Wednesday, 21 March 2018

Time for another solo canoe project

Decision time has come and gone. With only so much time available and summer fast approaching, time to decide what to work on, what will get done, and what will get enjoyed through spring and summer as free time gives way to activity. 
New build on the form has been put off; time spent readying the Grand Laker for summer pushed a new build back, to where it wont get finished for spring. We'll work on that to ready it for fall. The solo boat turned out to be so much fun,and got so much use we need another. Post here: 


At a fraction of the cost of a new one, while the hull design might not be modern and the weight heavier than modern composites, the old hand laid glass hulls are solid and do pretty well all around. 
Single keel hulls are uncommon compared to the poorly built 3 keel hulls made with chopper guns so when this one popped up for a song we snapped it up.
An easy project that'll be ready as soon as consistent -shirt weather arrives.




A familiar site on the van


34" width, will be pulled in to 31-32"

 Nice shape, small keel


 Aluminum decks coming off

 Aluminum rails, coming off


Tubular steel thwart - definitely coming off

Snazzy blue seats. Already off




This one is hers

Nice lines, will pull into a nice shape










Nice solo from Clipper, not sure yet if we'll go with a hung seat or a kayak style like the first one



 Nova Craft solo, sweet shape


Time to get the pressure washer out, then:

drill rivets and take off rails, decks and thwart
grind off seat mounts and smooth interior
felt skid plates
paint inside of hull
sand outside of hull, paint with 2 part urethane
wood rails inner and outer
fit decks, thwarts
varnish all
mount seat
go paddling...

Thursday, 1 March 2018

Model 50 done

Paint, final varnish and stembands. Shame we wont get to paddle it as its moving on.



 That great Model 50 shape, one of the Canadian Canoe Company's best


Front seat placement makes a great solo boat

Stern seat

Last touches, screws and washers in place of keel screws, as keel left off. 




Stem bands on




Ready to go

Grand Laker nearly done

Getting close to the water, we'll beat spring and be waiting. Almost done and ready


Grinding away loose fibreglass for patch with epoxy and glass , the last bit of damage done when the


Starting the sanding for new paint

Patch over both sides of stem


Half way there
 

Feathering in with fairing compound



Taped off for paint

Ready for Grand Lake Green




First coat done


Second coat of new varnish inside


Seat and spray rails left to do

6hp for looks

Will be replaced with a 9.8

Rails in place for fitting

Ash rails epoxy sealed and varnished

Evinrude 9.8 in place on transom on a Laker

Unit on trailer ready for water - next is the trailer rebuild