it over all others I've seen for eye appeal. I let myself be talked out of that design because of the stability factor and I consider myself a fairly experienced paddler. So I dec...

Thanks BWB... I will double check that before I plug the screw holes. I am almost positive that they are stainless steel. The first box I got were wood screws and the thread and shank were entirely different than the second screw I was given (stainless steel but for metal.) That one was as Denis des...

I can't believe how complicated buying a box of screws is! Before lunch I had asked a guy about the stainless steel screws at Ace. He pulled some out of a drawer and told me they were the right ones for my project. Skeptical, I came back here and posed my question and looked at some other places onl...

I want to add some screws to my outwales and CanoeCraft says to use #8 1 1/4" non-corrosive wood screws. I will countersink and plug so they won't show. This is probably a really stupid question, but is this a specialized screw? I am looking at the screws online at Jamestown Distributors for ex...