Building the Stripper by by John Ayearst
Continued
The Stripper was so pretty I hated to slide it into Lake Superior, never mind turn over ownership! (But the owner was so happy with how it looked and paddled that it "almost" made up for it. That's him posing proudly, showing the interior of HIS new canoe. That's me paddling it. At least I got to do that first!)I finished the canoe with Interlux Schooner varnish which gives a nice rich amber look. The exterior is high gloss but I added flattener to the final coat on the interior to give it a satin look there.
Well, that's my second completed Glen-L project (first was the Glen-L 13 sail boat, for myself). Now... I sure like the looks of one of those mahogany runabouts.
Rough-sawn and weathered eastern white cedar boards were planed.
First strips glued in place with Type 2 waterproof wood glue. Used staples and flat twine poly to pull together.
Clamps helped, too. Did maximum 5 rows at a time to keep rows neat and to keep ahead of drying glue drips.
Strips of eastern white cedar and western red, along with mahogany, were sorted by colour shade to produce design.
At this point enough strips are in place to insert pre-made centre section.
One layer inside and out on sides.
Mahogany keel was epoxied to hull and blocks and poly twine held it tight.
Decided to fill bulkheads with rigid foam held in place with low-expansion spray foam.
Glued spacing blocks to interior sheers (inner gunwales). Used cedar after finding mahogany too brittle to take the bends without steaming first. Cedar lighter, too.
Babiche (moose hide) was soaked overnight to get it this flexible for weaving into seat frames.
Tory displays interior which was finished in satin look by using flattening agent in final coat of Schooner varnish. (2)
Stern seat and bulkhead.
The family cottage of canoe owner Tory Colvin is on the cliff over my head.