Snow Shoe 14 SOF

[swampwood]

This is a Geodesic Aerolite SOF design canoe.
14' long, 33" beam, 1 1/2" rocker and around 27lbs.
All white oak strips with Black Walnut seats, thwarts & Breast hooks.
It will be finished with Kevlar thread diagonally wrapped and Dacron cloth.

 

[mike]

I'll bet that impact wrench in the second photo came in real handy during this build. :shock:

Seriously, though, please keep us updated on the build - it looks very interesting.

Mike

 

[texastom]

Looks great! I check out the Geo Aerolite website from time to time and have wondered how they worked the Kevlar. Thanks for posting your build.

 

[beekeeper]

Looks more like a boat now that you have it right side up. Will you have to turn it over again to stretch/weave the kevlar? Is that the next step?

beekeeper

 

[swampwood]

Mike,
That is not an impact, it is a portable drill-driver (best tool ever invented).

 

[swampwood]

Looks great! I check out the Geo Aerolite website from time to time and have wondered how they worked the Kevlar. Thanks for posting your build.

The Kevlar is weaved in a diagonal pattern and held in place with hot glue tape. This build is not like the other SOF builds on this site, because there is no sewing involved. The Dacron is held in place with hot glue tape and then heated to make it shrink.

 

[swampwood]

Looks more like a boat now that you have it right side up. Will you have to turn it over again to stretch/weave the kevlar? Is that the next step?
beekeeper

I am working on the supports for and the floor boards. Then flip it over and start the Kevlar.

 

[mike]

Please keep us updated with lots of pictures.

Mike

 

[Kayak Jack]

I was a bit surprized to see black walnut in there. That's pretty much a northern hardwood, I thought.

 

[swampwood]

I was a bit surprized to see black walnut in there. That's pretty much a northern hardwood, I thought.

Although there are a few scattered trees around. I would imagine they were planted. It is not native, but they do seem to grow down south. This BW actually came from Iowa.

 

[Kayak Jack]

It was my Dad's favorite wood to work with. Three of his tables are near me as I write this. And, black walnuts are still my favorite nut to eat.
A skin on stick boat is where early aircraft construction came from. Everything up to metal aircraft emulated them. When we switched to aluminum, the pieces were still pretty much the same design, but metallic.

 

[swampwood]

Well Floor Boards are in and now comes the part I hate. Getting it ready for Urethane.

 

[Kayak Jack]

SW, would you want a reinforcing brace under the existing longeron that supports the seat? Say, about a foot and a half to two foot long?

Just looking and thinking of a fellow slipping, and coming dow harder than planned.

 

[swampwood]

SW, would you want a reinforcing brace under the existing longeron that supports the seat? Say, about a foot and a half to two foot long?

Just looking and thinking of a fellow slipping, and coming dow harder than planned.

They show gussets under the seat frames. I made the seats wider than was called for, so I thought about screwing them into the ribs. They are also epoxied.

 

[Kayak Jack]

Good idea. Never hurts to have it a bit stronger than we think is actually necessary.

 

[swampwood]

Been sanding and decided to take some pics of the bottom and show what it took to get the floor boards in.

 

[Kayak Jack]

That's a good sized boat!

 

[swampwood]

That's a good sized boat!

I was looking for something light to haul on top of my tow vehicle. Finally bought a 36' motorhome and have been re-modeling it and hope to do some traveling.
Plan to spend some time around Lakes Superior and Michigan, been a long time since I have spent some time there. Around 50 years.

 

[mike]

Thanks for the update, I really appreciate your showing us how this goes together.

Mike

 

[Kayak Jack]

Speak to me of places you plan to,visit on Lake Michigan, and on Gitchie Gumi?