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.

The seats...

Because the project's due date was approaching quickly, I was not able to cane my own seats, like I had wanted to. However I was able to buy pre-made seats. Even though they are made out of ash instead of white oak, the white in the ash provides a nice contrast from the red in the cedar. Now that the yoke and seats were ready to be installed, all I needed to do was to install them.

Building the Yoke

 After the gunwales were smoothed down, the next step was to build the yoke. The yoke differs from a thwart in that the yoke is used to portage the canoe while the thwart is used mainly for a third seat. I wanted to add a yoke to my canoe because I thought it would serve a better purpose. Following the plans from Chris Glad's Yoke Design, I adapted them a bit to what I wanted. Cutting the drawn out design on a band saw, I then sanded them down on a horizontal orbital sander. Then after it was sanded I routed the edges so it would have curved edges, which won't hurt my neck when I portage it, as seen below. When the yoke was finished, the next step was install it and the seats.