Getting the stems plumb

[Lew's Canoes]

I have never been satisfied with the 'traditional' methods of getting the stems straight and plumb on a new w/c canoe, so I was intrigued by an ad for a small laser device that would project a vertical line. I borrowed one from a neighbor, and it turned out to be the perfect tool for the job! The one I used is a Craftsman 4 in 1 laser, a small battery powered device designed to aid the layout of horizontal and vertical work. I think it sells for less than $40, but I will know for sure soon! The process was simple - level the canoe side to side with a 4 - foot level across the inwales, and secure in place ( I braced down from overhead to each inwale at center thwart location). Set the laser in the bottom of the boat about midship, and level using the 3 leveling screws. When you turn it on, it projects a fine red line that is dead vertical. Align the beam with the planking joint down the center of the hull, and hit the lower end of the stem at the bow/stern. ( simply move the laser slightly left or right until the alignment along the planking line is perfect, then recheck the leveling of the unit). You now have a perfectly vertical line along the centerline of the hull, and it is projected up the length of the stem to the stem tip / inwale area. Double check the leveling of the hull across the inwales, and you can now shift the stem tip and inwales to be perfectly in alignment. Clamp, tie off, make reference marks, etc. and proceed with the stem/inwale connection and planking at the stems. Flip the laser around to do the other end ( maybe someone makes one that shoots both ways?), and repeat the process, making sure to relevel everything as you go. Perhaps others have discovered this method already, but I have not seen it here - hope you find it useful! Seems like it would also work on a restoration project where you want to check for a 'twist' in an old hull.

 

[DAveG]

I just realigned my old canoe, new decks and repositioned the inwales. After going to the garage everynight and staring at it something just didn't look right. The canoe had a twist from the factory. Your lazer trick would have saved me hours.

And I own two of the little guys. Why didn't I think of that?

Thanks.

DAve

 

[chris pearson]

What a great idea, thanks for the info!!!!!!!!!

 

[Don Sable]

I mounted a laser on a piece of aluminum channel to facilitate leveling it. I next took a piece of plate mirror approximately 6 x 8 inches. I scratched the reflective coating off a series of ½ inch square boxes vertically up the center of the mirror. Each box was spaced ½ inch from the adjacent box.II I position the laser just beyond the center thwart and aim it along the centerline of the canoe toward the stem. I place the mirror on the other side of the thwart and position it so the laser beam passes through the line of non-reflecting spaces. The reflected beam would pass back along the centerline and up the opposite stem. This gave me a view of both stems at the same time such that I could adjust appropriately. The laser is not very powerful so the beam is quite dim. I did it when the ambient light level was low.

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[Denis M. Kallery]

More photos guys---please and thanks!
Denis

 

[Jan Bloom]

Don,
Your attachments will not open. Could you post regular pics of your set up?

Thanks

 

[Don Sable]

Additional photo's




Here are a few more photo's. They show the laser and the mirror with the laser beam going through and the reflected beam.

 

[Jan Bloom]

Thank you, that is really a neat trick.