JEM Watercraft

Wow, it looks great!!!! How do you handdle the bow sections? It looks like you've got some bolts in there? Is that a thicker piece of wood up there as a seperator?

Ho Scott,

Thaks mate. It is not as good as it looks.

When I checked things today, I found the keel line between hull stations one and two (about 41/2 feet from the bow) was not quite fair. I ground the tacks back and then started to cut through the tacks with a jigsaw and broke one of the bottom panels. It can be repaird but it hurts to see such a fault in my workmanship.

Also when I checked, I found that the bow is not quite verticle, I reckon I can grind out the relevant bow tacks and re-work the bow tomorrow. Not quite sure how to go about it yet but I will sleep on it tonight.

I can't believe I did such shoddy work. I checked and re-checked everything and then checked it again. I even got a mate to come over and eyeball it for me before I started to tack. I was certain everything was right.

I just pull the bow and stern together anyway I can & leave about a 1/2 inch gap between the panels and fill it with wood flour. Clearly my methods need to be improved.

I haven't taken a pic of the break. I am too ashamed.

I took this one of the bow tacked upyesterday and didn't even see it then.
It is obvious in the pic how the bow is out of alignment.

You'll see it through my friend! Hang in there and I know you'll have an inspired thought!

Mick I got me an idea.

You willing to cut the entire bow loose?

Mick,

Is it possible that, with the spacers sticking out there, you are looking at an optical illusion?

I sent mick an idea and some files.

If it works, they'll become standard in multi-panel construction.

Hi Guys,

Scott, Thanks mate. doesn't seem so bad tonight.

Matt, Thanks for the files mate. They will be a big help. I have allready have cut the bow loose. Just wan't sure how to centre the panels. thanks again mate.

Jack, no optical illusion. The string line tells the story.

Hi guys,

Matt very kinly sent me some files to help fix the problem. I am certain they would have worked but I had already started doing something else.

I decided to attempt what I had already started before i butchered even more ply. and it brought the bow to within 1/32" (close enough for me)

What I did what to screw some extra wood onto the end of the strong back and with lots of ties, gradually pulled the sides into place.

Matt, thank you very much for all your help but as I had already started on my idea, I thought I would see it through before resorting to yours.

Bloody boats, they will be the death of me.

A couple of piccies.

Macrame anyone?




All Straight


Started sanding off the wood flour

Mick,

Looks like your Spanish windlass did the job of reshaping the bow.

I've never use a strong back. Always used temporary formers, two of which extend up above the gunnels and were squared off up there. Then, before applying any glue to the boat, I'd level up two saw horses so they were level and parallel, spaced at the same distance as were the squared off formers. When the boat was turned upside down on them, I could check it for true alignment by line of sight. I could wiggle it around to get what I wanted, then apply some glue in between the wires from the outside.

Matt, I'd be interested in what your ideas were? We need to learn all we can.

The folks on paddle.net (Farwell and the gal-type advisor too) still think you can't build boats from wood. Say they won't last. Pretty convinced of it, too.

When I told that to Bud Hart, he said, "Well, my Granddad's Old Town canoe, sitting here under me in this river, is about 75 years old. I hope it lasts until we get back." That was over 5 years ago, and he still paddles that boat.

Maybe they're right; maybe that boat really hasn't lasted 80 years?

Hi Jack,

The main reason I like the strongback idea is that I find it easier when stitching the panels.

I am only using cheap, B grade 3mm interior plywood and even with the best butt joints in the world, is still pretty brittle. A fixed, rigid frame means one less thing I need to struggle with when attempting to wrestle these panels into shape.

I already had the strongback built (from my swampgirl). it just meant some new hull stations and re-positioning them. As it worked out, the strongback came in very handy for re-aligning the stem. it gave me something solid to apply constant pressure from and to hold things in place while the woodflour sets.

The down side is that there is a lot more work in a strongback and stitching is slower but I am happy with my system.