Planking and stems (7-28-08)

Top, Obtaining some outwale mahongany

Bottom, Erin and I buying mahogany for the
outwales at Jeffries Woodworks














Both stems are INSTALLED! Ye haw! I did not like the stern stem so I removed it and created a new one...its that first child OCD perfectionist thing. Anyway, the one I had installed would have been fine but I wanted one better. So I lamenated several 1/4" layers of white ash together with epoxy and allowed it to set for a few days. I had to bend the ash over a mold (which I also had to create) and left it to dry. Now it is installed (with epoxy and nails). Next I installed some planking to the area where the big hole was. The white cedar is so light weight and flexible! Lastly I shaped three ribs. On Tuesday of last week I noticed THREE MORE broken ribs. Ahhhhhhhhhh! Now I have to order three more rib stock and shape them.

The stern turned out marvelous! Anna, you will like it! I had to replace the rotten stem, split planking and had to do some restoration of the deck plate and two inwale tips. I will put the pictures here I hope tonight. I will do the same thing to the bow (stem, planking, deck plate and inwale tips.

Here is the cool thing...I was able to use salvagable pieces of the outwale to make the stern and bow inwale tips and the ends of the deck plates since all the wood is the same (appears to be all mahogany). The Old Towne designation "AA" grade means the owner ordered the best grade of wood to trim the canoe with. In this instance he wanted it to be mahogany. Anna has a nice canoe. AA grade. So once it is restored it will have salvaged pieces used and not thrown away.

My plan this week is to bend the three ribs I have prepared and I hope to install them. I need to order more planking, more ribs and buy some stripper because after the ribs and planking are finished I will take the boat outside and strip the 50 year old varnish. I have to do that not for aesthetics but to cover the canoe with linseed oil. See, linseed oil soaks into the wood and creates a more flexible (less brittle) hull and is a great wood preservative.

Good stuff! This canoe will be beautiful! 32 hours so far in the effort. Dad-gum this is fun!