|
|
Post by Woods Walker on Sept 19, 2005 18:35:30 GMT -5
Well, I ordered the plans for the Merlin 38-special on Tuesday, Sept. 6th. ;D So now I know which canoe design I will build.
I choose to build the strongback that is illustrated in the Canoecraft book. It looked like a good design that wouldn't be too difficult to make. This strongback should serve me well whichever design I end up building. Two sheets of 3/4" plywood cut up & ready to assemble Two sections with gables in place.
Troy
|
|
|
|
Post by Woods Walker on Sept 19, 2005 18:38:51 GMT -5
Well, I am making progress. I now have all my stations built. Friday I was off work so I took advantage & got all my form boards cut out. Then Saturday my 10 year old son & I put on the station blocks & forms.
All the forms, cut out & ready to go
The Station blocks all bolted into place
The Stations assembled, lined up & ready for strips.
I guess now that I am to this point, I better order my cedar ;D This project is going pretty well so far & the time I get to spend with my boy in the garage will be worth it even if the canoe sinks. 
Troy
|
|
|
|
Post by Specs on May 7, 2006 21:21:59 GMT -5
The 38-Special is the design name, it is a Bruce Kunz design. Below the water line it is the same as the Merlin & Kootnay.
The Specs:
Length =16’4"
Depth+12" Amidships
Max Beam=30 1/4"
Beam at Gunwales+27"
Ht. at Bow=16"
Ht. at Stern=15"
Weight about 42#
No rocker, shallow arch hull. This is the Merlin scaled up for larger sized paddlers. It was increased 3.8% in every dimension and hence the name.
Troy
|
|
|
|
Post by Cedar on May 7, 2006 21:27:31 GMT -5
I am ordering my clear cedar from Home Depot, for what I consider the best price that I found. It is a special order, but I can get it in 2 foot increments between 8 & 20 feet. 1x4, 1x6, or 1x8. I plan on using full length strips that I will rip, bead & cove myself.
I know that I will need aprox. 65 strips to make the canoe. I plan on laying the strips along the water line then shaping like a long football as they progress into the bottom.
I ordered (8) 1x4x18's all clear with no knots.
Troy[/color]
|
|
|
|
Post by Cedar on May 7, 2006 21:28:12 GMT -5
;D
I have got my cedar & my bead & cove router bits. Now I just need the time to work on it. I have been woking alot of hours & busy with family activities on the weekends. I plan on spending some time out in the shop today after I get back from church.
I could have worked on it Friday, but I got distracted by the great weather & my new camera. I just had to go for a hike & click some photos. I have alot of functions to learn.
Troy
|
|
|
|
Post by Ripping on May 7, 2006 21:29:19 GMT -5
I spent 6 hours out in the shop yesterday & got all my 18 foot 2x4's ripped, beaded & coved. ;D
What a dusty, dirty job. Sisie didn't like what I looked like as a blond.....LOL.... I am still blowing cedar out of my nose. I could have got them done faster, but I wouldn't let Colten stay out in the shop, it was just too dusty & I only had one resporator.
I should start laying strips this week  I will post some photos soon. I didn't want to take my camera out in all that dust last night.
Troy[/color]
|
|
|
|
Post by Bead Cove on May 7, 2006 21:29:59 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by stripping on May 7, 2006 21:30:37 GMT -5
I started applying strips ;D
So far So good
Troy
|
|
|
|
Post by stripping on May 7, 2006 21:31:09 GMT -5
I am using 9/16" staples to hold the stips in place until the glue dries & will pull them when hull is complete. I considered going stapleless but this is my 1st canoe & I have a learning curve to go through.
Troy[/color]
|
|
|
|
Post by Woods Walker on May 18, 2006 21:47:04 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by Woods Walker on May 18, 2006 21:50:53 GMT -5
Finally had some time to work on the canoe some more. I spent about 3 hours in the shop. I figure I have about 4 hours left to close up the hull bottom.
Troy
|
|
|
|
Post by Woods Walker on May 18, 2006 21:51:36 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by Woods Walker on May 18, 2006 21:52:16 GMT -5
I had to switch shifts for the rest of the week to cover for a couple of guys that had family emergencies, so I had some time today to work in the shop.
I got all the small cracks filled in, so after it drys & I sand it one last time.... the glass will be going on ;D
BTW.... I ordered a DVD from Newfound Woodworks on fibergalssing, so I am waiting for that & my epoxy pumps to arrive.
Troy
|
|
|
|
Post by Woods Walker on May 18, 2006 21:52:54 GMT -5
I used epoxy mixed with cedar sanding dust out of my random orbit sander. It turned darker than I thought it should be, but read somewhere that if it is darker it is less noticeable than if it ends up light colored. After applying it I have one area that I am worried about, it was a strip that was slightly thinner than the ones on either side, I filled it with the dark epoxy to even it out, but probably should have used clear.
I plan on sanding it today, I will let everyone know how it turned out.
Troy
|
|
|
|
Post by Woods Walker on May 18, 2006 21:53:27 GMT -5
Like I thought the lower strip filled with the dark epoxy looked terrible so I scraped it out & sanded it down to feather it into the adjacent strips.....Looks much better now ;D
Troy
|
|
When you go through deep waters, I will be with you... Isaiah 43:2[/color]
I will post some photos soon. I didn't want to take my camera out in all that dust last night.
