Tuesday 24 March 2015

The fishing machine - or currently, about 80lbs of shit fiberglass...

Always interesting to see peoples interpretations of how work, whether making repairs or completely reworking existing boats. This is the second fiberglass that likely had aluminum gunwales but for some reason has had them remove in favour of wood. Albeit poorly done, the basic hull is just what we were looking for in a motor canoe. Double ended (somewhat) below and at the water line, it could technically be moved by paddle, but at 40" wide, but with a huge flat run and three keels and at 14" deep who would want to?
Missing the 16' Tremblay and 4hp merc combo i had years ago, its time again to get an engine and let it take us greater distances quicker, to where the fish are. With a cart, it wont be terrible to portage either, as it wont top 100 pounds. 


16' Tremblay V stern w/ 1971 red band Mercury 4hp. Pickup truck for the water.


The van snags another one. 


V stern, not a true flat stern. Technically a wineglass transom.


Enough rocker to be manouverable. 


With 2 piece gunwales and not even joined, the piece of metal was used. Cant keep the shape with these.


Temp thwarts to make it rigid enough for 70mph on the roof


2 thwarts to be replaced


Nice amount of flotation bow and stern


Stern seat 2' and a bit in front of stern, for proper trimming


3-5 hp will fit, 4 should be optimum.


More bad work, all to be stripped off. 

Next: sanding, interior paint, 2 part epoxy exterior paint, kevlar skids on bow, stern and bottom keels, ash gunwales in and out, cherry seats, thwarts, deck and transom.  Gotta be gloss black out/grey inside.

Oh, and an engine. Cant forget the engine.....


New rails temp'd in place


Nice fair curves



Glass on this brute is thicker, need to do a heavier back cut than usual for glass or kevlar


The fun pack - 2 part urethane gloss black outside, a super tough and durable coating, and oyster mono urethane for the interior. Lots of kevlar felt for skid plates, and black pigment for the epoxy to saturate them so the yellow disappears.

Work forges ahead as the ice heads towards break up...



Wineglass, motor pads off


Canoe profile at waterline


Rough fit rails


Glass cleaned up and rails fitted




Deck on, sanded ready for paint


Thwarts located and fit


Clamps, clamps, clamps


Paint is next, and skid plates



Boat is railed


She'll get carry thwarts bow and stern for moving to and from water


Next is filling in the keels so the inside is smooth, flat and easy to keep dry

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