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I know I've posted about this before but this time I actually did it. Using the 4 mil bag system I was finally able to get the wood to bend to the cowling the Rob Roy, a nasty up sweep and twist at the bow. It's been a painful process with many unsuccessful attempts. I may not be the sharpest knife in the drawer but I am stubborn so this was going to happen one way or the other.
On the advice of some here on this board I ended up using the 4 mil plastic sleeve method of steaming wood while on the boat. Here's the link:
http://www.core77.com/posts/35838/A-...-a-Plastic-Bag
Over the course of the summer I collected all the materials I needed. In the end I had to purchase a propane heater and 1500' of 4 mil sleeve (YES 1500') I did a test run with some left over ash and it turned out well so I had some hopes that what I had planned would work.
So here's what I did. I bought some poplar that I thought would bend easier on that nasty up sweep and bend in, cut it to 1/2" for the out wales and 5/8" for the inners. I chose poplar as it is considered a hardwood of types and thought it would bend easier then ash. It's a cowling so it's not a support system like a canoe. I set up my steaming system, a hogde pode of old garden hoses, ancient gas can, string, Gorrilla tape and several cans of liquid courage and by Golly it worked. In the meantime I bought some Talic Seahorse canoe/kayak stands which I really like. No more slamming my knee into a sawhorse, they fit nicely under the boat and weigh next to nothing.
I had to cut another piece of hose to reach the boat from the front of the canoe shed and then jury rigged it be level to the boat with a tip back to let the water drain out. Worked slick except for when the clamp let loose and the whole dang thing fell off. Word of experience, where thick gloves, steam is hot!!! Got it back on with an extra clamp to hold it place and sat back to watch water boil. After a half an hour the wood was bending nicely but I let it go for some more due to that damnable sweep at the bow. At the hour mark I decided to see how the bow end would bend, again nicely but somehow the plastic sleeve split. I had already got the clamps ready and quickly put them on. I ended up putting 24 clamps on as this is such a short run, 6'2". The new gunwale bent in as sweet as sweet can be.
Since I couldn't do the inner gunwale on the inside as far as steaming goes I used the outside and will have to transfer it later. Am hoping the bend will work. Now I have to steam three more pieces but from learning from my mistakes it will get easier. I added some pictures in no particular order of the set up.
I have two questions that maybe someone can answer. Now that I have one gunwale clamped on, the inner, how long should I wait before removing it and hoping the memory holds enough to move it to its place as the inwale? Question two, anyone need some 4 mil tube/sleeve? I have 1400+ feet of it! If you need some PM me. Easier to cut off what you need to mail it rather then buy FIFTEEN HUNDRED FEET! ;-)
Here's a YouTube video of the set up:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2MMT...ature=youtu.be
Some days I feel like Red Green!
dougd
Not sure why the pics turned out sideways, not the way they were taken.
On the advice of some here on this board I ended up using the 4 mil plastic sleeve method of steaming wood while on the boat. Here's the link:
http://www.core77.com/posts/35838/A-...-a-Plastic-Bag
Over the course of the summer I collected all the materials I needed. In the end I had to purchase a propane heater and 1500' of 4 mil sleeve (YES 1500') I did a test run with some left over ash and it turned out well so I had some hopes that what I had planned would work.
So here's what I did. I bought some poplar that I thought would bend easier on that nasty up sweep and bend in, cut it to 1/2" for the out wales and 5/8" for the inners. I chose poplar as it is considered a hardwood of types and thought it would bend easier then ash. It's a cowling so it's not a support system like a canoe. I set up my steaming system, a hogde pode of old garden hoses, ancient gas can, string, Gorrilla tape and several cans of liquid courage and by Golly it worked. In the meantime I bought some Talic Seahorse canoe/kayak stands which I really like. No more slamming my knee into a sawhorse, they fit nicely under the boat and weigh next to nothing.
I had to cut another piece of hose to reach the boat from the front of the canoe shed and then jury rigged it be level to the boat with a tip back to let the water drain out. Worked slick except for when the clamp let loose and the whole dang thing fell off. Word of experience, where thick gloves, steam is hot!!! Got it back on with an extra clamp to hold it place and sat back to watch water boil. After a half an hour the wood was bending nicely but I let it go for some more due to that damnable sweep at the bow. At the hour mark I decided to see how the bow end would bend, again nicely but somehow the plastic sleeve split. I had already got the clamps ready and quickly put them on. I ended up putting 24 clamps on as this is such a short run, 6'2". The new gunwale bent in as sweet as sweet can be.
Since I couldn't do the inner gunwale on the inside as far as steaming goes I used the outside and will have to transfer it later. Am hoping the bend will work. Now I have to steam three more pieces but from learning from my mistakes it will get easier. I added some pictures in no particular order of the set up.
I have two questions that maybe someone can answer. Now that I have one gunwale clamped on, the inner, how long should I wait before removing it and hoping the memory holds enough to move it to its place as the inwale? Question two, anyone need some 4 mil tube/sleeve? I have 1400+ feet of it! If you need some PM me. Easier to cut off what you need to mail it rather then buy FIFTEEN HUNDRED FEET! ;-)
Here's a YouTube video of the set up:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2MMT...ature=youtu.be
Some days I feel like Red Green!
dougd
Not sure why the pics turned out sideways, not the way they were taken.
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