Splash decks and Speaker cable done

Sat the splashdecks on and then ran the speaker cable along the gunawale. Taped it as I went to keep it all in place.
Taped all the way along and cable all set to be glued

Splash decks roped down. Found this was the best way as it ment that the decks held the shape of the top of the canoe better. Plus no where to attach clamps to!

Electrics added

Amp is epoxyd on to the top of the box
Charging box glued shut and ready to attach

All the electrics are now in

Filleting the Bulkheads

Ended up using my gloved fingers to put some smooth fillets around the back of the bulkheads.
Doh! forgot to put the second speaker attachment on.

On and ready for the splash decks to be fixed.

Attaching Spreader bar

I thought I would use some electrical tape to make the fillets nice and neat around the Spreader bar
Fillets done

Used a spare peice of wood across the top to clamp to so it was nice and flush to the gunawales

Before the fillets set I took off the tape, and am pleasently surprised that it looks quite good. I have always messed up using tape this way when painting but it seems to have worked.

Final wiring of the main

Bought a switch for the amp today so the battery can be left in. Mounted it just below the water proof plug.
From the inside, all ready for Ipod etc!

I spent about an hour today, souldering and heat shrinking all the cables so they are robust

Bulkhead back in, wires, soldered, ready to fillet inside and out of Bulkheads.

Gunawales finishing inside

I used a grinder to shape the ends of the inwales so that I can put a peice of ash across the top of the bulkheads.
Finshed the inwales and also cut the spreader bar

Gunawales 2

Screws in down the other side, ready for the pain!

Epoxy on

Again no photos of the actual fitting as it was harder than the first! At least they are the same height as each other.

Looks good though, Surprising how ridgid it is now, just with the Inwales in.

Gunawales 1

Thought I would get the screws in ready for the Gunawales, one less thing to do

Smooths everything off nicely along the top. It has been left higher on purpose so that the speaker wire can run along the top of the plans, in between the Gunawales.

I haven't got any photos of the actual bending/forcing of the inwales as it took both SWMBO and I much swearing and effort to get them in place and screw them in, but Hey one in one to go!

I was quite surprised at just how hard it was to bend the strips of wood into the canoe, it took ever ounce of our combinde strength to get them in, hold them and screw in.

Bulkheads Fit!

When I actually put some effort in to forcing in the Bulkheads I found that they do actually fit. I thought they had large gaps around them but I spent some time getting them in the right spot and they are now 'spot on!'

Gunawales Scarf Joints

Love the belt sander, this has made short work of so many jobs through out the build.

Joints messured and snaded down ready for joining

Wrapped some clear plastic around the spare plank that came with the Ash. Should be able to join the two paart togeather with out getting them stuck to anything else!

Bilge Runners

Thought it best to shape the front of each of the two runners so that it can run up on the Grass/sand easily enough with out getting court.

Went for two runners as feel that three would be a bit over kill, and from reading through Song of the paddle forum it seems that if there are too many runners then the turning ability can be effected when on the water.

Weight and wait

Wood arrives from Robins

Ash has arrived from Robins timber. Cost £91 delivered and should be enough to finish the canoe. Enough here to do Gunwales, Runners, Seats and Stretcher (Hopefully)

They could only provide max 2.7 mtrs so I will need to join them for the gunwales.

Very different shades of ash! These are for the Outwales so either side will be slightly different. Not too worried but not overly impressed

Shes Back, we're out!

Back to the garden, put an extra tarp up, more securely this time.

SWMBO in Aus - I reclaim the House!

What can I say.....The dog did it?!?!

Due to more Great British Summer weather I came back from work and found that the double layer of tarp that I had over the canoe and failed and there was two inches of water in the bottom of the canoe...Not Impressed.

Once emptied and wiped down I left it uncovered to dry over night then moved it inside to properly dry. Checked all over, fearing the worst but luckily all the areas that got wet were full sealed and there was no damage at all to any of the canoe...phew!!!!!!!! And at least I know the hull is water tight now, although not how I planned to test it.

As SWMBO is away at the min I can get away with it, but we will soon be back out in the tent I recon!

Splash Decks and sola pannel

Enough scrap left over from the ply boards to cut out the spray decks (Enough to do three in fact as I messed one up royally)

Hole for the sola pannel wire, I will watertight this with epoxy when it is all fitted

As the cable needs to run under the pannel a bit I have had to lift it slightly, handy filleting sticks came to the rescue

This resess will also be made water tight as I don't want excess water sitting under there.

Pannel all lined up. I am trying to get a few thingys ready before the next set of epoxy'ing as if I do it in little stages I go through brushes and tubs rather quickly. So I will get most things ready to epoxy and then slap it on!

Watertight plug

The plugs I salvaged have come from an outdoor electric plug box, you get a few spare in the packs so may as well be put to good use! As they are designed for larger mains power cable I am bulking out the wire with heatshrink, I think I put about 4 or 5 layers on to get it fat enough for a water tight seal.
Here you can see the same on the 'box' end

Then the teo joined and Heat shrink around both

Ready to be installed