Canoe Progress

Work on Tom's canoe has progressed quite well over the Christmas holiday.

We decided that the neatest way to join the 2 halves of each plank was a simple scarf joint, much neater than taped or doubled option.

Finally we could start stitching the planks together using small cable ties. Here are the the first four planks joined together.

Progress was rapid with the hull soon taking shape. The gaps between the planks was also pleasingly small.

The joint between each set of planks was then glued using a thickened epoxy fillet. The stitches and moulds could the be removed leaving a plywood shell. The joints need to be reinforced with 50mm wide woven glass tape and more epoxy.

We can then start fitting the inwales/ gunwales,decks etc.

I'm not sure if this is the bow or the stern. They are both the same shape.

We have just weighed the shell which is a very lightweight 9.8 kg.

Meanwhile work at the Boatyard has also progressed. The "Raft Foundation" is complete other than a small section of workshop floor. The workshop was delivered just before Christmas and work erecting the frame should start tomorrow. More pictures of the new build will follow....