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  1. J

    reducing weight

    What would happen to this boat if I reduced to one thwart in the middle and took out about half of the inner gunwhales--leaving just some to have places to tie/bungee to but not having the full-length inner structure? I'm needing to reduce whatever weight I can, cause we don't seem to take her...
  2. J

    Iroquois in Arkansas

    Bear, We did the 14 bridge to Rush, taking our time. Saw some other boats at times, toward the end we spread out some and didn't see anyone for about an hour before take out (spent about 6 hours on the trip--about an 8 mile float). I'd like to do the next stretch to Buffalo City, with some...
  3. J

    Iroquois in Arkansas

    Needless to say, the beauty of the trip can never be captured through a lens (at least not by this shutterbug)... Anyway, couple of weeks ago, I found myself and my canoe on the Buffalo River. Unfortunately, I only got one day on that river--next time I'll plan a little better, and spend...
  4. J

    First canoe/Maiden voyage

    Thanks. I can't remember who I stole the breasthook idea from--one of these posts (or on Matt's site) had something similar. Great place to borrow ideas! :idea: :!: The hammock seat started as a portage device--easier on the back than a yoke--and it worked as a seat. A couple of dowels...
  5. J

    First canoe/Maiden voyage

    What a great day to stick a canoe on top of the car and head to the water! First, a solo test paddle... Then, everyone's on board! My wife (working the camera) was there, too!
  6. J

    First canoe/Maiden voyage

    luaun ply, ripped pine 2 x 6 for gunwales, 1" pine dowels for thwarts and spacers, glued up oak with pine strips for decks--all very cheap wood (except the oak) -- with apologies to Jack and a nod to Chuck... 6 oz glass and epoxy (350 hardener) from RAKA until I ran out--wasted a lot learning...
  7. J

    First canoe/Maiden voyage

    Just about done--close enough to take on the water anyway... Hopefully will soon post some shots of her getting wet this weekend...
  8. J

    Great game

    gone
  9. J

    how many saturation coats?

    Thanks for the ideas. I hadn't thought about the varnish layer.
  10. J

    smoothing fiberglass

    Fiberglass can make you curse! How do you guys smooth out 1) edges? 2) dual layers/seams? and 3) epoxy runs (those drips that weren't there during wetout but magically appear overnight while drying)? Is there a tolerance for using the random orbit sander (i.e...
  11. J

    West Texas Sunrise/Sunset

    I know a professional coulda done a lot more with these, but during spring break recently we bookended one of our side trips with the most gorgeous west texas sunrise across an immensely wide horizon and a sunset dipping behind the davis mountains Good morning... and good night...
  12. J

    how many saturation coats?

    And will each coat successively darken the wood? I'd like the overall finish a little darker than it is after one saturation coat. Any chance tinting the epoxy a little would help???
  13. J

    finishing prow/ends

    How do y'all finish the prow/ends of your boats--specifically a canoe, with the distinctive round end--if they don't look quite right bare? I'd post pics, but camera's on fritz right now (it's the Iroquois from JEM). Overall, the ends line up straight, and don't have voids, but the way the...
  14. J

    Squeegee?? (Applying glass/epoxy)

    I'm with David on that--I like the rubber-edged one. So far, I haven't had the epoxy stick to it, and it's been reusable...I do wipe the edge off when done...
  15. J

    staining--how dark

    Another benefit of cheap wood (ha ha)--much better for trial and error...
  16. J

    staining--how dark

    Thanks for the feedback. Jack, do you think the bend on the Jemwatercraft Iroquois top panel would pop it out if epoxy were used to put the pieces back in prior to stitching? I figured I would epoxy them at the same time I did the butt joints, as I created the long panels. Would that be...
  17. J

    staining--how dark

    Good point (as in why didn't I think of that). Using the cheap ply, I went ahead and made templates for the top two panels--(templates are just for one build--I know the rules...). Could cut out the design in the template and see if it works. And then use it to mark the panels.
  18. J

    staining--how dark

    Here's a pic of both sides of the plywood I'm using--Luann from HD, I think, but I went back and forth so many times to Lowe's and HD before borrowing the truck...anyway and another showing more detail of the "ugly" side-- The more I look at it, I kinda think maybe them knots adds...
  19. J

    staining--how dark

    Buzzing, yes, but not yet... It ain't a "fifty foot" boat yet, but it's still less than fifty in ply... Jack here: GO get'em, Jer. You'll have a great boat!
  20. J

    staining--how dark

    Unfortunately, there's two different veneers--a different one on each side of the ply. The boat's a 5 panel canoe with flat bottom. How strange would it look to have the inside bottom a different finish than the inside top and mid panels? I'm thinking since I have to stain prior to epoxy...