Dave Aukes
Enthusiastic about Wooden Canoes
When installing a keel on a canoe with an uneven surface what is the best practice used to deal with the gaps between the canoe bottom and the keel?
keel instalation
- Thread starter Dave Aukes
- Start date
Dave Aukes
Enthusiastic about Wooden Canoes
I posted that before I was finished. Sorry
It looks like the options are, grind and shape the keel to fit the bottom, fill the gaps with shims or buy a gallon of 1/4 inch putty or maybe all of the above?
It looks like the options are, grind and shape the keel to fit the bottom, fill the gaps with shims or buy a gallon of 1/4 inch putty or maybe all of the above?
Unless there is something really strange going on, the keel will conform to the bottom when screwed on. Bed it in bedding compound, like Dolfinite.
The bigger question is why is the bottom so uneven?
The bigger question is why is the bottom so uneven?
Dave Aukes
Enthusiastic about Wooden Canoes
If this canoe was built on a form, I'm guessing the form fell off the second story factory balcony and the form was used as is. Or it was built without a form in a back yard in an attempt to copy a production canoe. Whatever it was I'm stuck with it and would like to finish it, so maybe use all three options and live with it.
I thought about not using the keel but it's 18' with a 41" beam square stern and I thought it would be best to use the keel for strength. It will be used to haul a lot of outdoor gear plus three adults.
I thought about not using the keel but it's 18' with a 41" beam square stern and I thought it would be best to use the keel for strength. It will be used to haul a lot of outdoor gear plus three adults.
Dave Wermuth
Who hid my paddle?
I'm with doctor Miller. The keel should conform unless there's something really wonky. In which case a keelson might be something to think about in concert with the keel. A canoe that big, it can't hurt.
A keelson will really help this boat . It is a work horse and from what you describe, the hull needs some correction. I have an EM White Sportsman
ca. 1905 . It is a heavy water, hunting boat and was fitted with a keelson originally running from stem end to stem end. It is oak 1 -1/8" x 3/8" and riveted with hand made copper rivets at every other rib , peened over a copper washer with the heads countersunk in the keel and bunged with an oak plug. The hull midship is " some wicked rigid ", and ready for moose quarters. You will not soon forget the sound of all that peening .
Have fun
Dave
ca. 1905 . It is a heavy water, hunting boat and was fitted with a keelson originally running from stem end to stem end. It is oak 1 -1/8" x 3/8" and riveted with hand made copper rivets at every other rib , peened over a copper washer with the heads countersunk in the keel and bunged with an oak plug. The hull midship is " some wicked rigid ", and ready for moose quarters. You will not soon forget the sound of all that peening .
Have fun
Dave
Dave Osborn
LIFE MEMBER
Great suggestion Dave!
chris pearson
Michigan Canoe Nut
Dave Osborn, Devivo is way smarter than he looks!!!
Dave Aukes
Enthusiastic about Wooden Canoes
Yes, I knew you fellas would make me feel better, (Talked me down off the ledge so to speak)
I have a plan now thanks Dan, Dave and to dtdcanoes thank you for the bit on the E M White keel/keelson beef up. I'm going to take that and fit it to my situation.
I'll use my keel and look around this wood desert for some white oak to fashion a keelson. Length of materials is always the challenge around here. The dimensions you listed will be perfect and with that I should be able to draw up the keel nice and snug.
I used to hall loads in a plastic 16ft square stern fitted with three keels, in light chop the bottom would still flex so I braced it to the center thwart. After that the center thwart flexed too LOL
Great feedback thanks to all.
Dave
I have a plan now thanks Dan, Dave and to dtdcanoes thank you for the bit on the E M White keel/keelson beef up. I'm going to take that and fit it to my situation.
I'll use my keel and look around this wood desert for some white oak to fashion a keelson. Length of materials is always the challenge around here. The dimensions you listed will be perfect and with that I should be able to draw up the keel nice and snug.
I used to hall loads in a plastic 16ft square stern fitted with three keels, in light chop the bottom would still flex so I braced it to the center thwart. After that the center thwart flexed too LOL
Great feedback thanks to all.
Dave
