Solo on the Light Side

[Jim Dodd]

Your pics are very profuse ! No question, to how you build !
A great resource !

Now that you have gone the Stemless route, the Stem forms are ready to build again, without the labor of beveling the stems.

As far as weight savings? You think the stems, inner and outer, both ends, only adds 6 oz ?

It seems to me, your seat is very low ? Guessing it is set up for a double blade paddle.

With a seat that low, I'd add a backrest.
Just thoughts !

Jim

 

[Gamma1214]

Looks great and that's a really nice weight for a 17' hull.

Thanks for all the work documenting the build... I'll have to try the seal coat on my next one.

 

[Pseudonym]

Beautiful work and an exemplary build thread, @Cruiser! Thanks for taking the time to record each step and your thought process. We're all better educated thereby!

 

[Cruiser]

Your pics are very profuse ! No question, to how you build !
A great resource !

Now that you have gone the Stemless route, the Stem forms are ready to build again, without the labor of beveling the stems.

As far as weight savings? You think the stems, inner and outer, both ends, only adds 6 oz ?

It seems to me, your seat is very low ? Guessing it is set up for a double blade paddle.

With a seat that low, I'd add a backrest.
Just thoughts !

Jim

Stemless has some extra advantages that I hadn't thought about up front, it is easier IMO to finish the inside without the stems and I think it looks cleaner as well. Reasonably happy with the estimate that the stemless option is 5-6 oz lighter ... the math and actual weights don't lie.

The seat is lower than the previous, will decide if I should change anything after the initial test drive. I keep it low mostly for stability, I can't comfortably kneel for long periods so I don't need the height, additionally, the boat is 24.5" widest at the waterline, so a higher seat isn't so desirable.

Also, thank you for the kind words

Brian

 

[Cruiser]

Looks great and that's a really nice weight for a 17' hull.

Thanks for all the work documenting the build... I'll have to try the seal coat on my next one.

If you do, the recoat ability of the System 3 is worth the money, just in the stress savings alone

Welcome

Brian

 

[Cruiser]

Beautiful work and an exemplary build thread, @Cruiser! Thanks for taking the time to record each step and your thought process. We're all better educated thereby!

Thank you

 

[Gamma1214]

If you do, the recoat ability of the System 3 is worth the money, just in the stress savings alone

I've been using Raka epoxies since I started and they also say that any recoating within 72 hours will result in a chemical bond without sanding. (I'm not sure which is cheaper. I get such great service from Raka that I've never compared prices)

 

[Jim Dodd]

At 24.5" I'd lower my seat too. I think you should be fine.

My canoes are wider, and with a higher seat, it makes it easier for this Old body to get in and out !

Jim

 

[Cruiser]

I've been using Raka epoxies since I started and they also say that any recoating within 72 hours will result in a chemical bond without sanding. (I'm not sure which is cheaper. I get such great service from Raka that I've never compared prices)

I couldn't find much on the recoat times for Raka, what I did find suggested 24 hours as a max ... not that it matters much, having a recoat window longer than an hour is a big advantage.

Where did the 72 hour window info come from ... this potentially is another epoxy for me to purchase.

Brian

 

[stripperguy]

I’ve been using RAKA epoxies exclusively for the last 15 or 20 years. I had their epoxy guide in print form, pretty sure that’s where I found the 72 hour reference. In any case, I have successfully laminated successive coats as much as 48 hours apart. Haven’t had any delaminating issues from that practice, but maybe another decade will show the errors of my assumptions.

Back to your build, that’s an excellent result wrt weight alone, not even considering the outstanding aesthetics. Almost a shame to paddle it!! I would say measured by weight alone, your build far surpasses any currently available fancy composite. Never mind the beauty of the wood vs ANY reinforcing fabric. Not knowing for sure your costs to build, I’d still say you’re about 20% of the cost of a comparable commercially available boat.
Outstanding work!

 

[Gamma1214]

Where did the 72 hour window info come from ... this potentially is another epoxy for me to purchase.

I'm old school and I like being able to talk to humans when I need information so I called them to ask.

Funny enough, every time, I've talked to the same guy (Mike). I get the impression that they're a pretty small operation which is another real bonus IMO.

Incidentally, I've always bought their non-blush hardener but their regular was on sale last time I needed some and I was gluing stuff together so I saved the cash. Mike tells me that blush is minimal with any of their products so I may give it a shot when I add the s-glass to the football of the Bloodvein. He hasn't steered me wrong yet so we'll see...