Pictured here is my first attempt, which I've been calling the prototype.
I was looking for a way to get paddling asap without spending too much on materials. The process was fast and intuitive. I bought cheapest wood I could find and a few screws, a sheet of vinyl, some staples, and a roll of gorilla tape later I was out on the river.
The paddle was improvised shortly before launching. I'll carve a nicer one in the near future.
I choose vinyl for two reasons, aesthetic value and that I wouldn't have to wait for paint or polyurethane to dry. Unfortunately it's not the most durable of materials which limits this canoe to open waters. I'll be exploring other skin materials in the future.
More canoes to come...
6 comments:
That's great! I am suddenly feeling the urge to go to the river and play!
o how awesome!
I thiught about doing such a thing in my late teens-early twenties but never did.
Lately i've been mucking about w/ "marine epoxy resin" (the stuff you put on glass cloth to make fiberglass) so far just as roofs for small structures
BUT it is of course intended for boats...your project has set my wheels turning.
How did the vinyl hold up? single or double thickness? stapled on?
Sorry, too curious : )
oh and hi there : )
http://saradwyn3.blogspot.com/
thank you! It's a double layer of 4mm vinyl stapled on. If I use vinyl again I'll search for something thicker. I take it out on the wisconsin river a couple times a week, once many miles upriver, and it is still holding strong. I have punctured it a few times, but never while in the water, only while moving it around in my driveway. gorilla tape makes any puncture an easy fix.
yay!
Beautiful
Post a Comment