Nathan's restauration project
  
  
    Not only from-the-ground-up construction projects are interesting!
    Nathan wrote to ask me some questions, and these questions are
    not unique. I've received several of them in other mails, so
    the following may be of help to others too! (Nathan also promised
    to send more pictures as the project evolves...)
    
    He also asked:
    
    If you can tell me what this is I'd appreciate it, the man 
       selling it said it was an Indian canoe?
    
    Nathan can be contacted by e-mail at nmhpt[at]yahoo[dot]co[dot]uk.  
  Before the work started
  
   
    
    |   | This canoe is 14 foot long! So I didn?t yet manage to get it all in
      one shot! But I will try that another day?It needs TLC, and I?m
      prepared to get her ship shape and get all that wood revarnished and
      clean! 
   | 
    |   | The only decal I could find was the below one. I've now had  a closer
      look inside to see if I can find a makers label or something, though
      saw none, however, on the side of the boat, I can see a name has been
      painted over, it looks like it says: 'Cong MK 11' but really cant be
      sure about that till I get the paint off.  Looking at the wood, can we
      agree that is just a ply? 
   | 
    |   | Next pic is another side view 
   | 
    |   | Now here's the reason I'm thinking to fibreglass the entire hull, see
      the damage shots below: The image below shows what was 'under' a previous fibreglass repair. 
      The repair shows that small pieces of ply have also been screwed
      inside the hull, obviously to give it some more strength.
 
      Looking closer here you can see the joins of the hull panels? I'm no
      woodworker, and wouldn't know how to begin to remove the panels, so,
      unless that's an easy job and someone here can tell me then fibreglass
      it must be...
   | 
    |   | This hull also has various other fibreglass repairs, about 3 in
      various places, and all about the same sort of size!
      So I should imagine it will be best to do the entire hull at once.. 
   | 
    |   | Ok now a look inside the cockpit, maybe you can notice the design
      type? 
   | 
    |   | Another view of the cockpit 
   | 
    |   | Internal construction next... 
   | 
    |   | Internal construction 
   | 
    |   | Inside the Hull next 
   | 
    |   | I don't see any ribs above, is that normal for ply boats?
       Supports under the cockpit. 
   | 
    |   | I imagine quite simply the next pics are easily recognised by those
      in the know, the first is an aluminium rudder, which does see to fit
      at the rear of the boat, as I see an attachment for it. However, the
      'rudder' has two long wires so I assume that these wires are to be
      pulled in the direction of desired travel. Now why would a canoe need
      a rudder? 
   | 
    |   | This next pic shows the fitting for the above rudder... notice how 
      they would fit together? 
   | 
    |   | Mystery object... to me anyway. Now this came with the boat, stuffed
      in the hull... what is it?  There is another long piece of wood, like
      a flat pole, that could attach to the image, and the entire top
      of the contraption below does revolve freely... 
   | 
    |   | Now this looks like a big old rudder too, is it a rudder? Maybe its
      not for this boat as I cant see where it will go... 
   | 
    |   | Another shot of this 'thing' in the closed position. What could it
       be for? 
   | 
    |   | And finally... the only seat to come with the canoe, maybe its
      original, maybe not, but if you can tell me how on earth the 'seats'
      get fitted, then please do... As I see nowhere to support them in the
      cockpits, See the cockpit pics above once again, and then let me know
      if this seat is the correct one. If it is, I will make another just 
      like it, if not... give me some tips please! 
   | 
  
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    | (c) John Coppens ON6JC/LW3HAZ | mail |