dryfly.ca started as a website for sharing one of my DIY projects, a stitch and glue kayak. Since then I've added several more projects including a skin-on-frame kayak, cedar strip canoe, kayak paddles, canoe paddles, building a spey rod, and an antenna for receiving OTA HDTV. I also occasionally ramble on about politics, technology, bike racing, product reviews and last but not least, our kids.
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Tight Lines!
Archive for October, 2007
October 28, 2007 at 3:38 pm · Filed under Freedom 15 Canoe
With the stems shaped and everything in place, it’s time to start stripping the boat. The Freedom looks like it is quite a straight-forward shape to build and I’ve decided to try out some different techniques for this part of the building process. I figure I can try different things on the Freedom before I go to build a more complex boat (if I build another boat). The basic plan is to go stapleless using hot glue to clamp the wood, and to use a rolling bevel using a hand plane (instead of bead & cove).
The shear line is almost straight so I decided to have the first strip follow the shear. This puts a bit of curve into the stripping pattern with the strips curving up at the ends instead of being horizontal. Given the straight lines of the Freedom I think adding a bit of curve might be visually interesting. As well, I won’t have to worry about cutting a shear line later. I’ll use staples on the first strip.
Not only do I use hot glue to hold the strips against the forms, but between the forms I also apply hot glue to hold the strips together while the PVA glues dries. I’m using Titebond III PVA glue on this boat. I would actually prefer to use regular yellow carpenters glue because it is cheaper and lighter in color. However, I know that I’ll be gluing in cooler weather and yellow glue should be used above 15C. The Titebond III is good down to 5C I think. Titebond III is also supposed to be waterproof but that doesn’t really matter since the boat is going to be covered in fiberglass and epoxy.
With only three strips in place it is already pretty exciting to see the canoe taking shape.
October 28, 2007 at 3:26 pm · Filed under Just Stuff
September and early October found me beach fishing on the north shore about 10 times. I started at the more well-known spots by Ambleside and Cates Park. This was a “pink” year which is the return of Pink salmon for spawning every 2nd year. My set up was simple, I was using a 9′ 8wt fly rod with Scientific Angler Stillwater clear intermediate sinking line. For flies I was trying an assortment of simple, sparse pink flies, along with a few chartreuse colored flies. My first few times out the fishing was slow. I would see a few fish rolling on the surface but no bites. In fact, I didn’t see anyone get any bites my first few times out.
Eventually I came across a pretty good area for beach casting. I also lucked out with some timing. There was a low-tide at around 5am, which also corresponded with first light. This meant that I could go fishing early in the morning before the kids got up (weekends) or before work (weekdays). In one week I managed to get out 5 times I think. Although I didn’t catch anything I did get a few bites at least. Judging from what I could see in the other people fishing, I would guess that 1/3 of the guys fishing managed to land a salmon.
I also tried my luck one day on the Fraser River but didn’t see any fish or get any action. It was a nice day to be outside though.
By the end of the couple of weeks of fishing I was managing to cast maybe 70′ with the line. If I would have been able to get another 10 or 20′ it would have been great, just to be able to cover that much more water. While I’m sure I can get longer casts with this rod with more practise, I also think that it’s not the greatest rod. It’s very soft and flexy, and requires a very slow cast. The tip tends to flop quite a bit. So I’m in the market for a replacement. More on that later…
October 19, 2007 at 5:15 pm · Filed under Politics
Doug says, “No shit.”
news article
October 19, 2007 at 10:31 am · Filed under Just Stuff
The BBC reported that Gore will not run for a presidential bid. Too bad for us. I thought it was pretty exciting that someone with drive and passion for such an important issue might run for the US Presidency. You’d think that if the US president’s strongest political push was for the environment that the world would have tremendous benefit. Alas it was not to be. Perhaps Gore recognized that even as the US president his ability to affect any change on the environment would be minimal and that his efforts would be better placed elsewhere to champion his cause.
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