For the gruesome facts on how it was built.....with some side chatter..
http://www.neilbank.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=5355
The kit arrived and it was up, up and away, faster then a speeding bullet .... "O"op's wrong person, more like a turtle with a broken leg just creeping along for me. Heck it is summer here no reason to move in a hurry and work up a sweat. The canoe will get done .... Sometime , then I can enjoy it.
As they say all good things come to a close and after the enjoyment of making this canoe it is not closure but a bright , shinny , new beginning for a lot of serious paddling and camping with it.
Here are the boring facts and costs.........................
The pre cut kit from JEM Watercraft......Today's cost....... $515.00
Fiberglass from Raka........ 4oz..... 6 feet ..........................$11.50
3.25 tight woven 16 feet............$25.00
Epoxy , 6 qt kit........................$93.00
Pine Flour.................................$4.00
Glass Bubbles...........................$4.75
Praigis............ Ash and Cain canoe seat............................$30.00
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Not needed but I wanted them on this build.
CLC.................Pre Kote from Interlux.................................$25.50
Brightsides (Teflon) Paint.............................$33.50
Total.............$742.25
This is not taking into the cost of .. Sandpaper, Rubber Gloves, masking tape, Acetone, Some spare wood for the trim on the gunnel's and thwarts, Paper Towels, Paint Rollers, Sand Paper, Budweiser Beer, Ice Tea, Ice for the tea, disposable paint brushes, Sandpaper, Budweiser Beer, Sandpaper, more rubber (disposable gloves, Trash bags, sand paper, Budweiser , paper towels.
Not bad for a 14 X 30 canoe that only weighs 30 pounds and if I was to go out and purchase one, if they matched the weight the cost would be about 3X's or more over what I have spent.
Plus it would not be wood and built the way I wanted it but then I would have had to be happy with what they told me I wanted. NO THANKS.
I prefer to have it my way......... ESPECIALLY ... for a third of the cost. I don't count my labor, it is a labor of love and that is free for every boat I build.
Now you are sitting there scratching somebody part, mumbling to yourself .... I can get one for a lot less .. Yes, You can. A generic, run of the mill, plastic one but it will cost more, a bit more due to taxes.
It will not be a one of a kind, custom built by you for you and only you, no matter how hard someone tries to copy it. I could not build a twin to it, that is impossible to do, might look like it but it sure would not be the same.
Now if you got the wood (I could have and saved a lot since I use cheep wood) but I wanted to build one of Matt's Kits since I have always gone from the plans and not from a kit on all the other boats I have made from JEM Watercraft.
This one was built by an Old Fart that builds custom boats for his use and wants them the way he thinks they should be, pure and simple but a lot better looking boats then the builder.
It is not homemade , ( That is an insult to the folks on here that build boats for there enjoyment).
It is a custom crafted boat built by a home craftsman/owner for the way the builder wanted it since we don't have a rapid, make the same one all the time, boat building business, I dare you to find one we make from any manufacturer.
OK....
I have had my say ....... Let you know about the cost and options .... Here are some pictures of the final chunks of wood I slapped together for my enjoyment . paddling , camping pleasure and just some down right fun on the water.
If you want one....... Get Busy and build it.
Chuck.
This might explain why we do what we do........ Thanks to Kayak Jack , Andy and a small part from me.
http://www.neilbank.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=5032
Now for the pictures since they say a picture is worth 1,000 words and I do not want to overload this computer with them.
The Left side from the bow.........
The left side from the stern
She sits mighty high ..................
The stern..........
The Bow...........
The Right side........
The overall picture of it ...FLOATING......
I have not paddle it , the weather here is 80% rain and wind , so the canoe will sit for a few weeks and cure then a sanding , some varnish and on the water. By then it should be getting to some paddling weather.
Chuck.
