Flysmallie Posted July 15, 2007 Author Posted July 15, 2007 I've seen some info on keels but I have always had a hangup about them. Floating a lot of small streams and on one of my favorite floats you have to walk a flat canoe a lot. It's a 4 mile section and when the fishing is good you can plan on wading at least 2 miles of it. The canoe is just there to carry the gear. I've always thought a keel would make this worse. But I've been lucky where I don't think I've ever needed one. Waht do you guys think about keels? Did get all the panels cut out. Got some sanding to do to make them all match. You could say that I'm lacking in the jig saw skills.
Terry Beeson Posted July 15, 2007 Posted July 15, 2007 Ronnie... it's not you... it's the saw... or the beer... TIGHT LINES, YA'LL "There he stands, draped in more equipment than a telephone lineman, trying to outwit an organism with a brain no bigger than a breadcrumb, and getting licked in the process." - Paul O’Neil
Crippled Caddis Posted July 15, 2007 Posted July 15, 2007 Fs wrote: <Floating a lot of small streams and on one of my favorite floats you have to walk a flat canoe a lot. It's a 4 mile section and when the fishing is good you can plan on wading at least 2 miles of it.> Then you'd better plan on double glassing the bottom and finishing the bottom and 3-4" up the side with a triple coat of resin with graphite and collodial silica mixed in because it sounds like you're gonna be hitting or draggung it over a lot of rocks. As much as I hate to say it that sort of useage is where the plastic boats shine. <The canoe is just there to carry the gear. I've always thought a keel would make this worse. But I've been lucky where I don't think I've ever needed one. Waht do you guys think about keels?> The same as you! If primary use is on windy lakes then a keel is a blessing, but on winding streams and skinny water keels are a curse. "You need only reflect that one of the best ways to get yourself a reputation as a dangerous citizen these days is to go about repeating the very phrases which our founding fathers used in their struggle for independence." ---Charles Austin Beard
brownieman Posted July 15, 2007 Posted July 15, 2007 Fs wrote: Then you'd better plan on double glassing the bottom and finishing the bottom and 3-4" up the side with a triple coat of resin with graphite and collodial silica mixed in because it sounds like you're gonna be hitting or draggung it over a lot of rocks. As much as I hate to say it that sort of useage is where the plastic boats shine. The same as you! If primary use is on windy lakes then a keel is a blessing, but on winding streams and skinny water keels are a curse. I also reflect CC on this one...although being both natural and beautiful wood is not everlasting nor very weather resistant...nothing prettier no doubt but nothing harder to mantain...so is born the "plastic revolution"...kevlar and such materials that are both user friendly and impact resistant. If you construct a wooden canoe it will indeed be pretty...it will make you cringe for every rock you scrape over on a riffle and you will spend endless hours maintaining the integrity of the piece. The first scratch on the boat will compare to the first scratch on a brand new vehicle worsened 10 times over. You will be scratching money but above all you will be scrathing your time and pride concerning the integrity and effort put into the piece itself. My friends say I'm a douche bag ?? Avatar...mister brownie bm <><
Flysmallie Posted July 16, 2007 Author Posted July 16, 2007 I was already planning on glassing the bottom twice but I'm not sure about this graphite thing. While I'm not really worried about some scratches this boat will probably never see some of the places I fish. Those scratches are just fishing battle scars anyway, gives a boat character. The whole reason I'm building it anyways is for the experience. Not trying to build the best boat out there, just want something to putt around in. Might take it out to Fellows Lake this fall and see if I can hook a 40" muskie. CC, maybe you should design a retractable keel? Best of both worlds.
Crippled Caddis Posted July 16, 2007 Posted July 16, 2007 <CC, maybe you should design a retractable keel? Best of both worlds.> It's already been done. A foot pedal controlled kick-up rudder commonly used on touring kayaks. I did fabricate a pedal controlled trolling motor system for a small one man fishing 'kayak' @ 25 years ago that worked great! Wish now I hadn't traded it away. "You need only reflect that one of the best ways to get yourself a reputation as a dangerous citizen these days is to go about repeating the very phrases which our founding fathers used in their struggle for independence." ---Charles Austin Beard
brownieman Posted July 16, 2007 Posted July 16, 2007 <CC, maybe you should design a retractable keel? Best of both worlds.> It's already been done. A foot pedal controlled kick-up rudder commonly used on touring kayaks. I did fabricate a pedal controlled trolling motor system for a small one man fishing 'kayak' @ 25 years ago that worked great! Wish now I hadn't traded it away. CC, Don't mean to laugh...but...have to on that one, lol. I bet if you were have not to of "traded it away" you would still be right where you're at ? if only'...said that several times, lol My friends say I'm a douche bag ?? Avatar...mister brownie bm <><
Crippled Caddis Posted July 16, 2007 Posted July 16, 2007 The &^%$ of it is that I traded it for a utility trailer that I never used but thought I needed at the time.( "You need only reflect that one of the best ways to get yourself a reputation as a dangerous citizen these days is to go about repeating the very phrases which our founding fathers used in their struggle for independence." ---Charles Austin Beard
Members Ozark Posted December 25, 2007 Members Posted December 25, 2007 How did your build turn out? I'm getting ready to build the Southwind 15-30 of JEM's plans. Paul in Ozark
Flysmallie Posted December 26, 2007 Author Posted December 26, 2007 How did your build turn out? I'm getting ready to build the Southwind 15-30 of JEM's plans. Paul in Ozark Well, as most of my projects turn out, it has been put on hold. Not long after starting it I accepted a job promotion that has taken a lot of extra free time from my life. I figure I have about another 6 months of running crazy, then I will either be able to spend more time at home or start looking for another job that will allow that. While I have not negelected my family, getting a chance to go fishing has been hard to fit in. So has the time I need to build the canoe. But now that Christmas is behind us I plan on getting started again. I have all the panels cut and most of the materials bought. I just have to get busy and get it done. The Southwind looks like a neat boat. Is this your first build?
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