My Winter Project - Restoring a Canadian Canoe

[Craigy123]

I'll get a chat to you on saturday night/ sunday. All the stuff I work with is GRP based. I've had to fix my jet ski too when my friend didnt see a wall.... 

[Dowser]

Now that we have a date pencilled in for a trip to Salt Island I thought I would post an update on my Winter Project.

Truth be told, the restoration work did grind to a halt over the last couple of months due to the freezing cold weather and exam commitments, but exams have all been passed and I now have the canoe at home where I can keep it warm, dry and in the perfect environment for Fibre Glassing.

I brought it home last week and have been repairing one hole a night for the last few nights and I have even got my centreboard modification installed.

Topper Centre Board

I have always found Fibreglass really cool to work with and I am doing all the repairs from the inside of the hull so that the outside will be as smooth as glass by the time I'm done.  The previous repairs were carried out from the outside and the fibreglass looked like it had been thrown at it from a great distance 

Making the centreboard column was interesting.  I am using the centerboard/daggerboard from a Topper sailing dinghy.  It is an excellent shape, solid, and should do the job intended very nicely.

I first made the column shell by wrapping the centreboard in cling film, which Fibreglass doesn't adhere too, and then made applied a thin layer of Glass matting over that.  When set hard the centreboard slid out a treat and I was able to cut a hole in the hull using it as a stencil and then Fibre Glass it into place and make it a lot thicker.

Don't be concerned about the height of the centre column in the pictures... It will be coming up through a third centre seat, that I am making out of hardwood, and then it will be trimmed down flush with the seat.

I've also designed and ordered up decals for the Bow and Stern.  As the Gatz Mohawk has quite a Red Indian shape and feel to it I have decided to keep this going with the graphics. The background colour in the designs is very similar to the actual colour of the new Gelcoat that will be finishing off the outer surface of the hull.

This has been an awesome project so far, with plenty of challenges to overcome, and I busting to get it out for it's maiden voyage, but still lots to do as you can see.  She is a bit further on than she looks in the photo's but my battery in my camera died last night so I don't have any pics that are bang up to date 

I'm aiming to have the Hull finished by next weekend, and sanded smooth as glass, then the following weekend I will be applying the Gelcoat/Topcoat.

The last thing to do will be apply the Graphics and get her tested before the Salt Island Adventure

[hud]

Don't fancy restoring a wee wooden one next Dowser??!? I have one floating round needing a bit of TLC!

[Dowser]

Don't fancy restoring a wee wooden one next Dowser??!? I have one floating round needing a bit of TLC!

Floating around... Nice Pun 

I could be tempted.  If you have any photos let me know and I will pm you my email address.

[twentyclicks]

This is coming on great. I love that the hall has become a workshop: a hull in a hall to mend the holes 

[Dowser]

This is coming on great. I love that the hall has become a workshop: a hull in a hall to mend the holes 

It doesn't take Sherlock to deduce that I'm not married, and if I was I wouldn't be for long lol 

[LandyLiam]

The previous repairs were carried out from the outside and the fibreglass looked like it had been thrown at it from a great distance

well i didn't plan on using it for speed events 

[Dowser]

Time for a quick update as we seem to have a few canoe based outings coming up in the not too distant future 

Loads of progress made this week surprisingly as I've had the busiest week of work ever.  Got the Mast Step fitted, Seats, Centreboard Housing and Upper Mast Support made from reclaimed solid oak floor boards, Mail Sail adapted and all fibre glassing complete, including a reinforced kevlar floor.

In pictures it looks a bit like this:

The Indoor Workshop


Mail Sail from an Optimist Sailing Dinghy before adapting it


Mast Step made from Mahogany and fibre glassed into position.


The reclaimed Oak Floorboards (Hope my Land Lord isn't following this thread  )


Clamping the boards together with Epoxy Resin to make them wider


The Centreboard Housing in progress




Centreboard Housing constructed and all edges smoothed.  Don't want any bruised/punctured legs


The Mail Sail professionally adapted and sown by Twentyclicks Sister.  Huge big thanks to Twenty for organising it and his sister for actually doing the hard bit so excellently.


The Mast/Boom Connection.  The mast is a Fibreglass Sailboard Mast and the Boom is a Laser Spinnaker Pole fitted with a 55mm Plastimo Rowlock.


The Solid Oak wood work


From Top to Bottom
Centre Board Housing
Upper Mast Support
Rear Seat
Front Seat



Centre Board Housing in position.  Centre Board column will be levelled flush with the wood once installed.


How it's looking at the mo with wood work just set in position prior to painting


In this pic you can see three stainless steel bolts descending from the front cross bar. These will hold the Upper Mast Support.  The Cross Bar has been reinforced substantially to take the pressure.




To Do List
1. Final Smoothing of Outer Hull
2. Gel Coat Outer Hull
3. Deck Paint Hull's Interior
4. Apply Decals
5. Install Rigging (Mail Sail Sheet and Kicking Strap and Rope to attach Main Sail to top of Mast.
6. Source two Wooden Paddles
7. Launch
8. Enjoy

[Spud]

Good work dowser look forward to seeing the finished article!

[Mourneman]

Brilliant job Dowser,Looking forward to seeing it in the water

[Kayakgirl]

Wow its looking fab!

[Al Fresco]

Fantastic work Dowser, hope to see it at the Salt island trip.
Where do you get your fibreglass and other kit for repairs from?
I have a few fibreglass kayaks to repair.

[Dowser]

Fantastic work Dowser, hope to see it at the Salt island trip.
Where do you get your fibreglass and other kit for repairs from?
I have a few fibreglass kayaks to repair.

I'm sooooo looking forward to the Salt Island trip. Been talking about it for years but never had a Canoe up till now.

These guys here are fantastic.  They are local, extremely helpful and will deliver to your door for £5, if your not able to collect from Newry.

http://www.fibreglassdirect.co.uk/

[Al Fresco]

Cheers, thanks for that.
I think salt island will be good craic, looking forward to it.

[Dowser]

Latest Update - A few pictures of the Canoe with the sail hoisted and the Centreboard in place.

















And yes, I still have to Gel-Coat the outside and paint the inside