Just answered by email.
Here is a copy ... Indented sections are the questions. Left flush paragraphs are my replies.
REplies through your text, Tom,
On 16/12/2012 6:17 PM, Tom Sizer wrote:
Hi Michael,
1. This is the important question !!We have just finished the quick canoe hull and realized we need three seats, not two. ( One adult, two teens) What is the best placement?
With the normal seats placed in position it defines the front and back of the canoe. If putting in a middle seat the front of the seat should be at the middle of the boat. It is not going to be a very good position for paddling so you could make it a lower passenger seat.
2. Is the central stringer strictly necessary? Don’t the seats support the boat sufficiently? Or with three seats will I have to put in 2 stringers?
Yes - change to two spreaders rather than the one middle one. Take the measurement with a temporary middle spreader the right length in place.
3. I don’t want to build buoyancy tanks in this canoe because I’d like to nest another canoe in it. What is the best way of securing buoyancy in it? Tying a bag under the seats? Doesn’t seem like enough.
4. Is there any reason I can’t screw the seats in and out and needed?
You might have to move the standard seats a little in from the ends to get the buoyancy bags in or you can fit between seats. You can make your own buoyancy bags or buy them - ask me and I will give you a page with directions to make.
5. I’d like to build a smaller canoe to nest inside this one. Do you have specs for a smaller quick canoe?
No I don't - sorry. But remember that you have the two spreader bars and the three seats that will make nesting very difficult.
6. Is the quick canoe suitable as a sailer? Could I use a windsurfer sail and mast or would that be too big? (I’ve got one)
Yes - much too big. Though if you fitted outriggers it would probably be OK. I have two sailing options. One is with outriggers - you buy the outrigger plan and I provide information to give a good size sailing rig for quite good sailing performance. The other option is the drop in sailing rig which gives enough area for fun sailing around the local area - it doesn't have enough area for three people on the boat, but OK for one or two - it has a built in leeboard support so nothing except the mast step is attached to the boat permanently.
7. I read somewhere that the drop-in outrigger rig was available free ??
Only for purchasers of the outrigger kits.
And some comments..
In Melbourne I couldn’t find 6 mm ply for under $96/ sheet. In the end I used 7.5 mm structural ply for the bottom and 4,5 mm bracing ply for the sides..feeds a bit thin, I think I’ll have to fibreglass the sides. Looks beautiful, with meranti -coloured sides and pine rubrail and decks.
Good compromise. Don't look at fibreglassing the sides until you have the gunwales, inwales, spreaders and seats all fitted. They will make the hull much more rigid. Fibreglass adds a great deal of weight. If it does prove to be necessary we have found that VERY light glass adds almost as much rigidity and equal protection as using heavier glass. There are some cabin catamarans built of 4mm plywood and 2oz (75gsm) glass on the outside - this indicates that the normal suggestion of 4oz or 6oz glass is wrong.
Also "people" say that glass doesn't add much weight. But what they don't realise is timber is so light - so glass adds a lot of weight to the structure - VERY important to keep the amount of glass down. I think with the seats and spreaders in that the boat will start to feel very rigid.
I don’t know what kind or duct tape people are using, but I have found it useless. Everything fell apart and I had to put it together again with cable ties
It seems that about 90% of people use the duct tape method and it works well for them. I've used it for three boats now. But it does depend on the duct tape available and maybe to some extent the timber itself. Cable ties are so cheap I think I will start to recommend people get the cable ties as well. I have to take care of the 10% where the tape doesn't work so well.
I'm glad that despite that not working that it has been fun!
Best wishes
Michael
Its been so much fun, on the last lap now..
Many Thanks
Tom Sizer