The Finish Work
Now that the boat is getting to the finishing stages, I see where I could have done better,
but then who hasn't questioned their own work?
|
|
|
|
The keel is installed using bronze screws and thickened epoxy on the cloth before the next coat of epoxy is applied. |
The epoxy and cloth is finished and cured a few days, while I worked on the seat frames. |
|
First I worried about the screws protruding through the keel instead of stopping short of the oak strip. Ended up just predrilling all the way through, (made alignment easy) then cut the screws off below the surface after the keel dried and epoxy filled the holes even with the bottom. Since the purpose of the oak strip is to protect the spruce keel, that should do it. |
|
|
|
|
The seat frames are cut from poplar and oak, and are assembled with dowels. Stacked on the bench with screws for feet to keep them from touching while getting successive coats of varnish. |
Of course the Grandson shows up now and again to check on progress and ask when we're going fishing. |
|
|
|
|
You could hide a dinosaur in this one Grampa! |
After dutifully repairing the small run in the finish, I completed the paint scheme on the outside. |
|
|
|
|
Let it dry a few days before turning the boat upright. |
Time to add another coat or two of varnish to the inside and put in the seats. |
|
After a coat of varnish on the floor, and a couple on the gunwales, the seats were installed. |
|
|
|
|
Laminating the oar blades. |
Comfortable pear shaped handle, carved with a chisel, shaped with a wood rasp, then sanded smooth. |
|
|
|
|
Detail of the oars. |
The seats look nice in here! |
|
The boat is completed except for the oars to cure before attaching oarlocks. Temporary clamp-on oar locks will be used to help determine the best position of leathers and buttons and to find out if the chosen oar length needs to be shortened. |
|
|
|
|
|
|