Gunnels/Decks

So, the last 1/3 of the project begins.  I started by cutting the walnut for the gunnels at my Dad's shop.  I chose a scupered gunnel design...I enjoy the cosmetics of the look.  My outter gunnel will compose of a solid strip of 3/8 x 3/4 walnut.  The inner gunnel has a solid strip of 3/8 walnut with 1/4 thick spacer blocks.  The blocks are 4 inches long with a 4 inch space in between.  I glued on all of the spacer blocks to the inner gunnel before applying everything to the hull of the canoe.  Right now, I have the gunnels attached to the canoe...but this was a dry fit.  I plan to take them off, apply resin to the backside of the gunnels to seal them, and then re-apply them for good.

 

I forgot to take any pictures of the building of the decks.  I wanted to do something a little fun/different so I got my hands on a piece of Tiger Maple.  I put a strip of walnut in the middle, and glued it together.  Im hoping that it looks really cool once I get the resin and varnish on it.

 

 

The gunnels are kind of a 2 person job as well.  I find it much easier to bend/hold the gunnels in place while someone else screws them in.  Im sure I will find myself doing some of this alone...but oh well.  I am screwing the gunnels on with 1 inch brass screws.  I am counter-sinking them so that they are flush, and then putting in 1 screw that lines up with the center of each 4" spacer block. 

 

Next up....seats, thwarts, and yokes!

 

Fiberglassing the inside

Well, I have not posted for a few weeks, but I have been at least somewhat busy!  I kind of grounded to a halt with the sanding of the inside of the hull...but I did finally get it all done.  I scraped the glue off and some of the cedar with a paint scrapper, and then sanded the entire hull with 60 grit sandpaper on the random orbital sandpaper.  This worked well, but took a long time.  IM thinking if/when I do it again, I will look for courser sandpaper for this stage...45 grit?  Anyway...I talked my dad and brother into coming over on a Saturday morning and we were able to get the inside fiberglassed pretty easily.

 

Later that night, I asked my buddy Karl to come over, and we squeeged on the 2nd coat.  I actually enjoy the fiberglass/resin work.  It is fun to see the results, and how the finished product is going to look.  I have decided though that when doing large areas of the canoe, that having at least 2 people is necessary to keep working efficiently.  Either having 2 people applying resin and one person mixing batches or resin, or 1 person applying and 1 person mixing.

 

The next night I brushed on the 3rd and finally coat of resin on the inside of the hull.  I think its turninig into one sexy canoe!  :)