Category Archives: Under the Keel….

Paul’s Canoe Part Twenty-six. The launching of Paul’s Canoe

The canoe launch is today, Father’s Day, June 17th , 2018, at the Hollyburn Sailing Club. Paul easily picks up and carries the canoe. I have taped towels onto the roof rack crossbars.  We centre the canoe and I tie it down.  … Continue reading

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Paul’s Canoe Part Twenty-five. Making the paddles.

With the canoe finished, Paul and I start work on our paddles.  In speaking with fellow Vancouver Wooden Boat Society member, Ian McGrath of Great Northern Craft, I tell him about the paddles.  Ian has some paddle blanks and will … Continue reading

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The Urban Oarsman & Son build a Canoe, part Twenty four…Final varnishing of the hull and attaching the seats, thwart and the stem rings.

The black goop is dry.  Time to take the tape off and trim any excess black goop. We give the hull a wipe down with Varsol, to remove any black goop stains or spots. Paul files the attaching screws more … Continue reading

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Squamish to the Hollyburn Sailing Club…a three day row with the “Cheetahs” of the Sea.

For every trip, you need to have a trip plan and leave it with someone who can call for help if you are overdue. Original trip plan: Trip as actually done: We leave too early in the morning to pick … Continue reading

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The Urban Oarsman & Son build a Canoe, part Twenty three…Final sanding of the hull and glueing on the brass keel strip.

This is the last chance to get the hull smooth.  I kill off an afternoon sanding the canoe.  (Again!)  When we brought the canoe out into the sunlight, you could see a few runs….We are trying for a good finish… … Continue reading

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The Urban Oarsman & Son build a Canoe, part Twenty two…..…Final shaping of the gunnels and glueing on the decks.

We are going to work outside to keep the dust down in the shop.  There is varnishing in our future. A perfect afternoon for working on the Canoe.  Warm, sunny with a little breeze to take the dust away. We … Continue reading

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The Urban Oarsman & Son build a Canoe, part Twenty one…Glueing on the outside gunnels.

Paul and I have tapered the outside gunnels and now we are going to epoxy them on.  The first step is to cut off the excess gunnel. Having cut off the excess, we dry fit the gunnels and use a … Continue reading

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The Urban Oarsman & Son build a Canoe, part Twenty…………Weaving the Babiche pattern for the seats, tapering the outside gunnels and final outside hull sanding.

Paul has decided to weave a “Babiche” pattern on his canoe seats, using paracord instead of rawhide lacing.  He picks a “Blue Camo” paracord colour pattern. I do some research on the internet and find a diagram on Mike Elliott’s … Continue reading

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The Urban Oarsman & Son build a Canoe, part nineteen…………Inside and Outside gunnels, Epoxy & cloth on the inside of the hull.

Paul has decided to “Scupper” the inside gunnels.  We cut up the 8′ oak plank to get 16′ lengths for the gunnels.  We will use a “half-clothespin” splice to get the length. With this jig, I will be able to … Continue reading

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Building the dolly for Gwragedd Annwn

I have had a lot of experience with launching dollies.  Aluminum tubing seems to work the best.  No rust problems.  Plastic axles for the wheels for the same reason.  Stainless Steel bolts/washers/nuts.  I have gotten more than ten years out … Continue reading

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