The outwales are the toughest part yet!

 Mahogany is expensive!   I broke both outwales.   One was a mistake with my sander....BANG/SNAP.  The other was trying to bend it onto the end of the canoe without steaming it.  Dang.  So, I had to create two more.  One is now on except for the steam bending and the other is drying (scarf joint epoxy).   I hope the scarf dries by tomorrow morning.  If so I will do the preliminary sanding then put it on the boat.

Once both are on, I will do the soak and steam bend technique.  Not looking forward to that!   If I pop these two I may have to go with a softer wood.   The ash I put on my other boat bent easier than this!

So, another waiting game.  The good thing is, once the outwales are on all that is left is installing the seats, handles, thwarts and stem-band.  All that has pre-drilled holes and are setting ready to go at a moments notice.  That part will not take but about an hour.  Its these outwales which are holding up progress!

First coat of paint!!!!! (Sept 7)

First coat of paint has been applied!  Look...its RED!  The red paint did very well over the grey primer.  This morning I had to put bedding compound under the keel then screw it on from underneath the canoe.  I hated to drill holes through perfectly good canvas!  I will wait until Wednesday night to sand the first coat with 220 then I will put on a second coat.  My plan is to sand it with 220 again on Friday night.  Between now and then I will rabbet the two outwales in order for the outwales to fit over the hull planks with a small groove that will place the outwales at the same heigt as the inwales.  Currently the rales are made from two 11 foot pieces of mahogany with a scarf joint.  They will be attached probably next Sunday to see if I need to steam bend the ends...I hope NOT.  I hope they will bend into position.

The problem with paint...it shows every bump, nail head, canvas bias, etc.  Paint is very telling of the job underneath.  Sort of like our life huh?  Our words, smile, facial expression all tells what is going on the inside of us.  Paint hides minor imperfections but it is really a veneer.  I believe the canoe looks pretty good for my first go around restoring a wood canvas boat!

Keel created and primer applied (Sept 5)

Lots going on quickly!  First, I sanded the filler with 220 sandpaper, created a keel out of stock (had to do a scarf joint), created the outwales out of mohogany (another two scarf joints!), varnished the bow seat and applied primer.  Now we are getting somewhere!  That keel was tough to make.  It has two angle cuts and I had to make a cove by running the stock over the table saw sideways.

Anyway, the keel and primer are on!!!!!