comanche 2,799 Posted June 15, 2023 Report Share Posted June 15, 2023 (edited) I'm close to finishing the frame of my Mark2 fishing canoe . It's very similar to the Mark1 version l made a few years ago but a lot lighter and hopefully without my built in design faults . Anyway today l had a stroke of luck when l neatly sliced a big chunk off the back of my thumb while cutting a tricky angle on one of the long side strainers. I dripped so much blood l'll save a fortune on wood stain! Edited June 15, 2023 by comanche 10 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
fireman 10,774 Posted June 17, 2023 Report Share Posted June 17, 2023 I'm useless at wood work but there's a fella i know who lives on the same road that has built a canoe and it's a total work of art,he uses it and isn't shy with it and him and his canoe can be seen on you tube.. Simon bloke in the woods..... Looks smart that and when your healed up keep with the build updates and well done on not loosing the thumb,, 1 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
comanche 2,799 Posted June 17, 2023 Author Report Share Posted June 17, 2023 (edited) There are some lovely homemade canoes out there . Made by real craftspeople . The sort who can measure properly ,use tools and don't cut bits off themselves . Unlike me. Even though the outer skin on my canoe will actually be a single layer of artist's canvas ,that's about as near to a work of art it'll get. The frame is now complete apart from a dose of wood treatment . I think l'll buy some preservative from a shop rather than using my own blood this time! Edited June 17, 2023 by comanche 5 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
comanche 2,799 Posted June 25, 2023 Author Report Share Posted June 25, 2023 On 17/06/2023 at 08:13, fireman said: Looks smart that and when your healed up keep with the build updates and well done on not loosing the thumb,, Well the thumb is now serviceable so today l started the skinning-up ,if you'll pardon the expression .A welding clamp came in handy for stretching the canvas round the frame 9 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
fireman 10,774 Posted June 25, 2023 Report Share Posted June 25, 2023 1 hour ago, comanche said: Well the thumb is now serviceable so today l started the skinning-up ,if you'll pardon the expression .A welding clamp came in handy for stretching the canvas round the frame Brilliant that is and what a wonderful thing to do ,the canoe not the thumb but mind you that is a impressive wound . May i ask what your water proofing it with and is there a floor as such going in or is it no shoes and tread carefully? and nice one for the update Quote Link to post Share on other sites
comanche 2,799 Posted June 26, 2023 Author Report Share Posted June 26, 2023 (edited) 7 hours ago, fireman said: Brilliant that is and what a wonderful thing to do ,the canoe not the thumb but mind you that is a impressive wound . May i ask what your water proofing it with and is there a floor as such going in or is it no shoes and tread carefully? and nice one for the update The floor will probably be rush matting. The sort you get in Wiko for use on the beach. My old canoe had a thin removable ply floor but l replaced it with the matting when the ply rotted . Neither the dog or l ever put a foot through the canvas. In fact canvas is surprisingly strong. I got badly hooked up in the dark on the end of a submerged branch once . The tide was falling so l was getting more hung-up by the second. I shifted everything including myself to the very back of the canoe and managed to get the weight off the snag. Then paddled back with the dog on my lap to keep what l assumed was the damaged front end of the canoe out of the water. When l looked in the daylight there wasn't even a mark let alone a hole. I'd been fully prepared for a swim! Waterproofing is still in question . I used a part tin of oil- based paint from a decorator neighbour on my first canoe . Not sure oil based paint is still available though, not at a reasonable price anyway. I don't think stuff like the modern rubberised surface coats or builders' black sealant paint will be much good on their own because l think they'll just coat the outside and l need something to soak into the fabric or it'll rot from the inside. Linseed oil is an option for a base coat because it'll soak all the way through. The "dope" used on aircraft wings is a possibility. Anyway painting should be the easy bit! Edited June 26, 2023 by comanche 2 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
J.R. 16 Posted June 27, 2023 Report Share Posted June 27, 2023 You may find some useful information on this site Home | Wooden Canoe Heritage Association WWW.WOODENCANOE.ORG 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Elchapo 3,107 Posted June 27, 2023 Report Share Posted June 27, 2023 On 26/06/2023 at 01:43, comanche said: The floor will probably be rush matting. The sort you get in Wiko for use on the beach. My old canoe had a thin removable ply floor but l replaced it with the matting when the ply rotted . Neither the dog or l ever put a foot through the canvas. In fact canvas is surprisingly strong. I got badly hooked up in the dark on the end of a submerged branch once . The tide was falling so l was getting more hung-up by the second. I shifted everything including myself to the very back of the canoe and managed to get the weight off the snag. Then paddled back with the dog on my lap to keep what l assumed was the damaged front end of the canoe out of the water. When l looked in the daylight there wasn't even a mark let alone a hole. I'd been fully prepared for a swim! Waterproofing is still in question . I used a part tin of oil- based paint from a decorator neighbour on my first canoe . Not sure oil based paint is still available though, not at a reasonable price anyway. I don't think stuff like the modern rubberised surface coats or builders' black sealant paint will be much good on their own because l think they'll just coat the outside and l need something to soak into the fabric or it'll rot from the inside. Linseed oil is an option for a base coat because it'll soak all the way through. The "dope" used on aircraft wings is a possibility. Anyway painting should be the easy bit! For the wood work are you copying any plans ? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
comanche 2,799 Posted June 28, 2023 Author Report Share Posted June 28, 2023 (edited) On 27/06/2023 at 21:53, Elchapo said: For the wood work are you copying any plans ? Er no.In fact it it might not be a good idea to look too closely at my "woodwork" . I made a similar but bigger canoe about 14 years ago . It was the product of enthusiasm over design skill but it worked . One built in fault was that it had too much "rocker" ; the ends turn ed up which looked cool and made it fantastically manoeuvrable but it was slow in a straight line unless there was a load of gear or another person to make it sit lower in the water ; lt was almost too buoyant. Paradoxically it was heavy to lug about out of the water because l over engineered it with too much woodwork. Basically it was clumsy ,but still fun . So this second version is lighter and straighter ; the product of experience (and hope ) rather than any plans. The skin is on and awaiting tweaking , waterproofing and a bit of wood trim. Hopefully it'll work. When l finally finish it l'll post pictures of its maiden voyage. Unless it sinks . In which case l shall obviously keep very quiet! Edited June 28, 2023 by comanche 6 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
comanche 2,799 Posted June 28, 2023 Author Report Share Posted June 28, 2023 (edited) On 27/06/2023 at 19:26, J.R. said: You may find some useful information on this site Home | Wooden Canoe Heritage Association WWW.WOODENCANOE.ORG Now those people have some super boats and are real enthusiasts . A bit scary too. I mean they are organised into International Chapters like the canoeing version of the HA! Edited June 28, 2023 by comanche Quote Link to post Share on other sites
comanche 2,799 Posted July 4, 2023 Author Report Share Posted July 4, 2023 As promised; updates. The dilemma regarding what to coat the fabric with was settled by the gift of a tub of Flexiseal from a neighbour. It was free so l can overlook its horrid industrial greyness . Still if it's good enough for battleships and gun punts perhaps it's not a bad colour for a fishing canoe. The interior was coated with linseed oil( from the depths of my shed )and the exterior with two coats of trade undercoat(a painful but necessary £12 purchase from a proper shop ). Then came the painting and wood trim. No real excuse not to test the water..... 11 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Deker 3,453 Posted July 5, 2023 Report Share Posted July 5, 2023 Looks the part, now for the pics in the water!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Daniel cain 42,892 Posted July 5, 2023 Report Share Posted July 5, 2023 Fairplay pal...that looks smart,and practical.good luck on your maiden voyage 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Night Walker 591 Posted July 5, 2023 Report Share Posted July 5, 2023 Brilliant work, nice to know some people still have the ability and confidence to build there own things 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
comanche 2,799 Posted July 5, 2023 Author Report Share Posted July 5, 2023 5 hours ago, Deker said: Looks the part, now for the pics in the water!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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