Thread: Alternative construction methods for Quick Canoe/Plywood boats

It is quite a big question in some ways.

First of all the epoxies around a 2:1 mix are possibly less allergenic than the ones that are around 5:1. There have been a number of people with allergies that have swapped to the 2:1 epoxied and had fewer or sometimes no problems. It is anecdotal and might not be worth the risk if the allergy is serious.

The plans for the canoe do go through a number of alternative building methods. You can use polyester resin and glass tape, which would be the second best alternative for an easy build for the Quick Canoe.

Not as durable, but the information is in the plan.

It would be possible to use a chine log, but it is not particularly simple because the chine angle changes along the length of the boat. Also without the bottom on it would be necessary to brace the sides so the bottom was at the right width to plane the bevels down. It is a bit fiddly.

But the glass tape and polyester, while nowhere near as durable as epoxy would still give your friend a boat that would last several years.

Rick Landreville built his quick canoe with polyester resin. Clinton1 did as well. I built one a couple of weeks ago as well.

Epoxy is best, but polyester is a reasonable alternative if building cheap.

Best wishes
Michael

I have found that if you are already sensitized to epoxy, polyester is usually worse because the catalyst is usually more powerful. To build a quick-canoe with chine logs could be fairly straight-forward if one was to add supports across the bottom cut to the correct width just like the upper supports. Once the sides are locked in, a 4 foot long piece of flat timber could be layed across the chines and the chines planed flat using the timber as a guide, moving it along as you went. This would take the guesswork out of the varying bevel needed, and give you and your plane a nice workout!
I love the feeling of a nice sharp plane gliding along a pine chine log. The sweet smell of the shavings and the swoosh, swoosh sound of the blade slicing the wood.
I also like the roar of my power-planer spinning at 12000rpm and the screaming sounds it makes as it performs the same task in 1/20th of the time. But I admit I like boating better than building. My grandfather used to say 'Give the hardest job to the laziest person, and he will find the fastest, most efficient way to do it'. I still don't understand what he meant.

Rick Landreville

Howdy Rick, I think it is worth trying the polyester approach, unless the person has some woodwork skills above the norm - or wants to develop them. The reason is that while polyester is relatively unhealthy stuff because of the solvents involved it is unlikely for one particular person to be sensitive to both epoxy and polyester. Allergies work that way. I am allergic to horses and their hair (quite serious) and my brother is allergic to apricots. I can eat apricots any time and Tim has no prob with horses (and presumably can also eat them anytime he wishes). The chemistry of epoxy and polyester don't have many similar components, so I would be almost ready to lay down money that there will be no problem with polyester. That is ALMOST ready. So you can see I have some doubt and partially agree with you - but more to give it a try and be cautious. But if some woodworking appeals - I have no problem with people working out the methods to get timber chinelogs nicely faired up. MIK

Thank you for the replies. I think the best option for us probably is just adapting it for chine logs, although I plan to look into the polyester resin option. Woodworking skills are not an issue, he's a very experienced woodworker so I think between the two of us we can manage.

Thanks again!

Avery

The big trick if using chine logs is to set them up so 6mm of chine log is past the edge of the ply. that will allow enough meat. This means the chine logs will probably have to be about 19 x 25+mm.

The other thing is that the sides will have to propped at the right width to take the bottom so you can put a straight edge across and plane the chinelogs down flat to take the bottom ply.

My main concern is it will all end up pretty wobbly when doing the planing.

MIK