So I do have some interests other than photography, though admittedly most of them accommodate photography too. Here is a small project I picked up yesterday off Craig's-List:
This boat is a circa 1980 Miller fiberglass canoe. Miller is still in business and makes the same basic canoe as this one, though with a few minor updated changes: http://www.millercanoe.com/details.htm
Canoes have personalities and as you gain experience paddling, you get pickier about certain traits. So the first order of business is to paddle it and see if you even like it. This one while not abused had certainly been neglected -- probably stored outside on the ground after the original paddler's life got to busy to spend time with it. So before I can even paddle it, some generous elbow grease was needed and the above shots are taken on rest periods during the generous scrub. If I do like paddling it, then I will spend the time to properly restore it to a healthier condition -- and of course chronicle that process here as well
A bit more info... It is a hand made canoe with ash ribs and gunwales, and then what appears to be cherry for the carry yoke, seat frames and end caps, a laid-up fiberglass hull, all held and sandwiched together with marine grade brass screws:
The bow line was rotten, so a quick replacement loop properly tied off was added. One unique touch to this boat is the bow and stern eye-straps are mounted hidden under the bow and stern caps, and a small pass-through is left at the very prow making for a very clean loop point:
Two other minor items in addition to the cleaning and line loops needed attention before I put it in the water. The first is the cane seats need a soak of marine oil so they don't shred when I sit my 250 pound butt on them:
The second is some minor hull damage. This canoe would be considered delicate by any standard. It weighs in at 35 pounds total, where most comparable fiberglass canoes of this size will weigh at least twice that. So it has a relatively thin skin and won't handle rock collisions well. This is what probably happened here:
Some basic tools, in this case a heat gun to dry out the crack, some 400 grit sand-paper and block, a little more elbow grease and then... mailing tape. Not permanent, but water-tight and perfect for a few weeks of test piloting:
I am heading up to the lake and will have my first test paddle before dinner this evening, so stay tuned for more later today!
This boat is a circa 1980 Miller fiberglass canoe. Miller is still in business and makes the same basic canoe as this one, though with a few minor updated changes: http://www.millercanoe.com/details.htm
Canoes have personalities and as you gain experience paddling, you get pickier about certain traits. So the first order of business is to paddle it and see if you even like it. This one while not abused had certainly been neglected -- probably stored outside on the ground after the original paddler's life got to busy to spend time with it. So before I can even paddle it, some generous elbow grease was needed and the above shots are taken on rest periods during the generous scrub. If I do like paddling it, then I will spend the time to properly restore it to a healthier condition -- and of course chronicle that process here as well
A bit more info... It is a hand made canoe with ash ribs and gunwales, and then what appears to be cherry for the carry yoke, seat frames and end caps, a laid-up fiberglass hull, all held and sandwiched together with marine grade brass screws:
The bow line was rotten, so a quick replacement loop properly tied off was added. One unique touch to this boat is the bow and stern eye-straps are mounted hidden under the bow and stern caps, and a small pass-through is left at the very prow making for a very clean loop point:
Two other minor items in addition to the cleaning and line loops needed attention before I put it in the water. The first is the cane seats need a soak of marine oil so they don't shred when I sit my 250 pound butt on them:
The second is some minor hull damage. This canoe would be considered delicate by any standard. It weighs in at 35 pounds total, where most comparable fiberglass canoes of this size will weigh at least twice that. So it has a relatively thin skin and won't handle rock collisions well. This is what probably happened here:
Some basic tools, in this case a heat gun to dry out the crack, some 400 grit sand-paper and block, a little more elbow grease and then... mailing tape
. Not permanent, but water-tight and perfect for a few weeks of test piloting:
I am heading up to the lake and will have my first test paddle before dinner this evening, so stay tuned for more later today!
