Pictures

Edgebanded and fill …

Drying … next step sanding …

Here she is …

Larrivee A-33 mandolin

A style with f holes … hand rubbed Cremona stain, then varnished

Nice lines

And it sounds better than it looks!

Case slips nicely right behind the driver seat on the school bus.

Sanding …

Found time to fix a flat ~ It needs some TLC, but it will be ready for the Snow to Surf race this coming April. Yep, I got on a team!

Sanded, stacked and ready for assembly.

Current conditions …

The pictures pretty much explain today’s doings in the shop.  I filled the edgebanding that I put on yesterday this morning and let it dry until I got back from the afternoon run.  When I got back I played the mandolin for about an hour.  I just got it a week ago and I’m loving it so far.  I’ve played guitar for about 5 years now and it is a pretty easy transition.  I’ve been working on a couple of simple bluegrass tunes, but a lot of the time I’ve just been jamming on it.  I don’t really know what I’m doing, but this instrument likes to be played hard and fast, or that’s the way it makes me feel.  It’s a gutsy little beast that’s going to be a great mandolin in a couple of years of daily play.  I don’t really think this mandolin has been played very much at all.  I bought it used, but it was in impeccable condition.  I’ve seen it change over the last week.  Maybe that has to do with me getting more familiar with it and I’m expanding a lot quicker than when I first started playing guitar.  You can really get a nice celtic sound out of it and I’ve been putting a few things together.  A few more things different than guitar … I can play this standing up.  I never play guitar standing up, so this is a big change.  It’s easy to carry.  I’ve been sliding it behind the drivers seat and have been playing down at the dock between runs in the afternoon.  A good solid half hour everyday surrounded by natural beauty.  My guitar gets out a few times a year.  The mandolins seems more personal than a guitar.  I know some people name their guitars, but that’s never been for me.  This instrument definitely has a feminine side to it.  I don’t know what it is, but I can feel it.  Explore we shall.

After dinner I got working on the sanding and finished up around 9:30, then fixed the bike.  I put my sawhorse beside the back door and used a few pieces of cedar for my bench top.  I now have a sanding station!  It’s lit, dry and keeps a lot of dust out of the shop.  I’m happy tonight.

It’s nice being back online and working in the shop again.  The summer was a lot of fun, but it’s good to get back to some form of structure.  I know next summer will be busy, but I hope to be online until the kids get out of school.

Time for bed

First off, this boat just blew me away http://www.keakayaks.com/sailrig/srcomplete/files/page73-1002-full.html  Built by Kea Kayaks down in Washington State.  Bravo to him!

Well, I’m back online.  Summer was busy, but we had a lot of fun.  The last month I’ve been working on the shop and started driving the school bus full time a couple of weeks ago.  I’m starting to build a dresser and want to have it done by the end of November … ish.  I plan on showing the process of the dresser coming together, so I want to update it fairly regularly.  We were planning on building a double cedar strip kayak this winter, but we picked up a garage sale winter project last weekend.  It’s now a canoe!  It’s a 16 ft Prospector that’s been stripped and has one coat of glass on the outside.  There’s still a lot of work to do on it, but we’ll have it in the water this spring.

I’ll post some pictures and write briefly under them to keep everything simple as they cover a lot of ground.

Fun and games at one of Ekou’s birthday parties.

snoozin”

Picked this up about a week ago. I’ve got time between afternoon runs so I figure make good use of it.

Still find a little time everyday for this

A lot of time and attention went into this to get to this point

Edge banding waiting for the chisel

The workshop this morning

The workbench as it stands this morning

I built a cradle for the spray gun

Window trim and some shingles to. It will probably have to wait until spring

We built a roof off the back, shingled it and the back wall.

Soffit and facia boards put up all around

View from the back. Mom and Dad pruned the cherry tree yesterday. I’ll be hanging the kayak under there shortly

A toolbox that should have been finished last Christmas was finished this morning.

Another shot of the side Walnut, mahogany and maple

Did a few hours of raking in Fillongley Park this morning/afternoon

The school bus parked

Trimming the edge

stacked and ready for sanding

My dad picked up some nice knotty pine for a project he’ll be building this month

This month, the family and I were able to get up to Cortes Island, BC for 3 wonderful days of kayaking and relaxing.  Here are some pictures to give you a glimpse of what we experienced.  We are definitely going back!!!

Here are some pictures of my Martin D-18 … Click on the picture and then click on the the picture that appears to see the full size image.  Ideally I’d like to trade it for a Martin D-18VS or Martin D-18GE + some cash.  If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Summer has been really busy with friends and family visiting and staying with us … They say that a picture is worth a thousand words (and I know I owe a lot), so here are a bunch of pictures to bring you up to date visually.

I’m tired but wanted to post some pictures of things that have been happening in the past few weeks.

Three weeks have flown by, but it’s been fun.  I have just finishing looking at the pictures posted previously and it’s been a good 6 months since I started building the kayak.  I had it finished and christened on May 31st ~ 5 months and 4 days since I started ripping the strips back in the middle of winter.  I’ve had it out 5 times now and am really pleased with it.  This evening I paddled from the dock where the ferry goes from Denman to Hornby Island (Gravelly Bay) and commuted to work.  I could get used to this very easily  I’ve had it on the water for about 10 hours now and I’m starting to get used to it.  There is so much to learn, but it has been fun paddling around Denman over 3 outings.  The first time out after the christening was from the Hornby ferry, between Boyle Point and the lighthouse, and up to the Denman West ferry dock. A beautiful warm evening with glass like water.  On another evening I went from the Denman West ferry dock and made my way to Fillongley Park via the northern end.  It was the full moon and the tide was high so it was easy to slip between Denman and Tree Island.  I saw a ton of eagles fishing and ended the paddle with a big full orange moon rising. I’ve had it out a few times going between Fillongley Park and the Hornby ferry dock and I must confess that I have an amazing back yard.  I’m in awe every time I am out there.

I just uploaded the pictures and have a story for each one and I’ll try to keep things consise as it feels like a lot has happened.  Summer is definitely here!

Since I launched the kayak, its been sunny, hot and perfect summer weather with calm seas and big moons. Norie, Tai and I took it to the beach on May 31st and all took it out on the water.  It was a nice moment together and all had a chance to experience what we had created from an idea.  We all had smiles glowing.

Tai and Norie have been making mobiles in the workshop with things they have been collecting on the beach.  I wish I had a better picture, but Tai has made about 7 or 8 and these things are cool!  He sold his first one to Rollande this evening when she was picking up sushi.  Tai was so happy.  $5.00 is a still a huge amount to a 6 year old.  There’s one that I really like and won’t leave the shop.  He wants to sell them at the Saturday market with Norie, but Norie thinks he should wait until the Winter Faire.  Norie has been keeping busy with sushi and gardening at a few different places around the island along with family life.  Fillongley has been steady and it has been great catching up with people I haven’t seen since last fall.  One couple I’ve gotten to know quite well over the last 3 years brought me his “off cuts”.  Last night he pulled out the taped up bundle … teak, purpleheart, gum wood, eastern maple, ebony and a board that he got in Australia – I’m guessing it either austrailan blackwood, sycramore (sp?) and has a really neat pocketed eye pattern.  Last fall he helped me put up shingles one day and came over to the shop to see how things have come along.  He built a 46 ft sailboat and took 2 years off with his wife and took it down to Australia and New Zealand in it.  He now does the woodwork, cabinetry work for yacht and sailboat interiors, along with a long list of other talents.  He likes to bring up a carving when he’s on holidays and whittles on it a bit each day.  Someone I consider a friend and am glad that they will be living closer in the future.

Through a friend of a friend deal, I met a couple who want a dresser built along with some carpentry work around their place.  I’m actually quite excited about this as it would be my first commissioned piece of woodworking. We’re now talking about the wood selection and style and design.  It would be a nice summer project as I would want to have it finished by September as we’ve decided that we need a double kayak next and will try and start just after the kids go back to school.

The focus of the blog with probably change over the summer to accomidate the “life on Denman Island” aspect of it more.  When we start the double in the fall, I’ll reel it back in to focus more on the kayak side again.  Here are just a few of the moments that we captured with the camera, but I wish I could upload 50 more.  Enjoy …

I got the boat outside for the first time this past Thursday.  Finally you can see the kayak from different angles than all the pictures taken in the shop up until now…

While I had the kayak outside I marked the positions for the footbraces and placed the bulkheads.  I then siliconed in the rear bulkhead.  I siliconed it in for a number of reasons … I heard that having a rigid bulkead fiberglassed in could cause more damage if you hit a rock and slide along the hull than a foam bulkhead or one siliconed in.  The silicone acts a cushion between the hull and bulkhead while still retaining a watertight seal and compartments.  If it proves not to work out I can always cut it out, clean it up and then fiberglass it in.  I’ll see how it holds up over the summer.

It was the first time that I got to sit in the kayak and it felt good.  The cockpit felt good and didn’t feel like I would fall out of it, but still had plenty of room to move around.  I’ll let you know how it feels again once I get the foot braces installed.  There seemed to be enough foot room, even with a pair of big rubber boots.

I sanded the deck to 220 grit and realized that I needed to add a couple more fill coats to the seam to get it flush.  I put the kayak on its side and did one side at a time.  Last night I did the 2nd side seam and will sand it flush tonight.  The first side has been done and is sanded.  I also sanded most of the coaming and rim, but still need to do some sanding on the underside, which will get done tonight.  This morning I fiberglassed some nylon rope on the underside of the deck to act as a holder for the webbing that will be used for the rear support for the back band.  The 2 webbing straps centering it will attach to the butt plates and the rear support will hook up to the rear of the back band and pull it towards the rear of the cockpit opening.  I’ll snap some pictures of it when it dries later today.  I should be able to start varnishing the kayak in the next couple of days.

Today I spoke to Justin at Ocean River Sports in Victoria and ordered a Snap Dragon sprayskirt.  He is also going to build up a hatch hardware system and send me some pictures later.  I found one at Newfound Boats but wanted to check an alternative.  It’s also nice to support local shops.

On Saturday I completed parts 2 and 3 of Paddle Canada’s Flat Water Certificate taught by Doug Taylor and Brian Walter out of Comox Valley Kayaks. Each part was 3 hours totally 6 hours on the water.  It was a really well taught course and I had a lot of fun while learning lots.  One thing I really wanted to know how to do was scull and brace and was introduced to both.  The classes were taught on Comox Lake and there were quite a few kayakers there in the afternoon.  Some were practicing rolls and it was fun watching them … one day!  There were 4 Nigel Dennis Explorers there and if I were to buy a kayak, that would be one that would get some serious attention.

I hope to get started on the varnishing part of the build later this week.  I’ll probably put 5~8 coats on and hope to be able to do one  a day, so I should be able to get it on the water by the end of May as projected.  I still need to install the front bulkhead, hatch hardware, foot braces and some deck lines/bungy chords … Once I get it in the water and get a chance to paddle with it, I can play around with the seat height and also position the foam for the knee supports … there’s probably more, but I’ll cross those bridges when I get to them.

A lot has happened since I last posted and I’ll try to bring you up to date.  Last week I got the hatches done and on Sunday morning I got to bonding the hull and deck together.  But before I get to that, I have to tell you about Saturday.  Tai and I went down to Paddlefest in Ladysmith and had a great time spending the day together.  Tai will probably say the best part was kayaking for the 1st time.  We got there around 9am and it was just getting started.  We walked around the different booths then headed for some breakfast at Tim Horton’s.  After returning we signed Tai up for a lesson and got him set up.  He had such a blast getting out on the water in a kayak for the 1st time.  When he got back and out of the kayak, he came running up and said “This is the best day ever, Daddy”.  Yeah, it was pretty good!

I was looking for a paddle and a spray skirt and was checking prices around at the different booths, but nothing came close to the prices at Comox Valley Kayaks.  I was in there on Thursday and they had Werner paddles at 20~30% off on 2008 models.  After leaving Paddlefest with a bunch of brochures, we headed up to Courtenay.  I had to pick up some resin and hardener and stopped by CVK and they had 2009 Werner Paddles on sale now as well.  They had a 2009 220cm Cyprus on sale, so I bit the bullet and pulled the trigger.

On Sunday morning I got the inside seam fiberglassed and as we were finished up the 1st side, our neighbour came over and asked Norie and I if we wanted to go kayaking.  He had arranged to get a double for us and we headed out.  The paddle over to Toby Island, off the southwest corner of Hornby Island, was pretty good and Norie and I were getting our groove back.  We’ve done a lot of paddling together in a canoe, but it was the 1st time in a double kayak.  By the time we got to Toby Island, we were pretty much in synch.  We had a bite to eat and we were watching a storm come from the Bowser area.  When we left the rain and wind were starting to pick up and within 10 minutes it was coming down pretty good with wind and choppy conditions.  We had to head down the west side of Hornby Island then cross the Lambert Channel.  We got to about Ford’s Cove and waited up for Scott and Diane, then all crossed together.  About half way across, the wind an rain stopped and the water calmed down, so we could enjoy a leisurely paddle to our put in spot.  I honestly haven’t felt this relaxed in a long time.  When I went back bed I didn’t have a care in the world (sounds kinda flaky, but it’s true).  When I’m out on the water, it just feels so good.

On Sunday evening we got the inside seam done on the other side.  I let it dry over night worked on the outside seam area on Monday (sanding and filling).  Last night I got the wetout coat and 1st fill coat on.  This morning I sanded down the edges of the glass tape, went down to the hardware store to pick up some supplies and got a few more fill coats on this evening.  Tomorrow I’ll get down to some serious sanding and maybe try to fit the foot braces.

It’s later than I want it to be and I have to wake up early tomorrow morning, so I’ll sign off here.  I’ll post more pictures soon.

Norie made a plate to go on the rear hatch of the kayak. A nice touch I think.

The hatch lip seen from the inside

The rear hatch

The front hatch

Tai kayaking for the 1st time at Ladysmith Paddlefest

The kayak ready to be glassed together on the inside

Ready to start glassing

Tool I made for spreading the glass cloth along the inside seam

Toby Island off the southwest corner of Hornby Island

storm coming

A small cave to keep dry for the time being

A KAYAK!!!

Outside seam is done

It’s hard to believe that over 10,000 people have stopped by to check out the build.  When I first started this blog it was mainly for friends and family that are scattered around the world.  I never thought that there would be this much interest in a cedar strip kayak.  Please don’t hesitate to drop me a few lines and let me know what you think.  I also thought it would be appropriate to put one of my own pictures up at the top of the page.  I was using an image that I really liked that I found on the internet somewhere.  Whoever took the picture, thank you very much!  I mentioned this way back in November or so …

On to the kayak… Over the weekend I got around to getting the coaming band glued and sanded and finally fiberglassed.  I was surprised how long it took to do just that small area, but it turned out nicely.  I put a couple of fill coats on to hide the weave than sanded it.  I still have to sand the coaming area under the band.  I really like the contrasting colours of the Ash and Cherry used for the coaming rim.

Today I got onto the hatches.  I masked the area on both sides where the hatches would be cut out with green tape (I love this stuff).  I used a 1/16th inch drill bit to get a spot where I could get the jigsaw blade in.  I went really slow and was happy with the outcome.  For some reason this has been the process that has worried me the most right from the beginning.  I think it had to do with not knowing what kind of system I would use to secure the hatches.  I took it slowly and went through the steps and it looks like it coming out fine.  I used some 1/4″ mahogany plywood for the spacer band and cut it in 2 pieces.  Glued it up and clamped it and went for dinner.  After dinner I took off the clamps, and clamped the front hatch ( don’t have enough clamps to do it all at once).  After the front spacer band was glued and clamped around the hatch I sanded the rear hatch and spacer band flush.  That is where I left it tonight.  Tomorrow I will put on the lip bands and sand more.

I am hoping that I’ll be able to bond the hull and deck together sometime this week!  This weekend is going to be busy so I don’t imagine that I’ll have too much time to work on the kayak with Paddlefest in Ladysmith and the Denman Island Home and Garden Tour going on.  I’ll keep you updated.

Checking the boat for fit

It’s been a while since I saw the boat rather than the hull and deck in separate pieces

The coaming after it’s been glassed and sanded ~ still needs another coat and more sanding

Masking off the areas where the hatches will be cut out

Nerves on edge

Rear hatch cut out

hatches cut out

Clamps … you never have enough

more clamps …

sanded flush ~ lip band to add tomorrow …