First Strips

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.
The real 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.

hot glue clamps

With only three strips in place it is already pretty exciting to see the canoe taking shape.
fair curves

  • http://pawistik.blogspot.com Bryan Sarauer

    This might be the nicest looking boatbuilding blog I’ve seen.
    Looking forward to following the build of both the canoe and the SOF kayak.

    Cheers,
    Bryan (aka Pawistik)

  • sluggo

    Thanks Bryan. Now if I could only channel that small bit of talent to boat building, that would be fantastic.

    The SOF is almost done, it is hanging under my deck. It spent most of the summer acting as a sparrow perch. I need to do three tasks for it. First, I think I would like to reinforce the stations by the cockpit, I think I made the plywood too skinny. Secondly I need to cut out the coaming. Then it’s skinning time!

  • mullinator

    Digger,

    Now that you have recieved some interst in your boat blogs…does that mean more? I hope not – two words…be more funny.

  • sluggo

    Which reminds me of an old saying…. There are three kinds of people in this world: those that can do math and those that can’t.

  • Merse

    Now that you’re almost finished building canoes, boats, watercrafts etc. Does this mean you’ll finally come out of the garage and spend some time with your kids? I think your youngest child has forgotten your name/what you look like and now refers you to as “the man who lives in our blue garage.”
    And your son during daycare has made a sign that says “Please Find This Man, We’re Hungry.”

    : )

    [editor's note: sluggo has been voted "2007 best dad" by the Mount Pleasant Daycare Society]

  • mullinator

    Slugs,

    There are two kinds of people in the world…those that get jokes and those that live in the black and white. Maybe this is why all my lobbying to make the blog more funny falls flat.

  • sluggo

    There are two kinds of people in this world: sophisticated, unprejudiced, kind and tolerant souls; and racists who jump at any chance to group people by the colour of their skin. I find it ironical that those people that reduce our world to the “blacks” and “whites” happen to also be colour-blind in the ocular sense.

  • mullinator

    I think you should listen to your wife. Her post made way more sense than yours.

  • sluggo

    At least 1 of us makes sense.