The boat stripped out QUICKLY. I thought it would take longer.
I have under 20 working hours in stripping.
I started level at top of strongback line. The first few strips were the hardest. Had a lot of help from my 7 year old daughter.
I thought stripping the football was going to be hard but I did the last 20 strips in about 3.5 hours. I used a 3/8 thick keel piece
( I wanted to strip to a center piece rather than a center line) I am sure it saved time.

I used leather scraps and little pieces of nylon strapping ( the kind pallets are wrapped in) under the staples. this makes removing the staples easier, and helps prevent bruising the wood. It worked well and was worth wile I should have used more.

I sanded for 15-20 minuites last night. I HATE SANDING
I am sure I have another 2-3 hours of sanding to do.

Looks nice, is that a Northwest Cruiser?

Looks nice and you have a great helper too!

Nice!!

I see you used the single center strip. That solution finally dawned on me after hours of trying to get two strips bevelled just right. It was a huge time saver on my 2nd boat. I glued another strip on top of it at the stems so I could shape it, but I wound up planing it all off anyway. Nice looking boat.

Northwest cruiser from northwest canoe. I stretched it out 1 inch a station for 16 stations. boat is 18 feet 4 inches long 32 inches wide at waterline. I am happy with plans and thrilled with price.
I have not added any strips to stern, thinking of leaving it level. might save a few ounces should make installing gunwales easier. Any negative thoughts to stern being 4 inches lower than bow.
bow is 19 inches, plans called for 18.5 strips worked out to 19 inches.

I just finished the epoxy seal coat. Should have spent another hour sanding, but I hate sanding.

19 down to 15 inches is extreme IMO. I would go back to the original plans, following waves can and do swamp canoes.

To save wt be careful about epoxy and how you trim it out.......
2 fill coats outside and no fill coats inside just the wet out on the inside(save a lb or so)
Rip a 1/4 inch off the outwale(save a lb or so).
No end decks just grab thwarts(save another lb).
Cut you own thwarts 3/4 by 1 3/4(save another 1/2 lb).
Remember when the canoe comes off the forms that is the LIGHTEST it will ever be. From that point forward you are adding wt.
CB

I'd strip up that back end. If trimmed just a little heavy to the rear, you will take on water from waves back there. I don't think the weight savings would be worth it at all.and NICE looking boat, what a beauty. I also have a cruiser in the works.

Glad you finally got your build in this group!

Beautiful work and in a short time. I get the feeling, this is not your first build :)

Neat trick on the legs for the strong back...... was that the kitchen table that you sawed in half?

I think I would hang those strips on the stern (that weight will be small compared to the trim).

Tonight I weighed my trim and seat (inwales, outwales, thwarts, decks, carry handles, cane seat, seat hangers, silicon bronze bolts....... an additional 9 pounds !!!