Canvassing Day
I finished varnishing the interior yesterday except for some final touch-up. Mark Adams came from Reno to help me canvas my canoe today. It wasn't a difficult process but, without his help and guidance, I doubt that I would have been able to to do it as quickly and as well. He has a neat set of posts that you secure by driving a car or truck onto their "feet" (see photos). We weighted the canoe down with four bags of water softener salt, two in each end. We weren't able to finish off the stems since the little bag of copper stem tacks I ordered from Rollin Thurlow seems to have disappeared (my border collie, Maggie, denies having anything to do with it). I guess I'll have to order more. I won't be able to start the filling process until after I get the tacks and finish the stems. Start to finish it took us about 2.5 hours, including set-up, using Monel staples and an electric staple gun. I hope I can be forgiven for this break from tradition.
I can't thank Mark enough for sharing his time and expertise, especially considering that he had close to a 300mi drive, round-trip. Thanks Mark!
Here are some photos:
The set-up:
Mark showing me how to do it:
Me:
Finished (except for stems):
Instead of canvas pliers we used an upholstering "webbing stretcher". Holding the tool vertically with the rubber end centered on the top of the gunnel so it will pivot on the inside edge of the gunnel, clamp the canvas against the tool with the base of your thumb/palm and rotate the handle toward the center of the canoe until you can see the edge of the rib top through the canvas. We didn't use the teeth. You can see this in the photo of Mark. I don't know how this compares to using canvas pliers but it takes a strong "weak" hand since you'll be holding the stapler or hammer in your dominant hand. On the plus side, there's nothing hard to mar your finish. It helps if one person stretches and the other staples and if you have about 4" of excess canvas so as to have enough to grab tightly. It's also something you could make with a little wood and rubber. The rubber is covered with v-grooves so it doesn't slip. Here's what the tool looks like:
I finished varnishing the interior yesterday except for some final touch-up. Mark Adams came from Reno to help me canvas my canoe today. It wasn't a difficult process but, without his help and guidance, I doubt that I would have been able to to do it as quickly and as well. He has a neat set of posts that you secure by driving a car or truck onto their "feet" (see photos). We weighted the canoe down with four bags of water softener salt, two in each end. We weren't able to finish off the stems since the little bag of copper stem tacks I ordered from Rollin Thurlow seems to have disappeared (my border collie, Maggie, denies having anything to do with it). I guess I'll have to order more. I won't be able to start the filling process until after I get the tacks and finish the stems. Start to finish it took us about 2.5 hours, including set-up, using Monel staples and an electric staple gun. I hope I can be forgiven for this break from tradition.
I can't thank Mark enough for sharing his time and expertise, especially considering that he had close to a 300mi drive, round-trip. Thanks Mark!
Here are some photos:
The set-up:
Mark showing me how to do it:
Me:
Finished (except for stems):
Instead of canvas pliers we used an upholstering "webbing stretcher". Holding the tool vertically with the rubber end centered on the top of the gunnel so it will pivot on the inside edge of the gunnel, clamp the canvas against the tool with the base of your thumb/palm and rotate the handle toward the center of the canoe until you can see the edge of the rib top through the canvas. We didn't use the teeth. You can see this in the photo of Mark. I don't know how this compares to using canvas pliers but it takes a strong "weak" hand since you'll be holding the stapler or hammer in your dominant hand. On the plus side, there's nothing hard to mar your finish. It helps if one person stretches and the other staples and if you have about 4" of excess canvas so as to have enough to grab tightly. It's also something you could make with a little wood and rubber. The rubber is covered with v-grooves so it doesn't slip. Here's what the tool looks like:
Last edited:
