Well, we're getting to the end game now.  I installed the stem bands.  Major learning there is that the friction in new pre-drilled ash of a 3/4" long number 4 brass screw is about equal to the shear strength of the shaft.  After shearing off a couple of screws installing the stem band, I went to the hardware store and got about 20 5/8" screws.  These did not seem to shear off.  Other than shearing off screws, the stem bands went on without a hitch.

Overall, the stem bands clean up the bow and stern quite nicely.

All that remains is to make a couple of seats, and re-finish the thwarts.  All that is salvageable from the old bow seat is the two cross-pieces.  I got a friend to cut a maple 1" board into 1.5" strips.  The front seat cross pieces are about 7" and the back seat about 8"  (the front seat dimensions are from the old cross-pieces, and the rear inferred from the spacing of the holes for the mounting bolts in the inner gunnel).  Luckily, I the seat spacers were with the canoe, along with all but one of the diamond head bolts, so getting the seats installed at the right height should not be a problem.

The seat pieces are assembled using dowel joints, 2 dowels in the end of each cross-piece.  The same friend loaned me a doweling jig and 3/8" piloted drill.  Very cool piece of equipment that works like a charm - all the holes align and the seats assemble nicely.  The maple is quite white, so I put a bit of the minwax early american stain to darken them a bit.  Now some glue, varnish and webbing and the last bits should be done.  I think I'll go with red webbing to match design #4.

I'm also in the process of stripping the thwarts so I can varnish all  these last bits at the same time.  Actually, I am using a scraper to remove the old varnish, and then rough sanding.  Scrapers are cool.

I'll try to post some pics when the seats are complete and installed.  Other than that, I think we are nearing the end of this blog.  Tasks that remain, but may not be done are restoring the sponsons and paining yellow inside the blue up triangles in the sponson version of design #4.  I am not a big fan of sponsons, so no sure if/when I'll get to those.  I also like the red and blue version of design #4, so am not inclined to rush into that either.

Until next time...