Thread: Percy Blandford timber & canvas canoes

Hi Bill..I agree with you about keeping in the spirit of PBs designs..but what i found is that materials that were not around in Percys designing days in my opinion are better suited...i am this month covering an old canoe frame pbk 20 that is nearly sixty years old...the top will be covered in blue canvas duck so it can breath and the bottom very HD pvc 900gsm the same same material that curtain sider truck curtains are made from it is tough and it lasts. What i found back in 1950s with putting canvas on the hull is that every year you have to treat it to keep it water tight...you can paint it with old lino paint which is flexable when dry but it makes the canoe heavy...anyway all the best if your down our way on the thames look us up...kind regards Mike

Hi, Mike,
On further reflection, I think I might take your advice.
Thinking back, although I had no problems with waterproofing in the '60s, I did manage to put a hole in the kayak from time to time.
Conversely, the bottom of my inflatable kayak is covered in something similar to what you describe, & I was launching it over rocks last month with no problems whatsoever.
Thanks again.
Hope to see you sometime.
Bill.

Hi I am new to this forum.Please could some one identify this PBK kayak.I thought it was a PBK 57.I have seen in your forum that a PBK 57 has bent ribs.I was given this kayak in this condition and would like to get some thing sorted out with it.
Thanks in advance
Jeff

Hi Jeff..It looks a PBK 18..is it about 16 foot 6" aprox long and about 30" beam..looks if need to put a new keel on it and inner cockpit coaming plus the coaming itself..we cover them in the UK with rot proof canvas on the top so the kayak can breath and HD pvc canvas for the hull the hull canvas is 900gsm..it is the same material that curtain sider trucks have down the side..i dont know whether you have the same trucks in Africia as UK..the canvas from at tent manufacturer Marques that type of tent..and HD PVC from a supplier who makes tarpaulins for lorrys..hope this helps regards Mike

Hi Jeff a couple of shots just before covering a pbk 20 ..regards Mike

Hi, Jeff,
I just wondered if you'd come accross the ClarkCraft website yet.
Its an American firm that now hold the drawings for most of Percy's kayak designs.
I thought that perhaps if you coud browse through their PB Kayak list, (there's a fair bit of detail), using your dimensions as a comparison, it might help you identify it.
Also, I might be wrong, I often am, but the gap between the back of your cockpit & the stern looks to be quite long. Perhaps there's a rib missing?
Welcome to the forum.
Bill.

Hi Bill how are you doing ?..The Clark Craft people i think have changed the No's of some of the plans...if your going on Percy's plans i think it is a 18 as it looks nearly 17 ft long,and the cockpit is long enough to be a 3 seater.....from Percys old list which i have just found a 57 is a single seater 14.6" long.and 24" beam..kind regards Mike

Hi, Mike,
My kayak's dragging on a bit, unfortunately.
I have, however, been making some of the fiddly bits, i.e. seat & backrest, & am now, at last, ready to varnish.
I've checked out the lorry tarp option for covering, as you suggested. I've found a firm that does 560gsm. I've got a sample, & it does seem adequate, certainly stronger & more puncture resistant than painted 15oz canvas, whilst being substantially lighter than the 900gsm. It might be a good compromise in view of the weight saving.
Cheers,
Bill.

Me to Bill it seems to have taken ages to get the old pbk frame i am working on ready for covering,and it is nearly the end of the summer....that pvc sounds ok if you change your mind about the weight the company i use is Attwoolls tel no 01452 742211 product no PP2300900MGY dark grey and there based in in Whitminster Glos,......all the best Mike...

Originally Posted by canoemike

Hi Jeff..It looks a PBK 18..is it about 16 foot 6" aprox long and about 30" beam..looks if need to put a new keel on it and inner cockpit coaming plus the coaming itself..we cover them in the UK with rot proof canvas on the top so the kayak can breath and HD pvc canvas for the hull the hull canvas is 900gsm..it is the same material that curtain sider trucks have down the side..i dont know whether you have the same trucks in Africia as UK..the canvas from at tent manufacturer Marques that type of tent..and HD PVC from a supplier who makes tarpaulins for lorrys..hope this helps regards Mike

Hi Mike.
Thanks for your interest and identifying my kayak for me. The dimensions you gave were spot on. They do use that same canvas on the trucks in South Africa. I have had a good look through the kayak and I think it’s not salvageable. The plywood was not marine ply to start with and has dried out and the screws are pulling out of it. The stringers are made from what we call Maranti here (it’s a very low grate mahogany) which is splintering as it’s too old and dry.
Question 1 Has any one made a complete wood PBK?
2 I have 3mm (1/8) by 40mm (1” 19/32) white beach strips in my garage. I was wondering if it would work if it was laminated for the stringers, hog and gunwales.

We don’t readily get all the fancy boat building woods here. The imported woods are really pricey. We don’t have indigenous woods suitable for boat building.

What are your thoughts?
Regards jeff

Originally Posted by barnacle bill

Hi, Jeff,
I just wondered if you'd come accross the ClarkCraft website yet.
Its an American firm that now hold the drawings for most of Percy's kayak designs.
I thought that perhaps if you coud browse through their PB Kayak list, (there's a fair bit of detail), using your dimensions as a comparison, it might help you identify it.
Also, I might be wrong, I often am, but the gap between the back of your cockpit & the stern looks to be quite long. Perhaps there's a rib missing?
Welcome to the forum.
Bill.

Hi, Bill,

Thanks for your answer. I went and looked at the Clark Craft website and found the kayaks there. I had been on it before but had not done a thorough search.
You are correct there is a gap for the 8th rib it is in 3 pieces. The ribs were the coming fits are all broken on one side.
I will have to do a complete rebuild.
Regards Jeff

Hi Jeff ..do you mean skinning the kayak with wood and not pvc canvas..are all the fastnings coming out of the frames..the photographs that enclosed are of a kayak that was built by scouts about 60 years ago..and suspect that many of the frames are no bs 1088 marine ply..but if a lot of them have stood the test of time..if the frames are not delaminating it be nice to bring the old canoe frame back to life ..this was all about what the the Percy Blandford (PBK) was all about ..for stringers use scarf joints.. at the moment i am recovering a PBK 20 also rebuiding a PBK 10,22.18..if i can be of any further help..just email...regards Mike

Hi Jeff..attached hopefully details...having trouble with your e maill address..regards Mike

Hi Mike

Thank you very much. I am going to have a good look at the lofting drawing tomorrow. I really appreciate your help. I will keep you updated.
Kind Regards
Jeff