I'm getting ready to start as soon as my plans arrive, would it be sturdier if I used a thicker ply for the base and buoyancy fore and aft? Say 12-15mm?
We use West System 405 for the glue filletsand we don''t cover the boat in fibreglass. It is sometimes used on the bottom if the canoe will be taking rough ground.
I love the stitch and glue process. When you did the filleting did you put fiber in the epoxy or was it straight epoxy? did you cover the boat with fiberglass cloth and epoxy?
I'm surprised that the boards are butt-jointed and not scarfed or puzzle-jointed. I'm currently building one of your Fairlight multi-purpose sailing canoes, which I am puzzle-jointing.
It's a good point but it was designed for this sort of build method and gains its overall strength from the interior epoxy filleting, the exteior epoxy taping and the epoxy tape both sides of the butt joint. Puzzle jointing is strong, but not within the DIY capabilities of everyone so a strong, simple joint was needed.
We just had a quick look and there seems to be very little. If you contact us we do have a picture build and always available via email and phone/text if you get stuck.
