Canoe Launch

I have finished the canoe so it was time to try it out. We headed over to Pop and Nanna's house for the first splash. The canoe was great, tracked straight, fast enough, nice and stable. I wanted to test how stable it would be but I wasn't sure if it would float when swamped. So we put it in the swimming pool where the canoe proved to be quite stable, even when standing I didn't end up having to swim. The canoe hull is also quite buoyant when swamped. Thank you to Miss Roxy for  the photography. 

Matisse painting her paddle

Adventurous Paddler

Even more Adventurous Paddler

Yay

Matisse and I

Matisse and I

Helping to paddle

 
Keiths turn

Reasonably stable

I didn't fall in

Floats when swamped

Late Update

These photos are from a week ago. The Dinghy needs a sand and final coat of toplac. The canoe canoe has had the rubrails / gunwhale shaped and given a coat of epoxy. I have since done some more work on the canoe. It now has its interior finished with satin varnish over epoxy. The hull has its final gloss white paint, and the rubrail has some gloss varnish. I just need to finish the varnish on the brightwork and some sika on the underside of the rubrail. (A boat is not a boat if it does not have some sika). Also I have made a couple of paddles. A dodgy one for myself and a nicer one for Matisse. 

Canoe Gunwale Scarf Joint

I have attempted to fix the scarf joint that broke yesterday. It looks like it should work as the joint is held closed with some epoxy. Will take the clamps off tomorrow night and see.

Not much progress but a day out

I didn't get much done this weekend. I sanded the dinghy to have a better go at the paint. I also glued on the rub rails for the canoe. I broke one of the scarf joints though. I think the epoxy hadn't quite cured as the temps have been a bit cold. Hopefully I can glue and clamp it back together.

Otherwise we got out on my brothers boat to go to lunch so that was worthwhile substitute for boat building. Here is Matisse in the boat. (She fell asleep while the boat was screaming along at 50-60 knots).

Canoe Breasthooks

I had wanted to get more paint on the dinghy however it has been raining and therefore extra humid. So I gave painting a rest in case humidity messed around with it.

What I did do today was install the breasthooks in the canoe. I glued some merbeau with a pine stringer a few days ago and today I cut them out sanded them down and glued them in. They also have a coat of epoxy and the look like they will come out quite nice. Much more interesting than plywood anyway.

Oooohhh Shhhinny!

It is a long weekend so good progress is being made. I flipped the dinghy hull, sanded and put another undercoat on.

Then I got to work on the canoe. I had fibreglass taped inside the seams and epoxied the inside. and then faired and radiused the outside. so after some sanding I sheathed the outside with fibreglass and a few coats of epoxy. Today I sanded down the epoxy and used up the last of the international prekote. Just enough to cover the canoe.

Back to work on the dinghy and it was time for some shiny stuff. I am using international toplac, I added some thinners and set about rolling and tipping. First time rolling and tipping and I am happy with parts of the job. There are few areas that didn't come out too well, they can be sanded and fixed on the next coat.

Just the sea,, and the sky!!!

Surface Preparation Saga, New canoe Build, and Injury.

Last weekend I really wanted to get some top coat on the deck. I was showing Dad the work I had done so far and he asked why I hadn't removed the pad eyes on the transom. I said it was too hard to reach inside to get at the nuts to undo them. I had a better look at them and decided that they looked a bit too shabby so I cut them off with a hacksaw and filled the holes. While I had some epoxy mixed up i also filled in a few more spots that were not quite right.

Then I was ready to sand however the temperature was low and I am using the slow hardener from west so I had to be patient. Eventually I could sand so I sanded the deck and I have applied two more coats of international prekote. I am now really happy with the surface so all I need now is to sand and then start with the toplac topcoat. I am going to attempt to roll and tip to see how that turns out.

Also as interesting as watching paint dry is I started a stitch and glue canoe. I am using the free plans from bateau for a 14 ft canoe. This is my first boat I will have built and I wanted to see how the stitch and glue comes together and get a feel for it before starting the Tubby Tug.

It has come together and looks like a canoe. The ply panels don't line up quite as perfectly as they could. I think this was due to using duct tape to hold the panels in place while the hull is glued. The plans recommended the tape method however I really think I would of had a better result if I used cable ties or wire. I was working on saw horses but the taped hull was a bit flimsy so I moved to work on the floor. Well this was my undoing. I now have a sore back and all work has stopped until I can recover. Overall I am impressed with the canoe and look  forward to finishing it off and messing around in it.

The Sanctuary Cove Boat Show is on again this weekend and just across the river so I might try and get along there to see what I can find of interest. I dont think I will do any work this weekend as I have some uni assignments to take care of as well.

Progress

No photos because it just looks the same. However the undercoat has dried and the deck is now much nicer and fairer. There were lots of imperfections last time. It is still not perfect but it is close to or better than good enough.

A light sand and some more undercoat and maybe a top coat this weekend might go well.

More filling fairing and undercoat

After the last coat of undercoat it was apparent that there were quite a few areas that were far from perfect. Lots of sanding followed and another lot of epoxy fairing. More sanding and dust and then a coat of undercoat. 

The photo below looks just like it did last time so I have dug around and found some other photos of the dinghy over the years.

Should be nicer than last time.

Me sailing in the canal. I think I was 10 or 11

Original red hull

Washing

Dad making repairs to the centreboard.

Top Deck Undercoat

After more filling and sanding I have decided to put on a coat of primer on the deck. Its not perfect but maybe the fresh paint will help me see the areas that need a bit more work and the other areas that are good enough. Thank you Miss Roxy for helping.