Rollin Thurlow
member since 1980
Yes, Chris , I've tried many different filling methods and compounds. when Garrett and Alexandra were running guided river trips I would experiment with their canoes, trying different mixes and compounds. I've tried experiments on my own canoes and few selected customers canoes. I don't want to think about the number of canoes that I had to recanvas due to these experiments. I've had great canvasing filling disasters. I've tried the cecofil and latex , different types of epoxy, dacon, Ecofill, and others. Very few lasted more than one canoeing season . They all require their own learning curves and proper application
Todd is correct in that the epoxy filling method has many advantages. There is nothing wrong or false or degrading about using different materials and choosing a building system that makes sense to the person doing the building or the using of the boat. I use the epoxy filling method it once in a great while, most often on larger sq. stern boats and when for what ever reason, the boat needs to be used right away.
Why do I stick with the traditional stuff? It all comes down to my philosophy of wooden boat building. There are endless combinations of different styles and modern materials and building methods that can be used. I like building traditional boats in the traditional style in the way they were traditionally built. If it was good enough for E.M. White and B.N. Morris and Gerrish , that that's what I'm doing. Sure, they built a certain way because that was all they had at that time but that is what now makes it traditional. The oil/silica base filler is as close to the traditional oil/lead base filler as I can get, it gives very good service, can look very nice, and has a proven track record. I use cedar for ribs and planking, brass clinch nails, wood rails, oil the hull and canvas the exterior. All those materials can be replaced to make something that is lighter, stronger, faster, different or more modern. I do find it interesting to experiment once in a while with different materials but basically I build and restore traditional wood and canvas canoes and all that method requires. .
Todd is correct in that the epoxy filling method has many advantages. There is nothing wrong or false or degrading about using different materials and choosing a building system that makes sense to the person doing the building or the using of the boat. I use the epoxy filling method it once in a great while, most often on larger sq. stern boats and when for what ever reason, the boat needs to be used right away.
Why do I stick with the traditional stuff? It all comes down to my philosophy of wooden boat building. There are endless combinations of different styles and modern materials and building methods that can be used. I like building traditional boats in the traditional style in the way they were traditionally built. If it was good enough for E.M. White and B.N. Morris and Gerrish , that that's what I'm doing. Sure, they built a certain way because that was all they had at that time but that is what now makes it traditional. The oil/silica base filler is as close to the traditional oil/lead base filler as I can get, it gives very good service, can look very nice, and has a proven track record. I use cedar for ribs and planking, brass clinch nails, wood rails, oil the hull and canvas the exterior. All those materials can be replaced to make something that is lighter, stronger, faster, different or more modern. I do find it interesting to experiment once in a while with different materials but basically I build and restore traditional wood and canvas canoes and all that method requires. .