Build a Greenland kayak part 4

This is Instructable number 4 in the Build a Greenland kayak series.
In this Instructable we will be installing the keelson and the stem and stern boards.

Step 1 Materials

In this section we will need a keelson board, 3/4 inches x 1 inch in cross section and 16 feet long. The wood needs to be knot free and straight grained.

A board for making the stem and stern, 3/4 inch x 5-1/2 inch x 8 foot long. Some knots acceptable as long as they are small and tight.

1/4 inch dowel rod 24 inch total length

lashing string (nylon mason's twine)

Comments

[Dj_Xyster]

how much linseed oil and turpentine/mineral spirits would you mix with 2 ounces of beeswax?
I decided to make some since I already had all but the beeswax laying around from oil painting. And i found the beeswax at a local health food store called Apple Valley.
Great Instructable! I got my wood cut today and i'm starting the build tomorrow! :)

[nativewater]

There's no exact ratio. I would say 10 to 20 % of liquids added to the wax. You can use plain wax. The oil just makes the wax softer and more sticky.

[Dj_Xyster]

i used; 2oz beeswax, 0.25oz mineral spirits, 0.25oz boiled linseed oil. works great. i'm building my steam box today. I'm excited to try bending those ribs soon!

[Rowleysh]

How thick should the board that you cut the stem and stern boards out of?

[nativewater]

3/4 inch

[armored bore]

What's the half-round bit in the bow for? To reduce weight or make room for the float bag?

[nativewater]

weight reduction

[Eternal_Tristan]

 If I don't have a table saw available can I use a 1x1 (3/4 x 3/4 actual), or should I go with a 1x2 (3/4 x 1 1/2) flat against the ribs?

Awesome boats you make. I really appreciate your work.

[nativewater]

a 1-1/2 inch keelson is a little deep and will make your boat less stable.  A 3/4 inch deep keelson is probably a better choice as long as it gives the skin enough clearance from the ribs.

[bobkatzz]

I would recommend artificial sinew (Tandy Leather) rather than nylon string which is almost impossible to make knot that won't slip and does not lay flat. This then requires you to make "channels" in your wooden parts so that they don't make a bump in the fabric thence creating drag on the wetted surface. These channels then weaken the wooden members by creating starting places for breaks. The artificial sinew likes to lay flat on the surface creating very little bump, kind of like the floss we use in fly tying. Great project and a lot of work you've put into it - nice job!

[nativewater]

Yeah, I've used that. Nylon string is less than ideal. besides being round, it also stretches when wet. On the other hand, it works well enough. I have used the Tandy artificial sinew. It is pleasant to work with. It lays flat. Being polyester, it does not stretch when wet. But it has low abrasion resistance since all its strands are exposed to the skin at once. After a few years, movement of the skin will sand through it. On the other hand, at some point, you have to do maintenance on the boat and if you decide to replace the skin, that is also a good time to redo the lashings. I used to go paddling at least twice a week so my boats used to get harder wear than they do now when I'm spending more time dinking with new boats than actually paddling them. oh well.

[Davenchi123]

whats the potato for? i didt see i dont think

[jtobako]

It's not a potato, it's beeswax for the string.

[Davenchi123]

o lol sorry it really looks like a spud

[nativewater]

What I do is melt some beeswax, add some linseed oil and turpentine and pour it into the bottom of a paper cup. When it cools, I have this hockey puck shaped cake of wax. After you use it a few times and pull string over it and knead it in your hands, it turns potato shaped and dark colored on the outside. The addition of the turpentine and linseed oil to the was make it more sticky. Pulling the string over the wax makes it nonskid so it holds better in lashings and knots.

[Davenchi123]

ooooo ok i c now thanx. i cant wait to see the end of this one it looks like its going to turn out great!

[GorillazMiko]

looks great, how many steps will there be?

[nativewater]

It looks like there's going to be 7 parts total. part 5 ribs part 6 finishing the frame part 7 the skin