Just picked up a kevlar tripping boat with the wood rotted off, for a screaming deal. Yup it needs new inner and outer rails, decks, and seats and thwarts repaired, and one side is sun faced but its in great shape, no cracks or stars and is the perfect size. Most 16' boats are too small for the load i ask them to deal with between people and gear, and at 35" wide and 13" deep this should be quick. Length = speed, and its a light portage boat too. No we havent given up on traditional wood canvas, but our 18' guide is awaiting restoration and the form is progressing, albeit slowly!
This will fill in nicely and hey, its got some wood!
The Toyota retrieves another. Really should have kept a count...
Evergreen from Toronto, no longer in production
Ah, race tape - or 100mph tape if you prefer.
Thwart tips are rotted, will make a new one. Teal carrying yoke and a kneeling thwart, a nice touch for solo work
Nice overall shape, without a lot of damage.
A very nice trick, rather than have the wood terminate awkwardly in the rounded bow profile, they undercut the tip so the wood can go beyond and finish cleanly.
Resulting profile looks like a EM White from Maine.
The shiny side!
Inside cleaning up nicely
Storage grime and weathered cherry.
Will clean up nicely!
Another nice touch, scuppers on the sides of the decks.
Carry handles will go back on.
Next up, rails, decks, skid plates and maybe a white bottom....
Extra set of hands is helpful to hold down, while being fed. Dont have featherboard attachments for the fence...
21' ash stock will provide the rails.
Ripping rails.
Making extra sets for wood canvas boats, with the back cut.
Extra set of hands is helpful to hold down, while being fed. Dont have featherboard attachments for the fence...
Getting ready for another pass.
3rd and 4th set of hands, courtesy of Kreg (who make some wicked attachments)
Rail stock
Cherry and ash carry thwart and rail stock
New Cherry parts, carry handles, thwart, kneeling thwart, decks and seat hanger spacers
Now to remove the old and install the new. First it all gets epoxy sealed before the varnish to prevent rot and turning black with exposure to water.
Old wood out, seats and hangers
Cherry looks great but like all wood doesnt do well season after season exposed to the elements
We've said it before and its always true, NEVER ENOUGH CLAMPS.
Mitred ends sitting in the bow cut out.
New rails in place temporarily for fitting
Thwart blank in place
New carry thwart, ash and cherry.
Deck rot, new cherry board planed for deck stock.
Taking shape, all parts to be epoxy sealed once fitted to boat, then varnished and reinstalled.
Bow deck, narrower than stern deck so each will be cut separately.
Cherry for new decks - originals were cherry too...
Wider rear deck
Bow joint waiting to be sanded
Stern Joint
Dry fit
Bow deck
Rather than epoxy we opted for tung oil and 4 coats of varnish, a prettier finish and we wont be leaving this one outside (at least uncovered)
Oiled stern deck and rails
Shaped cherry and ash carrying yoke
Nicer and more colour than epoxy would have provided
Finish sanded
Cherry parts set boat off nicely
Bow deck and rails
Boat is done and awaiting varnish, if it stops raining we can get a full length shot outside!
UPDATE: all done, next up is another fiberglass boat with rotted wood, pics to follow...
