BWCA Bored or is it Board? Boundary Waters Group Forum: Boat Builders and Repair
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      Bored or is it Board?     

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01/16/2017 08:55PM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
I’m board or bored, but I’m not building another canoe and I hope posting on this particular forum won’t be perceived as irreverent.

It isn’t that I don’t want to build another canoe; I already have three and with just my wife and me living at home, I can’t justify another boat. However, I had a blast learning how to build the canoe last year and sincerely looked forward to each time my compass pointed me to the shop for a bit of building R&R. The finished product, a solo Merlin cedar strip, turned out to be an exceptional watercraft, to build and paddle, and I put many miles in/on her last season with many more planned in the future. Alas, there just isn’t space for another.

So, I was bored and decided to build a board this winter instead, a stand up paddleboard that is. Up until last summer, I thought the stand up “board thing” was a bit over the top and really rather wussyish. Then in early July my brother brought his Birthday present, a ten foot plastic SUP, over for a float on the lake. While mildly impressed that he could even stay atop the craft, as the day was quite windy and slight caps presented themselves on occasion, I just couldn’t hang out and not try the goofy contraption.

Well, I was literally blown away by how fun it was to paddle and maneuver across the lake through waves and troughs using a variety of my familiar stroke patterns. Besides a paddling treat, the work out I experienced was fantastic. The only reason I stopped was to prepare the grill as we were hosting dinner.

Hooked, and without a reason to build a canoe, I set about constructing a stand up board. Not only would it be a fine winter project, I could use it in the years ahead for an optimum work out alternating with canoeing. It also has the appeal that my wife and I hope will draw the kids home on occasion.

Not unlike this, and other canoe building boards, there are also SUP forums to share and gain ideas about board construction. After exhausting my curser on pictures and editorial commentary, I sought advice from a company called Cedar Boat Works in Portland Oregon. While on the phone discussing the Columbia Star model I noticed a reference to St. Paul, Minnesota, just a few miles south of me. Upon further investigation the owner said he had just moved to the Minnesota metro area and was opening up shop in Newport, south of the Capital city. Providence? Perhaps, and I was shortly thereafter at his shop picking up plans for the Columbia Star Board.





The Columbia Star is 12 feet tall and 30 inches across, it should handle boarders up to 250 pounds, plenty of room for me, 170#, and my 11 # toy Australian Sheppard. Although I could have bought the forms precut, I wanted more experience with the band saw so only invested in a plan.





The lumber is scrap cherry, poplar, aspen, black walnut and cedar from last year’s canoe project and also strips made from a beautiful 2.5 “ x 16 “x 9 feet slab by Basswood my neighbor had taking up space in his garage, but perfect for the flat bottom. I also had some aged redwood from a broken bench to use.









The project has been pretty straight forward, applying the knowledge I acquired last year. The strips were cut using a skill saw and then bead and cove was routed into the fine edges. The strongback was the one I borrowed from Karl Anderson and have yet to return…maybe Karl, when I’m done with this project or maybe after I make another canoe or board or something else, in the mean time, thank you!









The forms were cut out of ¼ inch floor backing material using both a band saw and hand held skill saw after the design had been adhered with spray on adhesive.. Finish sanding the edges utilized a table sander and drill press with sanding attachment.







In the mean time I needed to build the platform to construct the bottom of the board upon. Unlike a canoe, the bottom of a SUP is built flat and then wrapped up onto and glued upon the form. A laser was used to align the platform in preparation of the lay out. Following that I began laying out the bottom design. Nothing complex as it won’t be a visual display, but still better than a plain board.




Time has been allusive this winter and the project slow going. The above passage is a compilation of several days work spread over a few months.

 
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HighPlainsDrifter
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01/16/2017 09:55PM  

Very neat project. I understand where you were at with "bored". Your solution to build a "board" as an outlet is a good idea. I fell to tradition and decided my only way out was to build another canoe. But, regardless of building a canoe or board, working with wood that is destined for the water is good therapy.

Good luck on the project
 
01/17/2017 05:54AM  
Wood therapy is the best. Last year the canoe project was an excuse to see my father as often as possible to check up on his status following knee replacement and also get him to the shop and "busy". This year, a little older and a little slower, he is very reluctant to make the trek through the woods to help me out. In fact, he has only been out once, and that was a brief peek after I picked him up in the car and then we went out for a bite to eat.

I am however, still grateful for a reason to stop by and make sure all is okay around his home front. Finally, he has allowed me to be responsible for placing the bird suet 20 feet up in the tree and shovel the walks for him. Sadly though, the monster piles of split wood remain untouched as he just doesn't have the energy nor deep desire to stoke the fireplace and watch the logs melt away. What is worse, growing old or watching somebody you love grow old....

HP, do you use your Merlin much? I enjoyed your build story and the finished product really looked exceptional.

Mac
 
HighPlainsDrifter
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01/17/2017 02:19PM  

Mac you hit upon a sensitive nerve with the story of your Dad growing old. I watched my Dad grow old and it was a tough watch. Now, I watch myself grow old and that too is a tough row to hoe.

How old is your Dad ? If you live close maybe you could find ways to keep him involved. I know with my Dad, things went down hill fast when he did less. This getting old stuff is not what any of us want. There is a loss of incentive to do much of anything and that is when the downhill slide begins.

You ask if I use my Merlin much. Last summer I used it a lot, but the use was only to keep my paddling muscles conditioned. I paddled in a little slough and the canoe never saw big lake time. I built that canoe with the intent to paddle along on a canoe trip with my son and his mate. Sadly, that has never happened. The canoe that never saw the water last year was my Ranger and that troubles me.
 
01/17/2017 04:27PM  
88 and thanks for asking. He had two bad falls, within 30 hours of each other, Thanksgiving weekend. Surprisingly nothing was damaged significantly, amazing considering one slip was a header down a flight of stairs at 2 in the morning! Neither he nor my stepmother are getting along and are not aging gracefully, both engaged in their own maladies and offering little support to the other. The whole scenario is very sad.

Sorry you haven't made the trip with your son, maybe this year. And I hope you get the Ranger out too. My son and wife live in Florida and he has no time to get away from work for a romp in the north woods. Their career track may take them to California... no closer to the BWCA, but I'd rather visit west than east.

Mac
 
1JimD
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01/18/2017 08:45AM  
Great thread Mac !

I'll be interested in following. This will be new to me, as I haven't built a SUP. Keep the camera busy !

One question already ! How will you fasten the strips to the forms ?

Glad your Dad is still hanging in there ! Treasure every moment with him !

I'm glad some body is getting something done this Winter !!

Jim
 
1JimD
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01/18/2017 08:45AM  
Great thread Mac !

I'll be interested in following. This will be new to me, as I haven't built a SUP. Keep the camera busy !

One question already ! How will you fasten the strips to the forms ?

Glad your Dad is still hanging in there ! Treasure every moment with him !

I'm glad some body is getting something done this Winter !!

Jim
 
01/19/2017 12:50PM  
Wow this looks beautiful, please keep us updated.
 
01/31/2017 06:31AM  
The board project is proceeding slowly as work and family keep me away from my hobby. Yet, I was able to get in a few hours last weekend putting together components for the bottom of the board. I had modified the strongback to accommodate the construction of the bottom strips into one large sheet to be wrapped/glued upon the internal frame. The process produced a fantastic work surface for splicing short strips together into 18' plus lengths.


I like the arrangement so much, and with full comprehension that I really need many more strips to complete this project and squirrel away for other projects, it is my intent to go into strip cutting and splicing mode the next time I make it to the shop. Unfortunately for me that will be only possible this Saturday followed by a lull until early March due to work and family.



What is a guy to do...not enough time in the 'dust.

Jim, I never did answer your question...the strips will be glued to the forms as the forms are an integral part of the finished product. Nothing about this build is as intuitive as building a canoe. Nothing complicated, but just as not mentally free flowing as the canoe was.
 
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