comanche 2,799 Posted July 5, 2023 Author Report Share Posted July 5, 2023 4 hours ago, Night Walker said: Brilliant work, nice to know some people still have the ability and confidence to build there own things Thanks . Now to see if it floats. If it does sink I'll turn it upside down , hang it from the ceiling and claim l always intended it to be a very big lampshade . 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
comanche 2,799 Posted July 9, 2023 Author Report Share Posted July 9, 2023 (edited) Ok it floats.Next insert a test passenger. The dog was a bit suspicious when l offered him the honour of the maiden voyage. I think he'd heard about the fate of Laika ,the first dog in space. My turn. Sorry about the bad picture angles. I was trying to aim the camera , set the timer and control the canoe at the same time. Looking at them it was a good job l had put clean underpants on ! Edited July 9, 2023 by comanche 10 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mackem 23,819 Posted July 9, 2023 Report Share Posted July 9, 2023 A bit like the old birch bark canoes,looks really good. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Deker 3,453 Posted July 9, 2023 Report Share Posted July 9, 2023 5 hours ago, comanche said: Ok it floats.Next insert a test passenger. The dog was a bit suspicious when l offered him the honour of the maiden voyage. I think he'd heard about the fate of Laika ,the first dog in space. My turn. Sorry about the bad picture angles. I was trying to aim the camera , set the timer and control the canoe at the same time. Looking at them it was a good job l had put clean underpants on ! Looks great, hope all goes well. I made a GRP one about 40 years ago, rolled it first time in the river, never used it again and then sold it! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Francie, 1,723 Posted August 21, 2023 Report Share Posted August 21, 2023 Great stuff commanche fairplay Quote Link to post Share on other sites
fireman 10,774 Posted August 26, 2023 Report Share Posted August 26, 2023 Only just caught up with this and well done and what a brilliant thing to have done.... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
comanche 2,799 Posted September 3, 2023 Author Report Share Posted September 3, 2023 (edited) An update. After the test launch on the farm pond l finally found time to take to the tidal river for six hours of proper paddling. My intention was to head upstream with the rising tide and make the tidal limit which is as far as l can legally go . To be honest at that point the river becomes virtually unnavigable anyway. The last mile or so was a bit of a slog . There were so many fallen trees , overhanging branches and underwater hazards to negotiate l almost gave up. After working my way up some narrow, reed -choked channels l reached the official tidal limit . Believe it or not 200 years ago this spot would've been a hive of activity as it was a working quay and repair shop for barges that plied the Wey and Arun Navigation. I naughtily pushed a little bit further upstream until l hit the down flow that told me l was definately above the tidal reach ,but was heading for a spot where river widened slightly and afforded a place where the dog and l could land and stretch our legs before the return trip . Ten ten minutes later we were heading downstream. We had the falling tide on our side which made it easier to duck under branches but put us at more risk from underwater snags- a bit of a concern as the canoe is skinned with thin canvas. Another problem was the failing daylight and with the moon clouded things did get a bit hairy .As darkness fell and the tide picked up the river became a sliver of quickly moving silver between the shadows and black reflections of overhanging trees. Anyway we made it back Ok. The canoe works! Edited September 3, 2023 by comanche 6 5 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bangersanmash 2,375 Posted September 17, 2023 Report Share Posted September 17, 2023 (edited) On 05/07/2023 at 15:34, comanche said: Thanks . Now to see if it floats. If it does sink I'll turn it upside down , hang it from the ceiling and claim l always intended it to be a very big lampshade . What an achievement credit to you there. A wonderful past time bit of kit. Not only that something to keep you Physically fit when done and mentally when achieving the goal of building it. It's great to see we've got men like this still keeping the old way's of life going. Edited September 17, 2023 by Bangersanmash Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ditchman 1,508 Posted September 17, 2023 Report Share Posted September 17, 2023 love it......the closest ive ever come to making a boat and an adventure ...was when i was given a inflated tractor inner tube and a small rubberised tarpaulin....made myself a paddle and a few cheese sanries and a bottle of dandylion &burdock and i was good to go... your dog looked chilled out Quote Link to post Share on other sites
fireman 10,774 Posted September 19, 2023 Report Share Posted September 19, 2023 Brilliant mate and well done on giving it a proper test and a wonderful achievement indeed, all ican say is keep the posts coming if you please... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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