Linseed Oil Applied

The outside of the hull with the linseed oil mixture. Note how the brass clenching nails shine after they got lightly sanded with the hull!

A BIG difference between the older (55 year old wood) and the new ribs and planks. I did not realize the oil would make the lighter wood turn dark. But...its OK!


Close up of the two woods after the oil was applied



My home brew...one part linseed oil and one part turpentine being heated over our stove. Joy just rolls her eyes. I am used to it!

50% turpentine and 50% boiled linseed oil. That's it. Now put it in a double boiler then brush it on the canoe. That was the next step and boy does it look different! I am a bit disappointed actually. I had hoped the canoe would retain the light colored look but the oil mixture actually darkened the wood and shows every gouge, sanding mark and cross-grain scrape. I hope once it fully soaks in and dries out I can go back and try to clean some of that up. If I had know it was going to be darker I would have only oiled the outside hull.

Oh well! She is STILL a beauty! I used just under a gallon of the mixture and saturated the wood on both the inside and outside. It will probably be dried by the first or second week of May. Until then I have to prepare my canvas stretching system and give it a test run.

Stipping Finished!

I know its been a while since I have written about Anna's canoe. The weather for the past few months has been cold and rainy and is not conducive to working on a boat...especially when there are so many trails to hike before the gnats arrive!

Anyhow, the canoe is completely stripped of the old 50 year old varnish! Yesterday I gave it one more going over and then washed out all the residue. After that I gave it it's bleach water bath and my goodness how pretty!

Right now its sitting outside in the sun drying out. I will sand any damages areas from all the scraping and the outside hull this week and hopefully get the linseed oil on it this weekend. I want to do that inside and out. It must dry for about three weeks.

After the linseed oil I will varnish the inside and get that all looking good. That puts me at May 1 to begin the varnish. The varnish will require several coats and in between sanding and varnish, sanding and varnish, etc. Once varnished then I will flip the boat and put on the CANVAS! If I can get the canvas on that week I can then put the filler on and let it set (cure) until about the middle of June. With all this said I want to delver the canoe before I go on my summer vacation in the middle of July.