A Slow Boat To Nowhere

[shipwright]

I meant round the top, leaving it full height on the centreline, down to meet the inner edge of the gunwale and gently back up to match the top surface of the gunwale. Think of a gentle wave.

Just a thought but I think it could look pretty nice.

[BuckeyeDennis]

I'd keep the beautiful curves if at all possible, and I think it is. Mount the deck with the top flush with the gunwales, but form a little swale along the edges of the deck, to give a graceful transition from the inward slope of the gunwale. I think this is what Shipwright meant by "a little reverse". It will give you a gentle rounded dome in the center of the deck, for even more curvaceousness.

That leaves the problem with the bottom edge of the deck dropping beneath the gunwale. To address that, I'd make a fillet piece for each side, and mount them underneath the gunwale edges, running up forward past the "notches" in the deck. Form a graceful curve in the bottom sides of the fillet pieces, to transition between the bottom edges of the deck and the gunwales. This eliminates the ugly step, and adds yet another pretty curve, but in the height dimension this time.

[algale]

I'd keep the beautiful curves if at all possible, and I think it is. Mount the deck with the top flush with the gunwales, but form a little swale along the edges of the deck, to give a graceful transition from the inward slope of the gunwale. I think this is what Shipwright meant by "a little reverse". It will give you a gentle rounded dome in the center of the deck, for even more curvaceousness.

That leaves the problem with the bottom edge of the deck dropping beneath the gunwale. To address that, I'd make a fillet piece for each side, and mount them underneath the gunwale edges, running up forward past the "notches" in the deck. Form a graceful curve in the bottom sides of the fillet pieces, to transition between the bottom edges of the deck and the gunwales. This eliminates the ugly step, and adds yet another pretty curve, but in the height dimension this time.

Trying to visualize the swale and how to create it. Also having a hard time visualizing the fillets. Must be too tired....

[JPG]

canoe deck reverse etc.jpg (129.71 KiB) Viewed 4875 times

[BuckeyeDennis]

I'd keep the beautiful curves if at all possible, and I think it is. Mount the deck with the top flush with the gunwales, but form a little swale along the edges of the deck, to give a graceful transition from the inward slope of the gunwale. I think this is what Shipwright meant by "a little reverse". It will give you a gentle rounded dome in the center of the deck, for even more curvaceousness.

That leaves the problem with the bottom edge of the deck dropping beneath the gunwale. To address that, I'd make a fillet piece for each side, and mount them underneath the gunwale edges, running up forward past the "notches" in the deck. Form a graceful curve in the bottom sides of the fillet pieces, to transition between the bottom edges of the deck and the gunwales. This eliminates the ugly step, and adds yet another pretty curve, but in the height dimension this time.

Trying to visualize the swale and how to create it. Also having a hard time visualizing the fillets. Must be too tired....

I wish I had the CAD tools and skills to capture those curves in 3D, but no such luck. So here's my best shot at illustrating it inVisio.

Slow boat.JPG (35.04 KiB) Viewed 4874 times

[shipwright]

JPG has nailed what I meant. Flush on the bottom and contoured on the top with a little "reverse" at the edges. The top would be sort of sculpted, mostly by sanding. The bottom wouldn't have to parallel the top but it is a nice look.

[algale]

This Forum rocks! JPG and Buckeye thank you guys for going the extra mile with the visual aids! Ok, I've got an idea or three. Now let's see what I can implement.

[algale]

A little progress on the deck. Decided to keep the bottom flush (in the photo I've got a couple pieces of gunwale clamped under the inner gunwale to serve as a lip to hold the deck level) and try to sand and blend the deck into the gunwale. Mostly I used a random orbital sander, held on edge and sorta scooped away. It worked pretty well. In fact, if I had done a better job with the cuts to accomodate the gunwales, I think it would be even better. The gaps which are worse on the right than the left and worse at the bottom than top) will be filled with thickened epoxy colored with sanding dust and should blend in ok. I want to do a little more shaping and then I will remove the deck coat the sides with the epoxy and do the final install.

deck2.jpg (202.27 KiB) Viewed 4361 times

[JPG]

I think that turned out nicely. Will be gorgeous when made 'shiney'.

[shipwright]

Looks good Al. Nice reverse in the top.
You might consider accenting the gaps rather than trying to hide them. A little maple string inlay would hide them nicely. ...... and then a thin strip of maple bent in to hide the end grain of the deck would finish it off. ..... just thinking out loud.