These hoops were
split to a width of 1/2 inch, and secured first to the keelson, then to
the longitudinal strips and finally to the gunwales. Copper tacks were
used for nailing the ribs in place, and these were long enough to be
passed through the rib bands and clinched on the outside. Forty cross ribs
were nailed on, and at the center of the canoe they were spaced about
three inches apart. The center form was then removed and cut along the
dotted lines shown in Fig. 106. The semicircular pieces thus obtained were
now strengthened with strips on their inner edges, and wedged in between
the keelson and the gunwales, to which they were nailed, as shown in Fig.
108. A pair of cleats nailed to the cross ribs served as supports for the
seat of the canoe. The frame of the boat was completed by nailing in place
two deck beams of 1/2-inch square pine and four corner pieces between the
gunwales and the bulkheads, so as to make an elliptical well hole or deck
opening. Before laying on the canvas covering the edges of the gunwales,
keelson, deck beams, stem and stern posts were smoothed down with
sandpaper.
[Illustration: Fig. 108. Center Braces.]
[Illustration: Fig 109. Top View of the Canoe Frame.
Pages:
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103