I'm glad it was too cold to canvas...

[patrick corry]

And besides, I still have stripping to do as well. But over the winter, while we had single digit temperatures, I had some new rib failures. While recently looking over the canoe in anticipation of warmer temperatures I discovered these fractures; there is fresh wood visible within the breaks so I know they aren't old breaks. I'm wondering if it was just the cold, or if my previous rib replacements and planking had introduced new stress into the canoe? The four ribs are indicated by the pink painters tape. On close inspection I suspect the new tacks played a part...

 

[Gil Cramer]

It takes very little stress to crack old 1/4" ribs. The new tacks also helped.

 

[1905Gerrish]

Pat,

Don't hesitate to pre dill the holes for the tacks (of course not to big). That has happened to me over the years but not 4 in a small section like this. Dry brittle wood and certainly at the bend with freshly added stresses. I've had ribs crack on my old Gerrish's just from moving and twisting them. Heard them pop!

 

[patrick corry]

Don't hesitate to pre dill the holes for the tacks

Oh, I do pre-drill often. Always at the ends of planks for sure, and often at 'stressful' spots like heavily twisted planks. This section of the canoe is a puzzle as to why it happened. This poor canoe has been flipped back and forth for ribs and planking repair, not to mention the stress of highway speed travel from mid-Hudson Valley to Pennsylvania with lots of pieces missing- 70 mile an hour winds whistling through the canoe! It's think it will feel better once wrapped in the firm embrace of new canvas!