I've had a little fiddle here and there with the canoe over the last couple months, with no spectacular results achieved (usual heat, bad weather and sometimes just sheer bloody laziness having accounted the bulk of my time so far).
One funny activity was a hare-brained idea I had, regarding the steaming of a couple teak trim parts for the decks. Because these parts were really only a couple short sticks, I was reluctant to build a proper steam box for the job. Instead I hatched a 'cunning plan' which proposed the utilisation of an old vacuum pipe. Can you see the potential problem yet? Yeah, well, so did I, but hope sprang eternal and I decided to press on regardless just in case it actually worked. If you can't see it yet, you soon will…...
Here's a shot of the components:
Brilliant in its simplicity I thought.
And here's the teak trim bits destined for 'bendage':
Here's the final set up. I was quite proud and pleased. Well, for a little while at least. My confidence started to wane quickly though when the steam finally reached a useful volume and the vacuum pipe immediately softened, and began drooping into a very graceful 'U' shape.
With a sigh (and a laugh), I shut the experiment down mentally patted myself on the back for having steadfastly refused to back down to rational thought and common sense. Oh well, back to the drawing board. A properly constructed steaming box it will be then.
But alas, this next 'steaming-stage' is not to be for a little while yet. Due to a rather fortuitous development at my place of employment, in the form of an impending pregnancy of a co-worker which will necessitate my engagement in a temporary (12 month?) full-time role later this year.
Hello cash-flow. You've been sorely missed.
Excellent news indeed, except that I will really have to address the need for some sort of accommodation closer to work (about an hour & half commute otherwise). After much research I concluded that the very best option will be for me to resurrect my small yacht (see link to the blog about this other 'little' project), park it in the marina in Newcastle harbour and use it as a crash pad when working.
I've certainly got my work cut out, it'll be a mammoth task. But if I can develop something approaching a proper work ethic, then I should be able to make some good progress by Christmas. I don't feel too bad about delaying my canoe's completion/launching yet again, since I'm pretty much at the point where I need more money for her anyway.
So this morning I packed my poor old canoe up again and moved it around to the back yard. My wife is very excited at being able to park underneath the carport again.
And so here she is again. At least I've achieved a lot in the period that I've been active on her. The hull is almost done and dusted, with only some relatively straight-forward jobs to be completed (i.e. bit of grinding and reinforcement, fill & fairing and painting/varnish). When I do get to work on her again, I should have the cash-flow to actually complete her properly. It'll be good to not have to worry about buying the foam/glass/etc for the amas, as well as the teak and other bits for the iakos, mast, sails, etc.
Keep an eye on my other yacht restoration blog if you're curious as to how I'm progressing with it all. Fingers crossed that it won't take as long as it seems before I can bounce back over here and get this boat finished and launched as well. Please stay tuned.
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