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First stripper build: Prospector-16 Help & comments appreciated

Well, I've got seat frames done, decks done, and yoke done. No picture of the yoke, it's in the canoe at home
IMG_2432.jpgIMG_2433.jpg

I've decided I'm going to go with a synthetic snow shoe lacing, rather than caning the seats. The caning really looks nice, but I decided I wanted it more rustic, and saving time isn't a bad thing. I've never used any synthetic lacing. I'm assuming just weave it, and saturate it with varnish when it's done. I found this product, doing a search: https://snowshoe.com/products/snows...acing-by-the-spool-traditional-wood-snowshoes

If anyone has used this, or another synthetic lacing that ends up looking like traditional gut, I'd appreciate any suggestions. Thinking 3/6" holes, spaced 3/4" apart.
 
I think @Jim Dodd uses similar synthetic lacing. I know he's posted about it before in at least some of his numerous build threads but I'm not sure which ones.

Alan
 
Well, I've got seat frames done, decks done, and yoke done. No picture of the yoke, it's in the canoe at home
View attachment 132756View attachment 132757

I've decided I'm going to go with a synthetic snow shoe lacing, rather than caning the seats. The caning really looks nice, but I decided I wanted it more rustic, and saving time isn't a bad thing. I've never used any synthetic lacing. I'm assuming just weave it, and saturate it with varnish when it's done. I found this product, doing a search: https://snowshoe.com/products/snows...acing-by-the-spool-traditional-wood-snowshoes

If anyone has used this, or another synthetic lacing that ends up looking like traditional gut, I'd appreciate any suggestions. Thinking 3/6" holes, spaced 3/4" apart.
Wow, gorgeous decks!
 
Many years back I used synthetic snowshoe lacing from a semi local place called Havlick Snowshoe company.
It was 1/4” wide neoprene/nylon/neoprene that at a glance looked like traditional gut lacing.
It was a tad stretchy, 100% waterproof and made for very comfortable seating.
I have looked for that same material for years after Havlick went out of business, no luck.
I would use that material even now if I could find it.
 
If anyone has used this, or another synthetic lacing that ends up looking like traditional gut, I'd appreciate any suggestions.

I don't like real cane, even on my reproduction Morris wood-canvas canoe, where cane is compulsory if you want to maintain the original tradition. Cane sags even when new, especially when wet, and you end up sitting on the wood frame. Eventually, real cane degrades and rips.

The fake cane would be okay by me in a stripper as long as it doesn't stretch or sag.

However, my favorite seating for both looks and function is now woven boot lace, which I have on my Nova Craft Bob Special. It's very strong, taut, non-saggy and looks very nice to me. That's what I'd now use instead of cane (real or fake) or webbing.

Nova Craft Bootlace-Seat.jpg

Nova Craft bootlace.jpg

You probably can buy boot lacing from various sources, but the pictures above are from Nova Craft's factory store:

 
How do you like boot lace compared to webbing? I’m in the webbing camp.

I've long preferred webbing over cane because it is less saggy, more comfortable and will last indefinitely. However, I don't think webbing looks aesthetic in a wood canoe. Having experienced boot lace over the past two years, it is now my first choice because, to me, it is the best looking of all, can work aesthetically in any canoe, should last as long as webbing, seems just as taut as webbing, and drains/dries faster than webbing.
 
Many years back I used synthetic snowshoe lacing from a semi local place called Havlick Snowshoe company.
It was 1/4” wide neoprene/nylon/neoprene that at a glance looked like traditional gut lacing.
It was a tad stretchy, 100% waterproof and made for very comfortable seating.
I have looked for that same material for years after Havlick went out of business, no luck.
I would use that material even now if I could find it.
SG, Is this what you are looking for? I'm thinking of using it when I build mine this winter. Looks like $175 would probably get a lifetime supply...
 
I can't tell if you mortised the seat frame pieces ?
That definitely adds a lot of strength.

Some pics.
IMG_1359_zps4jczx07q.jpg


IMG_1274_zpsqosjeznh.jpg

I used a 3/16" bit, for the holes.
It can be difficult threading the lace trough the holes, so I wrap Electrician's tape, at an angle, on the end of the lacing. ( I wish I had a pic of that ) If you have too much tape wrapped on the lacing ? It won't work.
 
Jim: Yes, I mortised the joints. I was going to do a blind mortise & tennon, but I didn't want to cut that much away from the curved cross members. I mortised a bit over 1/8" deep, and added a 2" maple dowel to the joint.

I'm glad you can't see the mortises, but it speaks more to the quality of my photos than my work.
 
Jim:

I was just looking closer at the finished canoe picture above. What is the button/plug on the side of the spacer block for dropping the seats?

Also, I've seen several posts about trim work where the decks are glassed. I wasn't planning on glassing them, just an epoxy coating so the finish matches, then 3 coats of varnish. Is it recommended to glass the decks?
 
Jim:

I was just looking closer at the finished canoe picture above. What is the button/plug on the side of the spacer block for dropping the seats?

Also, I've seen several posts about trim work where the decks are glassed. I wasn't planning on glassing them, just an epoxy coating so the finish matches, then 3 coats of varnish. Is it recommended to glass the decks?
They are just decoration, on the hanger brackets.

By the way. I measured my hole spacings for the lacing.
7/8" . I've done them at different spacing, but I like 7/8" the best, and 3/16" drill bit.

Jim
 
Holes drilled @ 1” spacing, 13/64. Used metal cutting bit, virtually no tear-out. I did use a backer block, and moved it every few holes.

Put seat frames on gunwales, and UH OH!. I figured scupper spacing & layout for width of seat not depth. CRAP! This is going to be the kind of oops I’ll look at every time I paddle it.

Change to cleats, or get creative with spacer blocks and angle bolts slightly?
EE8D3E42-8F77-41AF-B560-52D03C3C842E.jpeg
At least the frames are consistent and square. Bending without steam worked great. Not sure if it would with open grained woods. pretty hard to see the seams.
21DFD83C-C8CC-47D8-BD4F-30094B83534C.jpeg
 
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