patrick corry
solo canoeist
See original post on this canoe:
I have been assessing the canoe, stabilizing the shape with some temporary battens in preparation for steam bending approximately 17 new ribs.
Rib stock is prepared and the steam rig updated with a new burner; I tried the electric wallpaper steamer unit but was disappointed with the results. Besides, it's not nearly as exciting as a loud, open flame for heating several gallons of water!
I came to the conclusion that I would remove the inwales as a unit, cutting all the rib tips at the base of the inwale. Most of the rib tips were damaged in some way, so in this way I avoid all the tip repairs while lowering the sheer only .75". The inwales have had several previous repairs with 'new' material scarfed in, numerous screws installed from the inside out, and other maladies such as this hard spot in the sweep of the inwale at one end. Here, looking at the inwale/deck unit upside down, with a white aluminum sheet placed to accentuate the hard spot: I'm unsure as to how to remedy that un-fair curve. I'll try steaming and attaching to a form. The opposite end has a break in the inwale at the back edge of the deck. That I'll fix with a scarfed-in repair. The previous inwale repairs were not done well, but they are sound for the most part and the screw holes in various places will be drilled out and plugged to strengthen potential weak spots. This canoe is not historically significant, and the owner wants simply to return it to the water for his family as a solid, useable canoe without weaknesses. It was originally equipped with thwarts only (now missing) and I will install seats and a center thwart for family use. I have several pressed-in cane seats, but I wonder when Old Town began using them? For the sake of appearance and my own appreciation for the craft, I will likely hand cane the seats.
I recently acquired my first Old Town 50# canoe; actually two of them but more on that later. In the notes on the build record there is a reference to rubber bumpers around stem and rails. I have not seen this note before. Anyone know about this?
I have been assessing the canoe, stabilizing the shape with some temporary battens in preparation for steam bending approximately 17 new ribs.
I came to the conclusion that I would remove the inwales as a unit, cutting all the rib tips at the base of the inwale. Most of the rib tips were damaged in some way, so in this way I avoid all the tip repairs while lowering the sheer only .75". The inwales have had several previous repairs with 'new' material scarfed in, numerous screws installed from the inside out, and other maladies such as this hard spot in the sweep of the inwale at one end. Here, looking at the inwale/deck unit upside down, with a white aluminum sheet placed to accentuate the hard spot: I'm unsure as to how to remedy that un-fair curve. I'll try steaming and attaching to a form. The opposite end has a break in the inwale at the back edge of the deck. That I'll fix with a scarfed-in repair. The previous inwale repairs were not done well, but they are sound for the most part and the screw holes in various places will be drilled out and plugged to strengthen potential weak spots. This canoe is not historically significant, and the owner wants simply to return it to the water for his family as a solid, useable canoe without weaknesses. It was originally equipped with thwarts only (now missing) and I will install seats and a center thwart for family use. I have several pressed-in cane seats, but I wonder when Old Town began using them? For the sake of appearance and my own appreciation for the craft, I will likely hand cane the seats.
