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Alick Burt

Building a Stitch and Glue Canoe - Part 3

Once the inwales and keel are fitted the next stage is to stitch the hull together but before this can take place the meeting edges need to be chamfered slightly on their inside corners.

I used a spokeshave but you could use a rasp, surform or even a block and sandpaper will work.

removing the corner of the edges where ply meets at bow and stern
chamfering edges with a metal spokeshave.

With this kit the stitches are made with copper wire or fishing line. Other things can be used some people use electrician's cable ties. Whatever is used, to begin with they are tied loosely to allow for adjustment as the parts are put together. The ends of the chines are put together first.

The edges are then held together with wire,fishing line or cable ties.
Stitching the chines with copper wire

Then these are stitched to the bottom.

The base of the hull and the sides areput together in the same way with ties wire or cable.
lower sides or chine planks fitted to the bottom.

It is important not to have the stitching sticking up too high on the inside corner so I go round with this tool and push the wire down. You can use a blunt screwdriver as an alternative.

The wire on the edge is flattened with a screwdriver or other flat metal tool
flattening the wire where it sticks out.

Next the bevel is cut on the top edges of the chines. It is easier to see the correct angle with the parts together like this.

adjusting the top angle of the edge with spoke shave and block plane
shaping the top edge to fit with spokeshave and plane

The side panels follow and you will need to put something between them to spread them as you work on one side and then the other.

attaching the upper panels with inwales attached.
fitting the upper side planks

With all the parts stitched she immediately starts to look like a boat and the centre thwart is put in temporarily to get the sides to the right width.

The parts are together ready for resin and tape.
With the centre thwart fitted the parts begin to look like a boat!

Thank you for reading

Alick

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