Inwales fitted

Finished off fitting the inwales. The joints aren't really as good as I'd like them but one of them will be improved when I fit the grab handle as it will close the gap up, the other end will need to be filled with an epoxy mix.

Measured and cut the portage yoke then fitted it for size. Used a ratchet strap to pull the sides in so I could mark the centre and the drilling points for fitting.

Made a fixture that aligns the outwale with the inwale.

Need to get some more screws to fit the outwales on but want to find out about how to plug the holes first. What I did on my other canoe (which had much thicker gunnels) was to counterbore a 10mm hole then use a plug cutter and glue and hammer the plug in place. On this canoe the gunnels are only 20mm wide so the drilling needs to be accurate and I'm wondering if a M6 screw will be too big so the counterbore could break out??

Fitting Out

Started the fitting out. I started by mitrering both inwales to get a good fit then clamped down half of one side and drilled and countersunk through the hull. I used a useful little tool that I'd seen on SoTP which rests on the inwale and straddles the hull and hangs down the right distance on the outer to mark the centre of the inwale to ensure the screw is in the right place.

I left 125mm (5" in old money) distance between screws and got about 3/4 of one inwale fitted before it was time to go in.

My order from Ed'sCanoe turned up (minus x2 grab handles), quick delivery and didn't have to pay any duty either. Laid the seats etc out just for size.

The Apache arrives

After having the Raven for a while and borrowing/ owning various plastic canoes I got a bit fed up hauling heavy(ish) boats around so decided to look around for a lightweight alternative. I didn't want to pay a lot of money for a Royalex boat so looked at and test drove a Venture 14' canoe. I probably would have bought one except the shop's order was stolen which lead me to the Apache website.

I didn't want to buy one with testing one out first and noticed that someone on SoTP lived in Suffolk and that person turned out to be a neighbour of mine. We got together and I had a paddle one evening on the Stour. It was quite windy on the way back and the Apache behaved very well in wind, unlike the Raven.

Anyway deal done I ordered one, well the hull and the ash for the gunwhales and arranged to collect it from Nottingham.

This blog will show the progress of the build...