Started up the build on the Freedom 17 again. Been doing some experimenting with stapless clamping. Found a really good supplier for 1/4" bungee cord to wrap around the hull forms and still using rubber bands to band the strips to each other. Still going with rolling bevel because that's my gig and my therapy. Other peoples mileage may vary.









So what's with the pipes? they help with tension yes but they help to load new strips and when that strip's done then move them over to the other side to insert the opposing strip. By moving them over it holds the newly glued strips very tight to the hull forms. I ran into problems last year with just doing the rubber bands only. When I started getting up around the curve of the bilge we started having issues with the rubber band actually augmenting the curve and tending to fold the strips in towards each other. The hull bands seem to have ended that.

Rolling bevel is easy enough. dry fit a new strip and eyeball how much needs to come off and pull it out. Two or three minutes worth of a hand plane beveling and you're ready for a glue up.

Looks great! Some good ideas you've got going there, if I ever build another one I plan to steal of few of them.

Nice!

very nice (and neat) operation
but I am not sure of the purpose of the propane tank........ could it be a warning to the unruly plank ? ....... bend or burn :)

quote HighPlainsDrifter: "
very nice (and neat) operation
but I am not sure of the purpose of the propane tank........ could it be a warning to the unruly plank ? ....... bend or burn :)"

The Freedom doubles as a 17ft pig roaster. Good for one event. I'll send pics if I ever do that. :-)

Nice!

When it comes to staple-less construction. You gotta do whatever it takes. I built a heck of a lot of canoes with staples. Mainly becasue I was a paying canoe and needed to get done. If you have the time, no staples is the way to go. How many canoes have you built?

I'm building my first wood canvas canoe this fall. I was lucky enough to acquire a form for a canoe from a friend. That cut 40 hrs off the build time already and I haven't even started.

Tom

quote woodcanoe: "Nice!


(snip)If you have the time, no staples is the way to go. How many canoes have you built?


I'm building my first wood canvas canoe this fall. I was lucky enough to acquire a form for a canoe from a friend. That cut 40 hrs off the build time already and I haven't even started.

Tom"

Including this one?.. 1½. I paddled woodncanvas canoes in Maine for a couple summers. They don't like rocks.