Recent content by Cruiser

Maybe specific to your mattress ... works find for deflation with both my expeds, one downmat and a much newer one.

Since this was originally posted, I purchased a FlexTail Max 3 pump to replace my bag pump. I am using it on Exped mattresses when I camp with the misses. It comes with quite a few adapters, but I never thought to check for 3D adapter options, may check that out. It does inflate quickly, but...

The post was more about using a glues properties to your own advantage and that for softwood like cedar almost any glue is going to be overkill from a strength perspective. I have TB, TB II, TB III, LePages Pro, LePages Express and two different epoxies ,,, they get used to make building easier...

I could post new picks or just re use what I posted 2 builds ago, if you go down 15 pics in this post, there are pics of glue in the coves, squeeze out and clamping: https://www.canoetripping.net/threads/light-weight-solo-tripper-build.105054/post-105920 At the end of this post are some...

Personally, I run the inside glass close to the V and call it a day. The whole area is sealed with epoxy anyway so it is waterproof, the outside is usually wrapped in glass. When you consider the forces the area will experience, there really isn't any reason IMO, to worry about the inner glass...

I would worry that the thickening agent might cloud the epoxy, so I guess this would have to be consideration for impact on the final product. Are your seal coats thin enough to be safely ignored or is there an impact? Brian

In the last build, I used a seal coat and actually took several weights and determined that the seal coat resulted in a ~1 pound reduction per side versus what a wet layup would use. That is significant iMO After doing the first 7 boats with a wet layup, I would suggest that using the seal...

Dave, I used 3/8" cherry gunnels on my Freedom 17, which is arguably the same class of boat you are building and those are more than adequate for purpose and less than half the weight of the standard 3/4" ash gunnels that are mainstream. I got a piece of sitka and for a softwood, it is...

Dave, I posted this link from Laughing Loon in my last build. Rob Mack is giving what amounts to a treatise on epoxy use and application for strippers, it was a very enlightening read for me and triggered a deeper understanding of epoxy in general. If you haven't already read it, I think it is...

I didn't check it as thoroughly as I should have Glen, Nick doesn't list the value anywhere and Google initially gave me the 14.5", then when pressed, corrected to 12.5" and then to 12", so I am thinking sending a note to Nick may be the only way to get the correct value.. it is curios that...

The amidships depth of this model is 14.5" and I figured shaving some off of that wouldn't be too impactful overall. I totally agree that given the sheer size of the selected canoe, weight is going to be an issue. That in turn puts emphasis of making careful build decisions, where weight is...

Over the last few canoes I have been building weight models for my canoes, to determine if my weight goals were attainable and what my chosen materials would yield for a final weight .... provided I built carefully. If you use a dry layup (sealcoat), full 3 coats exterior and 1 coat interior...

Dave, this is a first build, don't make it complicated by trying to overthink the whole process. There is a tendency , on the first build, to try and distinguish the build, instead of just enjoying the process and learning. Changing the build to stemless, subbing glasses are IMO just...

You won't regret building your own canoe, it is a vastly illuminating, terrifying, exhilarating and satisfying endeavor ... try to enjoy every step. Building lighter has sort of become "my thing" in the last few builds. IMO a lighter boat is not one decision, it is every decision you make, at...

definitely looking forward to pushing it some of the upcoming trip in August