First Strips

With the stems shaped and everything in place, it’s time to start stripping the boat. The Freedom looks like it is quite a straight-forward shape to build and I’ve decided to try out some different techniques for this part of the building process. I figure I can try different things on the Freedom before I go to build a more complex boat (if I build another boat). The basic plan is to go stapleless using hot glue to clamp the wood, and to use a rolling bevel using a hand plane (instead of bead & cove).

The shear line is almost straight so I decided to have the first strip follow the shear. This puts a bit of curve into the stripping pattern with the strips curving up at the ends instead of being horizontal. Given the straight lines of the Freedom I think adding a bit of curve might be visually interesting. As well, I won’t have to worry about cutting a shear line later. I’ll use staples on the first strip.

Not only do I use hot glue to hold the strips against the forms, but between the forms I also apply hot glue to hold the strips together while the PVA glues dries. I’m using Titebond III PVA glue on this boat. I would actually prefer to use regular yellow carpenters glue because it is cheaper and lighter in color. However, I know that I’ll be gluing in cooler weather and yellow glue should be used above 15C. The Titebond III is good down to 5C I think. Titebond III is also supposed to be waterproof but that doesn’t really matter since the boat is going to be covered in fiberglass and epoxy.

With only three strips in place it is already pretty exciting to see the canoe taking shape.