Today was a big day and all went well.
We trimmed off the excess canvas above the gunnels so that we could get a good grip with the canvas stretchers, although the canoe remains suspended in the stretched tight canvas between the clothespins.
Sometimes we stretched and stapled by ourselves,
Other times we worked as a tem, one stretching, the other stapling,
We stapled almost to each end of the canoe before we removed the rocks and cut the canvas free of the stretching apparatus,
Outside on horses, we flipped the canoe over and prepared the stems for staples. Bob sliced the canvas from near where the stem starts on the bottom to the end of the canvas. This is a very critical slice, if you cut it wrong you could ruin the whole canvas. He had to cut the canvas so it fit just over the stem for the first line of staples,
Then the second side is stapled down and trimmed.
You must be careful to avoid wrinkles in the canvas a tight fit all around is a must. Looks good here.
Looks good here too, those wrinkles by the staples will flatten out with the filler,
Now that's a tight smooth fit,.we where both very pleased with the outcome,
Now the filler needs to be applied. This seals the canvas and makes it water proof. I like the Northwoods Canoe of Maine logo on the can, very neat.
The filler is thick and must be stirred to a thick paint like substace, then spread on the canoe and rubbed in as you go. 3 continuous coats and it's done.
Notice the wrinkles by the stem staples have flattened out.
"Hey Robin"
"What's that Bob?"
"Do these shorts make my arse look big?"
Now we have to wait 30-40 days depending on nightime temps for the filler to cure, then sand and paint and finish the trim.
