Update

It's been a while since I have posted anything.  I haven't done much more to my canoe, I still need to put on the decals and apply the spar varnish.  I'll try and get to that soon.

Since the last post,  I got a ball python that I named Irwin:

My wife got a pet cat:

Rascal

I built a work bench in my shop:

I built a cat tree for Rascal:

Rascal enjoying his new home

Camping Trip #2

We went on another camping trip from May 20 - May 21.  It was about 16 miles.  We put in at County Road 107 around 10 that Friday morning.  We camped on a sandbar that was at about the half way mark.  We made it to our destination at Weeks Bridge around 5 that Saturday afternoon.  It was a nice section of the river with many places to fish.  The water was low, so we had to portage several times, but it wasn't too bad.  Here are a few pictures from our trip:

Putting in

Saw several water snakes.

We had 2 canoes and 2 kayaks.

Had to portage around this big drop off.

Tim and I fishing at our campsite.  Caught several bream, crappie, and bass.  Tim also hooked a big bowfin, but it got off.

Our campsite.

Boats docked for the night.

My canoe did very well.

Canoe #2 in the water

Well, I was able to test out the canoe this weekend.  We went to the lake and paddled it around a bit.  It handled very good.  It was a little tippy, but once you got used to that and realized it wouldn't tip over, it was fun.  My brother-in-law and I paddled it down a slough and through some waves.

3 people going through some waves.  It cut right through the waves, almost too good, because the water was real close to coming over the sides.

Pretty stable.

Was sitting in the font seat while paddling alone, to bring the weight closer to the center of the boat.

Seats worked great as well.

Canoe #2 Update

I tested out my Canoe Loader yesterday.  It works good.  Makes it easy for one person to load and unload a canoe from the top of a vehicle.  You just put one end of the canoe on the loader, and then walk the other end around and place on the top of the vehicle.  I am using a pool noodle for cushion / protection for the top of my truck.

Put one end on the loader (sorry for the glare)

Carry the other end around and place on top

I was able to put the rope handle on as well.  I have a hole in the canoe with a piece of 1/2" C-PVC pipe going through it.  Then I used some fillet (epoxy with wood flour) to seal up the ends around the wood.  This way if water gets in the hole it will just be in the pipe and run out the other side.  It will not go into the boat.  This was important because there is also one in the back where the dry box is.  For the handle I just used a piece of rope and made two double fisherman's knots.  Wrapped it around about 5 times to make it wide enough for a comfortable handle.

Rope handle

I also was able to apply the graphite coating to the bottom of the canoe.  I only put one coat on it last night, it was like 10:00 PM when I started with the graphite.

Graphite coating

Graphite coating, removed the masking tape

Canoe #2 Update

Last night I was able to put a coat of epoxy on the front deck and a second coat on the seats, gunwales, and sides of the canoe.  I also bought some Spar Varnish that is suppose to be good for marine use.  The main reason I want it is for the UV protection.  They say that the epoxy will blister if it is kept out in the sun.  I hope to be able to apply the Spar Varnish to the top of the boat to help protect it from UV damage.  I will also be applying the graphite coating to the bottom of the boat.

Coated the front deck, sides, gunwales, and seats.

Canoe #2 Update

Even with all of the other activities that I have been doing (zoo, family gatherings, cleaning vinyl siding, planting a garden, etc), I have managed to work on the canoe some.  Here are some pictures to give you an idea of what I have done:

Glued on the rear deck and clamped it down good.

Sanded some on the epoxy tip paddle.

Took the clamps off of the rear deck and installed the seats.

Finished up the epoxy tip paddle.  I have to say that it looks good.  I am very happy with how it turned out.

Epoxy coated the rear deck, seats, gunwales, and yoke.

Glued and clamped down the front deck.

Another angle of the front deck.

I hope to have it completed enough to use this weekend.  I'll take it out for its maiden voyage and let you know how it handles.

Canoe #2 Update

I worked on the canoe some more last night.  I glued in the yoke / center thwart and the front cross braces to support the front deck.  Next I coated the inside of the dry box and seat brackets with epoxy.  I also decided to try out the epoxy tip paddle jig that I  made.  We'll see how that turns out.  Here are a few pictures:

Front cross braces.

Paddle in the jig.  I put Play Dough on the bottom and top side of the paddle to keep the epoxy from running down the blade.

Poured the epoxy into the reservoir and clamped it to the table so it wouldn't move.