help canvasing and filling a Shell Lake rowboat

[Treewater]

I got the Shell Lake Row boat ready to re-canvas but I want a good job. I've never done a square back anything. I can pay or trade. I have more projects than time.

 

[Todd F]

do tell....got any pictures?

 

[Treewater]

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Canvasing a Shell Lake rowboat

I've looked for information on canvasing a rowboat. None found so I'll just ask....has anyone put new canvas on a rowboat? I have a Shell Lake 13ft rowboat. Tag says it will accommodate up to a 5 hp motor. Construction is identical to a canoe except for the stern. It has a transom one and a...

forums.wcha.org

 

[Dave Osborn]

Does the transom get canvassed?

 

[Dave Osborn]

Shell Lake Snipe with trim covering the canvas.

 

[Treewater]

The transom had metastened it was not canvased. Metal or thin wood over where the canvas was pulled over the corner of the transome. Where the carry handles fastened there was no canvas.

 

[Treewater]

Thanks Dave. Very nice job on that Shell Lake. The wood looks thicker than mine. I'll have to see it I can find what came off.

 

[Dave Osborn]

Check your post from 2021. I gave brief instructions.

 

[Treewater]

 

[Treewater]

That was three years ago when I took off the old canvas. Metal was used.

 

[Dave Osborn]

Tree,
Search for my post titled “Canvassing A Square Stern”.

 

[Treewater]

Okay, I must have forgotten what I was told three years ago. My hands arent even as strong as they were three years ago.

 

[Dave Osborn]

Same method for your row boat, except the canvas is stretched over the transom and covered with trim. Nice wood trim, not that sheet metal.

Canvassing A Square Stern

The question of canvassing a square stern comes up from time to time. I documented what I did. This is an upside down stretch. I think the photos are pretty self explanatory, but basically I stretch the canvas across the hull from gunwale to gunwale for 2-3 ribs just in front of the transom...

forums.wcha.org

 

[Gil Cramer]

Shell Lake transoms were not canvassed, neither were Thompsons. Penn Yans were usually canvassed unless it was a mahogany trimmed swift. Old towns were not canvassed, but had the canvas turned under and bedded-notoriously leakers.
Both Shell lake and Thompson(Wisconsin boats) pulled the canvas over the transom and used wooden trim to cover it. Worked well.

 

[Dave Osborn]

Treewater
Make your trim before canvassing.
It’s easier to sand in the shape that way.

 

[Treewater]

Thanks everyone. I'm trying to get my courage up. As you see, I've procrastinated three years.

 

[David Satter]

I canvased a penn yan today. I did the transom first then canvased/tacked the canvas on the hull edge around the transom. Like square stern. If your transom is really bad just canvas it. Unless your trying to be historically accurate. I canvas it in the air right side up like a canoe.

 

[Treewater]

Nice job. I'm gathering that everyone tacks the transom first then stretches. My transome is good.

 

[David Satter]

You'll get a few variations of that. But remember if you allow a couple of feet of extra canvas on each end to canvas a canoe, allow 3 or 4 feet extra on the square /transom end.

 

[shelldrake]

Did a Canadian Canoe Co Y-stern a number of years ago. Transom had a shallow rabbet around the edge that the canvas was wrapped in to and stapled. A false transom (about 3/8" I think) was screwed and bunged over the structural transom.

A varnished transom would look nice on a rowboat.