Skin-On-Frame Canoe - Part III

I have finished lashing my ribs to the stems and the keelson.  Next it is time to attach the stringers and the gunwale to the stems.

I cut some of the length off of my stringers and gunwales keeping a piece of each.  These I use to help get the right angle cut where the stringers and gunwales meet up with the stems.  I would put this extra piece of wood up against the side of the stem, bend a stringer in towards the stem until it touches.   Then I would draw my line on the stringer where it goes underneath that extra piece of wood.  This is where I cut the stringer or gunwale off.

Once they are all cut down to the proper angle so they bend towards the stem and sit flush down its sides.  For myself this also required extra sanding and filing.  Zap the adjancent stringers and gunwales together so that they are sitting snug against the stem.  Then drill a couple holes through each set for the dowels to go into, and drill some holes above and below each set for the lashing.

Here you can see how the stringers are sitting flush against the stem and I've got a couple holes drilled in with my dowels in place.  I am using glue on my dowels and the dowels I am using are simply bamboo skewers that I got from the grocery store.

Here you can see the holes drilled above and below with the lashing holding the stringers against the stem.  The dowels have been cut down flush with the stringers.

The finished job.  I'm sure it would be nice if all my stringers and gunwales lined up nicely along the stem, but I don't think it will be an issue as it will be covered by the skin and shouldn't be noticeable.

Now that each end is attached firmly to the stems I should be able to pop this frame off of my station mold now.

Got to say I was pretty damn happy in this picture.  Can't believe I have put something like this together so far.

Next I need to attach all of my ribs to the gunwales.  The ribs will all be lashed and dowelled to the gunwales.

You'll notice I am attaching the ribs to the lower half of the gunwales.  This is so I can cut them down to just above the lashing so that there is room for the inwale to be mounted.

This frame is sturdy and strong as is, but your going to have a person puttting their weight down the middle of it, including walking.  To help the floorboards survive this I need to add some extra half ribs in the traffic area.

I space them evenly between the full length ribs where I am going to put my floorboards down, and lash them in place.

I am then going to put my floorboards down and get them ready for next weekend.