A Plank Pirogue

[beekeeper]

The "Plank " part may not be technically correct. More like "solid wood panel". I did not have any suitable planks so I am making/using shorter boards jointed and glued into panels. For sometime I have been buying any "clear/solid" cedar fence boards I ran across. There is some waste and more work and time involved to build this way.
Sized the boards to 1/2"thickness. Straightened the edges and cut them to the same width. I bought a tongue and groove router bit that will work on 3/8" to 5/8" thick boards. Helpful hint, it is easier to mill the groove and tongue joint into the 1/2" boards and then plane down to 3/8" than to mill 3/8" boards.
Boards glued into floor panel.

Pattern placed for the floor.

 

[texastom]

Thanks Bee, a new project for us to watch!

 

[oldsparkey]

I can visualize it when it's done , it will be a beauty and reminiscent of old time boats.

 

[beekeeper]

My photography is worse than my woodworking. The picture angle makes the floor look much wider than it is. Floor is 13' long X 26" wide(8" behind center). Marked the panel and cut it out, then stretched cotton fabric(bed sheet) over the floor. This will be the inside of the bottom.

 

[texastom]

You doing a full PMF (poor mans fiberglass) on this one?

 

[Kayak Jack]

Interesting. Looks like wide boat coming up.

 

[beekeeper]

You doing a full PMF (poor mans fiberglass) on this one?

Maybe? I will make that decision after the boat is built. I want to see how stiff the floor is after covering only the inside, and using the tongue and groove joints. Also may finish the sides "natural" depending how the wood looks after being cut out.

Jack the boat bottom will be max. 26" wide with a side beam width of about 34". Wider than most kayaks but not as wide as most canoes. Probably about average for a full grown pirogue. When I posted the pictures I realized how wide the bottom appeared. Right now the floor is wider than it will finish out. After the chine logs are attached the wood will be planed flushed to the logs. The clamps also add to the illusion.

 

[Kayak Jack]

Thanks, JD. I'll bet that you can already taste the first fish that you catch while using this boat!

 

[oldbuffpilot]

Thanks postingJD. You amaze me

 

[beekeeper]

Poor man fiber glassing is different than epoxy fiber glassing. First learned(hard way) truth is Titebond 3 dries much quicker than epoxy. That is good and bad.
I removed the cloth and rolled on the glue and then repositioned the cloth. It did not hold. The roller did not apply enough glue, and it had began to dry before all the cloth could be laid down.
Had to cut out the unglued part and redo.

 

[beekeeper]

Tongue and groove 3/8" boards formed into side panels. Placed the side pattern onto them and traced outline of the sides. This is as far as I have progressed.

 

[Gamecock]

Poor man fiber glassing is different than epoxy fiber glassing. First learned(hard way) truth is Titebond 3 dries much quicker than epoxy. That is good and bad.
I removed the cloth and rolled on the glue and then repositioned the cloth. It did not hold. The roller did not apply enough glue, and it had began to dry before all the cloth could be lain down.
Had to cut out the unglued part and redo.
View attachment 1194View attachment 1196

Hey Mr. Bee, I like your projects, thanks. I have a question on securing the cloth. Can you use oil base paint to adhere the cloth to the wood or do you have to use glue first? Dave.

 

[beekeeper]

Dave, I'm not sure about how well the paint would stick the wood and cloth together. My understanding of the process of canvassing a canoe is that the cloth is attached and held in place by stretching and tacking it. A filler is added to seal the cloth and wood from leaks. It also smooth's the surface for painting.
Old canvas covered canoes I have seen were not built to be water tight until the canvas was added. Paint alone may have sealed and stuck the canvas to the wood but may not have filled out the weave enough for a fair finish.
This boat should be water tight without any finish. The PMF will add some strength, some scuff protection and perhaps a smoother surface. Part of the appeal of trying it is the "poor man" aspect. Epoxy and fiberglass is expensive. Canvas, tacks, filler, etc. are also. Choosing materials and building methods is a balancing act between benefits and cost and necessity.
I will have to finish the boat and use it before I know if it was worth the effort or savings.

 

[Kayak Jack]

The value of the process, is in the process.
Building your own boat is a journey of many steps - and a few spills.
When building a boat with a kid, we build a lot more of the kid than we do of the boat.

 

[beekeeper]

Had some interruptions but made some progress. Turned the bottom over and scraped the excess glue. The scraper works well for this. Faster than the sander but more "elbow grease".

 

[Kayak Jack]

JD, you would be a lost soul if wood had never been invented. ;-)

 

[beekeeper]

Set the support stations on the strongback.

Weighted the floor and set the rocker.

Cut the sides out and attached(no pictures) them to the floor and stems.

Laminated strips to make the curved batter boards. This is as far as I have progressed.

 

[beekeeper]

Had some interruptions but made some progress. Turned the bottom over and scraped the excess glue. The scraper works well for this. Faster than the sander but more "elbow grease".
View attachment 1203View attachment 1204

Some interruptions are not bad, like a couple of fishing trips or this. Global warming showed up in south Louisiana in a big way today, low 20's tonight so I had too get busy and pick my Satsuma oranges. Blessed with a great crop this year.

 

[Kayak Jack]

Another friend of mine lives a bit S'ly of Sacramento, E'ly of Stockton. He grows oranges too, and some grapefruit. It's nice to visit him. He brings a big bag of oranges to our spring Geezer Runs, and each of us start mornings with a fresh orange

I'm not familiar with Satsumas. Tell us about them?.

 

[beekeeper]

Satsuma's are a variety of mandarin oranges but are sweeter and juicier. They are considered to be cold hardy. They were brought to New Orleans from Satsuma, Japan in the18th. century.
There is a unincorporated community near my home known as Satsuma, Louisiana. As a child I thought the oranges were named after it. Now I find out the community was named after the orange. The community was originally called Stafford but when a post office was to be built there already existed a Safford, Louisiana. A "Man" from up north owned a large Satsuma orchard along the railroad so the post office was named Satsuma.