New Wanigan for WCHA Auction

Just like building 12" of a canoe, steam bent ribs, planking and all.  Building for the auction at the assembly in Paul Smiths, NY. Since i set up and call the auction, its always fun to auction off one of your own pieces and send it home with a new owner.  This one is  built of Birdseye Maple, Mahogany and Roasted Curly Maple. Maybe not the most functional, but still a nice piece of wood. 

Sides on the form, waiting for ribs 

Western Red Cedar planking milled and cut 

Lid planed to finished thickness and sanded

Oiled!

Lid and sides, ribs and planking to go on next

Steaming ribs for bending, 200 degrees is optimal. 

Quick set up for 4 ribs, dont need the whole steambox. Custom Epifanes support!

Shop helper, ribs all on. 

Top cut to size, rib tops to be sanded. 

Oiled, ready for varnish.

4 coats of varnish will make it dance. 

Redbird 17.5 Cedar Stripper project

Made famous by Ted Moores , at 17.5' long, 33" beam and likely finished weight below 60lbs, more of these have been built by both amateurs and professionals than can be counted. A fast day or weekend tripper, this one came to us as a project requiring finishing, with the hull largely completed.  Spots show where the glass was originally starved of epoxy, but with subsequent finish coats the hull is fair and smooth, ready for paint.  The inside will need sanding and levelling, as it exhibits runs and high spots.  Many amateur builders put too heavy a coat on the insides, rather than multiple thin coats for a gradual fill of the weave and build up, so this one will need some work before it can be said to be done. Covered in dust, another project started but not finished. Boat will be offered for sale when done, with choice of exterior hull colour and design up to its new owner. 

Peterborough Mermaid

At 14' long, the Mermaid by Peterborough  and Playmate and Fox by Chestnut were great little boats. Still retaining the fine entry, nice hull shape and proportionate lines of the larger boats, they are nice to look at and have a sweet shape. Accordingly, they are great paddlers.  This one came to us in original condition, made some time  in the late 1950s -1960s this boat will look tremendous with a complete strip and revarnish and new canvas.  Sale pending, photos below.