A Year and a half and still counting!

Thanks to all my viewers, I have over now over 7,000 views in just a year and a half! I didn't think I would ever get over 1,000 views, but now I get roughly 15 views per day! I know it does not sound like a lot but a blog about a canoe isn't going to be the front page of TIMES magazine anytime soon. Anyway, I'd like to thank you all for your loyal support and as always don't feel shy to email me at cedarstripcanoe247@gmail.com! Let's get to 10,000 before 2015!

Shout out to Bear Mountain Boat Shop...

A week ago, I contacted Joan Barett at Bear Mountain Boat Shop about expounding upon the Peterborough plans I used to build my canoe so I could sell them to an interested costumer. She told me that people at Bear Mountain Boat Shop have to remain in business, so I would not be able to sell the plans. Yet, because she was impressed that I called her before just selling them, she sent me Nick Offerman's (Ron Swanson to Parks and Recreation watchers) video of his construction of a Cedar Strip Canoe. I've already watched many of the sections and am dying to build another Canoe. I just wanted to shout out to Joan Barett for her kindness with her sending me a free copy of the movie.

New Website Ideas

This is the first post of its kind, but, as I approach 4,000 views, I want to thank you all for your continual support for my blog. The newest update is that I want to inform you all that a new website is in the future for "CedarStripCanoe" (My twitter name if you have not started following me yet.) I am not sure what the new website will look like, so this is where I need help from all of you. If you have any bursting ideas for what you want the new website to look like just shoot me an email at cedarstripcanoe247@gmail.com, and, as always, continue to tell everyone about the art of cedar strip canoe building. Also, if you want to help me out pay for a domain name for the new website... All you need to do is just click on the ads and actually visit the site. It's that simple!!! Google pays me directly per click through Google AdSense. Therefore, if you click on the ads, send me an email with your name and tell me that you clicked on the ads and I will put you on the "Donor" page when the new website is up and running. Thanks viewers and keep paddling.

Social Media

It has been a while since I have blogged. After the canoe was completed, I still have yet to take it out on the lake, yet the all finished canoe now lies hoisted up in the garage. (A project which was finished right before I left for college.)

I want to, in the near future, to turn the blog into a more interactive website. But in the meantime you can like, follow, and favorite the blog on Facebook, Twitter, or YouTube. Like the Facebook page of "Making Cedar Strip Canoe" or watch the  YouTube video on the blog. Or if you're more into twitter you can follow "CedarStripCanoe." I will be posting and tweeting every week of more insights into the process of how to make a cedar strip canoe. I know this is more of an informal post but it is just to show I have not forgotten about the blog. I have just been busy. 

Cedar Strip Canoe

Does it float?

The biggest question I was asked when I was building the canoe was, "Does it Float?" My only answer to them was "I hope." Now, after testing the canoe in my neighbor's pool, I can successfully say that, "Yes, it floats." But I still have to test if paddles straight...

Varnishing the Canoe

 After the canoe was cleaned from the dust and shavings by vacuuming it out and wiping it down with a tack cloth, the last step was to varnish the canoe. The varnish protects the boat from the sun's UV rays as Ted Moores states the canoe will get more damaged from the sun than from the rocks. The sun breaks down the epoxy and wood and therefore it is mandatory to varnish it. I bought Cabot varnish from Lowes because of its UV strength and marine durability, however it was too thick. I applied the varnish with cheap brushes from Harbor Freight, which I think was my problem. These brushes did not enable me to apply a thin layer of varnish so I spent a week waiting for the varnish to dry. After a week, and the varnish wasn't really drying, I applied mineral spirits to it. The thinned out varnish dried a little better, but the best way for it to dry was out in the sun. The last step is to put the brass rings on the ends so it can be carried on top of the car.