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No Idea

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Sep 18, 2010
2,420
0
Dorset
Hi lee

Excersise bike...Er...Never actually admitted I was fat enough to need to go buy one.Hadnt thought about storing one. Wonder if I could convince myself I was sporty if I got one.

Hi Tilia

Yep. I would be happy with that.
 

No Idea

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Sep 18, 2010
2,420
0
Dorset
Southey...

In-excess is a bankrupt surplus store near my home.

Plans - Free

Plywood 2 8x4 sheets - I use marine grade from Buildbase - £19 inc each

Layup Fibreglass resin - Blue Gees in Hamworthy, Poole- It works and has been used for years, so Im not going to spend more for epoxy. £35 for a gallon inc hardener - needs 1/2 a gallon for a canoe.

2" wide glass tape - Blue Gees - £11

1kg Microfibres £7 - Blue gees - a bit left over.

2 600ml mixing pots, 2 syringes, box of 1" paintbrushes £10 - ish Blue Gees.

Fist full of tea stirrers for mixing resin - Sainsburys, Tescos, cafes.

Pot of Wood Adhesive - resin based and waterproof - £1.25 In excess.

Roll 80grit sandpaper £2.50 In Excess.

Some stainless steel screws to hold joints while curing - (not used in plans) - £1.25 per 50 In excess (20mm ones for joints usually end up getting used in something else later, 30mm used to hold rub rails to hull).

750ml Yacht varnish - £5.95, 4 brushes (saves cleaning them) - £5 - In excess

Roll Duct tape 2" wide £2.50 - In excess

Pack of pine battons I think 22x44x2440mm £10 approx - B&Q (Last one I built had batons 34x18. You will see it snap in the next few posts), (plans call for different size, which I didnt like).

Polystyrene in white canoes - £12 for 8x4ft x 4" thick - Build Base.

Wooden tanks in varnished canoe - another sheet of marine ply and two hatch covers from Force 4 Chandlery - £7.50 each - used 2 (had some stay soft gasket sealer to fix them on with. No Idea of its price).

6mm Blue Rope - In Excess £1.99

Tools - in order of importance to me....
Jigsaw with a fine blade - Cheap range B&Q - Guess at £18

4 1/2" Angle grinder with coarse wood grinding wheel - B&Q - Guess at £30 - I use it to smooth the bottom to side joints and generally chamfer things.

Power Plane - Guess at £25 @ B&Q - I use it to smooth the curves of the bottom and sides and to flatten out the top of the rub rail

I cut the rub rail blocks (not actually in the original design), with a bandsaw, but the jigsaw would do it. Bandsaw £8 I guess at B&Q

Smoothing the edges of the rubrail - Probably could do it with the grinder, but I use a £95 Router from B&Q.

Other than that...Hand full of clamps a screwdriver and some bits of wood to chock things.

If I build another, I will also use a packet of £3 copper coated panel pins from B&Q in an effort to stop the hull bottom and sides moving during microfibring.

Pot of talcum powder - £1.

I think thats the lot.

Disclaimer...Im not connected to any of those outlets, just use them.
 
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No Idea

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Sep 18, 2010
2,420
0
Dorset
.......I had a go.

I hate pigging canoes. Hate this one too as it rocked alarmingly and frightened me.

After 30 yards, I got out.

But it had given me some Ideas....

I went home and put the other end tank in...

c-dscf0846.jpg


Taped...

c-dscf0849.jpg


Er..I did varnish the insides before I taped them in so if they get wet, they wont start to rot.

By the next day, when it had all cured and I could go test it, I had Stupid come to stay.

Stupid is an ageing Lurcher with no brains.

Once he was chasing a squirrel that ran up a tree.

Stupid couldnt stop and squeaked when he crashed into it.

He then bit the tree.

As I said....

Stupid the dog.

So I loaded the canoe, my biggest, his canoe, and a big pile of bits, with Stupid into the car - with my hammock and response pack in a laminated waterproof bag and drove to the water.

I was a bit nervous about taking Stupid. Hes not mine. He doesnt like water. He doesnt always do what he is told. You cant leave him in the car as he eats the door skins.

I had this feeling this trip could end up ending badly.

Tea time!

Later.
 

No Idea

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Sep 18, 2010
2,420
0
Dorset
Arrived at the launch by the pier.

Dragged all the bits to the waters edge and sort of threw it together

I was pretty sure it wasnt going to work. Still. In for a penny....

It looked like it was going to rain, so I got my hat.

I am a firm believer in positive thinking...

"Itsnotgonnasinkitsnotgonasinkitsnotgonna......"

I think I need to work on my positive affirmations.

Still..

It was in....

With me chasing it and wondering how to get in without breaking it in half or missing and ending up swimming

c-dscf0975.jpg


I knew it was going to be a bad day.

There was a large cracking sound.

Still at least my kid missed the moment when I hit the water.

c-dscf0978.jpg


One go with a towel and putting up with the indignity of him helping me in like a little old lady...

c-dscf0980.jpg
 

No Idea

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Sep 18, 2010
2,420
0
Dorset
My hat kept dripping on my nose.

My kid let go of Stupid.

Stupid doesnt like water. Stupid took a run up and flew over the water to land feet first on my lap - well slightly lower would have been.

Nearly vomited over the side. Piggin Stupid dog.

Luckily my kid got the giggles and couldnt take any pics for shaking.

He was upset over that.

Still....

A while later....

c-dscf0985.jpg


Stupid likes the little paddle best.

The big paddle drips water on his head and that makes him start - and hes still perilously close to my nuts.

c-dscf0986.jpg


This is what I wanted!

c-dscf0990.jpg
 

No Idea

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Sep 18, 2010
2,420
0
Dorset
I was loving it.

This boat is soo stable with the outrigger on.

c-dscf0994.jpg


Until it started to rain.

Stupid doesnt like rain. Stupid thinks the best thing to do when it rains is run to hide under the nearest tree.....

Hes getting wet and jumpy...

c-dscf0996.jpg


It hurt even more than his first go.

Still...

At least I didnt actually fall out of the canoe this time.

I found Stupid under a tree.

We pulled the boats up on the side and set up a camp.

Hammocks, tarps, hot chocolate...

Even the smell started to make me feel better.

We were right next to a footpath. Not much good though as we would have to carry the canoes all the way back - oh, and keep Stupid dry.
 

No Idea

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Sep 18, 2010
2,420
0
Dorset
There was this bloke.

He must have been the most safety concious bloke in the whole world.

He had steel toe capped boots, orange overalls, hi vis jacket, white safety helmet, big gloves, safety glasses.

He was riding a bike with lights, mudguards, even wheel reflectors...

Until he saw Stupid.

He said "Dee Ell!"

And promptly rode into a tree.

Luckily my first aid kit wasnt too soggy so I had a plaster for his nose.

He wouldnt let me take his pic.

Wonder why.

Turns out he was astonished at seeing Stupid.

He had never seen a dog doing that before.

c-dscf0891.jpg


First time he had met Stupid.

That safety equipement didnt work very well.
 

No Idea

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Sep 18, 2010
2,420
0
Dorset
We had a nearly dry trip back as it stopped raining - right up till we made the beach and I fell out again.

Loaded the dog and biggests canoe.

Was starting to take mine apart when it made another dash for freedom.

As I caught it, I saw what caused the earlier cracking noise.

c-dscf1003.jpg


Balls.

Looks like I need to go back to the drawing board.

Still....

I have some more Ideas!
 

No Idea

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Sep 18, 2010
2,420
0
Dorset
Welcome JoshuaOC

Lol may I ask how long that took you?

Its comments like yours that keep me sharing.

Thank you.
 

No Idea

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Sep 18, 2010
2,420
0
Dorset
I needed to get off that broken piece of rub rail.

I keep hearing that layup fibreglass is seriously weak.

I think I need to differ.

The wood let go first.

Took me a whuile with a hammer and chisel to get it off.

Even then I splintered several of the blocks.

c-dscf1098.jpg


I carefully jigsawed through it at both ends of wher I decided it needed strengthening.

c-dscf1099.jpg


Here is the line I marked before cutting it through with the jigsaw.

Had to be careful not to damage the block or even the hull with the saw.

c-dscf1100.jpg


Its off! - Well, most of it.

c-dscf1102.jpg


Im going to replace that section with a thicker piece to reduce the chances of it breaking again.

c-dscf1107.jpg


Now its clamped on, I can mark the line I need to cut to.

c-dscf1107.jpg
 

No Idea

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Sep 18, 2010
2,420
0
Dorset
Its cut. I will need to blend the two pieces together after its glued on.

c-dscf1109.jpg


Done it.

Need to wait for it to dry.

c-dscf1111.jpg


Ive gone over it with the router and the grinder to put the curves back into it. The white stuff is wood dust.

c-dscf1112.jpg


Its going to need some tidying up.

c-dscf1114.jpg


Little Idea said that fixing that was boring, so he wandered off and found some little coke cans and made a new meths burner with the holes round the sides instead of on top.

c-dscf1117.jpg


....Like you do when you are feeling bored.

Its too bright to see the flames.

Need to take pics at night.

c-dscf1118.jpg
 

No Idea

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Sep 18, 2010
2,420
0
Dorset
It worked!

c-dscf1121.jpg


Hmmm......

This bit of ply....

Hmmm.....

c-dscf1122.jpg


Hmmm....

More thinking.

Sort of have a plan, but its not sort of finished in my head....

Going to start and see if I can finish off the plan when I get to it.

I know thats backwards, but I havent the data I need to really finish the plan.

So.....

I hacked off 2 1 ft (305 mm) by 8ft (forgotten, but 2440mm - I think)

,,,and sort of looked at tehm for a bit.

c-dscf1124.jpg


Ive clamped a bit of wood at teh steepest angle Im likely to paddle at.

c-dscf1126.jpg
 

No Idea

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Sep 18, 2010
2,420
0
Dorset
I had a good look at this pic and sort of worked out where the water comes to on the side of the hull.

c-dscf0994.jpg


Its a pool noodle width below the poolnoodle...sort of.

So...some careful measruring later....

Ive got 12cm width....

c-dscf1128.jpg


..and about 20cm high...

c-dscf1129.jpg


...at a guesstimate.

I carefully cable tied the two bits of ply together...

c-dscf1130.jpg
 

No Idea

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Sep 18, 2010
2,420
0
Dorset
So I sort of hammered in this block of wood so I could look at the shape.

c-dscf1131.jpg


I decided I needed to reshape the ends a bit.

c-dscf1133.jpg


Done.

c-dscf1134.jpg


Even with the block jammed in the top, the bottom is still straight ( sort of expected the ends to curl up).

c-dscf1135.jpg


Having a look at the gap under two pool noodles, as that was about the size of the gap on the photo.

c-dscf1136.jpg


Struggling with this as I have No Idea how this will turn out.

c-dscf1137.jpg
 

No Idea

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Sep 18, 2010
2,420
0
Dorset
Knowing where the water came to on the canoe, I marked this at teh same height.

c-dscf1137.jpg


Drew in the line - which is very feint on the pic with a baton.

c-dscf1138.jpg


Marked where the arms would join on...

c-dscf1139.jpg


Thats the bottom cut to shape, and the baton bent to the shape I want for the top.

c-dscf1141.jpg


Its cut.

c-dscf1142.jpg
 

No Idea

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Sep 18, 2010
2,420
0
Dorset
Hmmm.....

I sort of want it to pack up under the edge of the canoe, so I can get it between the roof bars on the car, and when on the water, still paddle it like a normal canoe if I need.

c-dscf1143.jpg


I taped it and microfibred the inside, but the sun cooked the tape off. Poxy tape. Need to put some clamps on it so it wont fail in future.

c-dscf1145.jpg


Its got a hole in it. I ground it and re did ti.

c-dscf1151.jpg


..Then I wetted it out and taped the joint.

c-dscf1156.jpg


I hammered the top on, but the joint inside cracked, so we had to go and replace i.

Then I varnished it.

That was the end of that day.

Bed time Gnite!
 

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