Sorry folks I have been a bit busy doing summer. I know I said my next project would be this little table.

But I needed to repair this arbor that I had made my wife as a birthday present some years ago

and then I picked up a walnut grandfather clock that someone didn't have time to finish, so I couldn't let that one pass by. I've always wanted one, however I've been lazy and haven't touched it.

But now this came along

This is a TrailCraft 16foot wood and canvas canoe that was built by a friend/coworker of mine back in 1967.

Ron gave me this canoe for my purpose to do as I please.

Well I please to restore it.

This canoe is a beauty with all mahogany wood.

So here goes the reno

Since this canoe is 45 years old trying to get screws out is a chore but I managed to get some wood strips off in order to get to the canvas to strip it off.

This is a picture of the canoe upside down. I took the bottom strip of wood off that is called the keel that exposed the patience one would have back in 1967. Look how many staples there are and how they line up so nice in a row.

I gotta stop this. To many projects. I promised myself I would keep it simple and do one project at a time and not take on another until I was done then this came along

I bought a boat. Here's my new project that needs to be gutted, new seat and new carpet are needed. So this winter I'll be in the garage.

Well folks, i've been in the garage alright putting in a heater so I can work on the boat and lucky I did. I've been a car mechanic in the garage more than I expected. Well here's a pic of how the boat looks now.

 

As you can see, no carpet and no seats and a bunch of other stuff. We decided to buy new seats and where we couldnt buy new we had new vynal put on.

On no, spring is here. I have to get going on this. Well really I have. After taking everything apart and out I had to get all the old glue off from the old carpet. Also some floor repair. After doing all that off to buy carpeting and glue. The carpet is on order and as you can see I made a template out of craft paper and tape. So when the carpet comes in I lay the template on the carpet and cut. We'll see how it goes.

I pulled the template from the boat and layed it up side down on the up side down carpet to cut it. Now to play it on the safe side I cut the carpet one inch bigger per side just in case of fitting problems.

Here's the cut carpet ready to put in the boat and check the fit.

Well I put the carpet in and found the one inch extra was not needed because this carpet is flexible enough that it follows the boats contours well. So I re cut the same carpet to the actual template shape.

I put the carpet back in the boat and it fit perfect.

As you can see I by passed showing where I and my wife have reached finishing the boat.

I will get you all pictures of the interior, believe it or not its not done.

Life gets busy and priorities and rest get in the way but I will get you more pics.

We just figured the boat is finished enough for us to start using it and we just do alittle here and there to it as we have time.

 

Wow the dreams of enjoying yourself doing the things you like. Instead I have become a car mechanic in my own garage constantly working on my family's car's. Not that I mind to much because I like to fix things but GEEZE it's every weekend.

Update:

Yay Yippie Hooray

I was able to stop my self from going nuts with to many projects.

I met a new metal health professional, Haha, my new Chiropractor.

We got to talking how he wanted to make book shelves that look like a canoe.

Hey Doc I have a deal for you!!!

I have a canoe for you.

The canoe my friend gave me was really neat and I wanted to rebuild it.

But, my ambition was bigger than the priorities I have.

So, I payed it forward .

My Doc picked it up and is going to make two shelf units from it.

I can't wait to see them finished.