Skin on Frame Canoe Build Time Lapse 4.
When working with my rib length formula, it’s always a good idea to do a set of test ribs to double check the shape and also to get comfortable with the steam bending process before committing to the entire boat. Inspired by Gabe at Tufts & Batson I’m using much fuller rib shapes this time. This is one of two approaches that I’m currently experimenting with for adding more volume to the center of the canoe. I’ll do this one this way and the next canoe a different way and make a final decision on which one I think works better. (For my students this is global increase of the R/b vs just adding progressing length increase towards the center).
By the end of this day I like to have everything prepped for ribbing the boat the following day. Sometime around now I also like to coat the outwales, that way they will be ready in a few days when I need to skin the boat. In this case I’m using Rubio Monocoat on cherry. If I was using varnish I would have started a day earlier so I could build up enough coats.
Weirdly, in my 25 years of being a woodworker I’ve never done anything with cherry before. I really like it so far! A nice medium density hardwood that seems to be split resistant and machines and carves beautifully. Depending on how this boat turns out I might start using it more often.
Build time in minutes:
30 planing bending wood
45 making the measuring stick
85 cutting and bending test ribs
90 measuring and cutting ribs
25 making lashing spools
20 coating the outwales
Total task time: 4 hrs 55 min
Total build time so far: 15 hrs 45 min
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