First rib installed!  It is possible.

The rib sprung back quite a bit when unclamped from the outside of the canoe.  That makes it hard to get it worked under the gunnels (after turning the canoe right side up).  To remedy single handed, I put a strap clamp around the rib to pull it to about the right width.  This let me get it between the inner gunnel and the planking, but it still did not like to lie flush with the planking - the ends needed quite a bit of pressure down to seat.

(the following is the wrong way, I'll get to the right way in a moment...)  So, I put a single nail in one side of the rib while pushing down to get it 'close' to the right location.  Then on the other side, I pushed down quite hard on the end while pushing the inside of the rib out to the planking, to align the center mark with the keel holes.  Then again, a single nail to hold the rib to the gunnel.  All the while being careful to keep the rib aligned and centered between the remaining ribs.  At this point the rib was close, but not seated against the planking.  I then started nailing the planking to the rib working my way down from the gunnel.  I used the original nail holes in the planking to place the nails.  This pulled the rib in flush with the planking quite nicely, down to the bottom of the canoe.   I did not yet nail the rib to the bottom planking as much of it is rotten and will need to be replaced.  I then moved to the other side and tried to do similar, mostly failing miserably, until I realized the right way to do it...

So, the right way to do this is to use a clamp from the gunnel to the top of the rib, and use it to push the rib down and seat it against the planking. This worked like a charm, and allowed me to nail the other side of the planking, again down to the rotted section of planking at the bottom.

Result - one rib installed!  yahoo.  Of course, it is April only 6 months since picking it up!  And this is only the 2nd step.  Now another 12+ ribs to go, then fix the stems, then repair the planking, and then figure out how to canvas and then paint.  In other words, no end in sight...

Also, I have a wooden - try 5 - steam box almost complete.  Only missing hinges and clamps for the ends.

So, at last, it looks like some progress.  Next step is to remove another rib in the center section.  Should not be a problem to steam at least 2 at a time.

Well fans - after a few last minute re-considerations, there is indeed now a rib bent over the outside of the hull over the 4th rib from the bow stem (to be used to replace the 5th rib from the stem in the stern).

The adjustments - I re-read the Stelmok and Thurlow sections on replacing ribs and figured I needed a bit more prep.  Mainly, it looked like I would need quite a bit of pressure to bend the rib, and perhaps I needed something to hold the rib in place.  I did not like the brace to the ceiling suggestion, and realized there are holes through every other rib for the keel.  So, I found some small diameter bolts, cut some oak 'washers' and an oak 'keel'.  This lets me clamp the center of the rib in place when it is hot so I can bend the rib without worrying about it moving around.  (it worked like a charm!)

While I was reading I also noticed how they put some battens on the inside to pull  the hull into shape.  I tried some thing similar for the forward rib I am planning to work next.  I'm not sure it really pulls the hull in much, but will  report more on that later.

With that done, I figured I was ready to give the steam box a try.  I decided to stick a towel in the end to heat up with the rib so i could wrap the rib and keep it warm once it was well steamed (that seems to work also, but I'm not sure it is needed).  The steam generator, and Styrofoam steam box worked fine.  It took about 25 minutes for the generator to get boiling well.  The duct tape had a tendency pucker and soften, and there was some steam leakage, but the candy thermometer said about 205 degrees, and the meat thermometer well over 195 (its highest reading).  While waiting for the box to get to temperature, I 'soaked' the rib, keeping it wet with a rag.

I opened the end, pulled out the towel, put in the rib and towel back in.  I steamed the rib about 20 minutes (only putting it in once the box was up to temperature).  Took a bunch of pictures of the whole setup while waiting.  Pulled it out, wrapping it in the steamed towel, clamped it under the pseudo keel, put the warm towel over it, bent one side (working it up and down about a half dozen times) and clamped it.  Then went to the other side and bent it down the same way.

Amazing - no splits, or cracks.  The rib was hard to bend, but not terribly.  Holding it and clamping it was a bit tricky, but doable.  One lesson - make sure there are no nail heads protruding where you are trying to bend the rib.

Now letting it dry, and will see how it fits and nails into place tomorrow.

I'll note here that try4 at steaming while successful ended up being a one time use steam box.  The tape got a bit puckery and wet, but the box, while operating appeared as if all was well.  Then, after running in to bend the rib, I went out to clean up, and found the box in this state.

Apparently, the styrofoam was over-temped - and pretty grossly deformed on cooling.

Before dinner, I ran out and bought another $20 of lumber to build the box out of wood, maybe tomorrow.  Also need to shape the next rib.  There is one already removed, this one near the center so a bit longer...

OK OldTownRestoration blog fans, no giggling.  Tomorrow I try attempt 4 at steaming.  What does that attempt look like you ask?  Well, first I'll go back to try 3...

The 3rd incarnation was to be an enhance boiling water towel wrap.  I got it all ready, cut attempt 1 PVC in half, embedded the halves with a towel in between to insulate the  bottom, and use the old camp stove to hopefully keep the water boiling while continuously dipping in and pourning over the towel.  The problem arose when I went to start the old Coleman stove - I could not get any pressure in the gas tank :-(  After much frustration, I gave up and decided that I would likely not get hot enough anyway.  Back to the internet...

Where, I found that there are actually steam generators out there, that are likely less expensive than the parts I would need to build a propane bomb, er boiler myself.  Seems like a bit of a wimp out, but I made the purchase And $90 later I have a steam generator.

That leaves a steam box.  The manly thing to do, naturally, would be to weld up a nice, insulated, stainless steal torpedo, to go with the propane bomb.  Or for those woodworking purists, at least a nice wooden box with screws and tight seals.  But me, no,no,no - try 4 is made of styrofoam and duct tape!  I figure the styrofoam will insulate well, and I am using one wood board to build it around for stiffness.  No laughing until it all falls apart when the duct tape gets a bit soggy.  Until then, a few dowels for shelving and it seems pretty sturdy.  Tomorrow I poke a meat thermometer through, hook up the steam generator, and we'll see how hot it gets.

Try 2- cold soak - no go.  A bit of internet searching (incl dept of agriculture article) indicates that heat is a key to getting 'plasticity'.    So, needs to be hot.  More reading - a bit simpler than a steam box - pouring hot water over wet towels.  So, here's try 3:

insert picture

Seems to work on test piece.  But not as well as hoped, and I'm worried it will cool off too quickly to get a full length piece into the boat.  A candy thermometer shows I only got to about 160 degrees - we'll treat that as a minimum.  Seems worth a try.

Also need some nails.  Island Falls Canoe has some.  Of course they have no internet ordering, so I'll need to call.  According to the old xerox article, need 3/4 or 11/16 inch tacks.  Island Falls has copper.  Round and flat head - I'll try round - hopefully easier to sink flat into the planking.  $18 for half a pound...

On vacation next week, may be a while before posting...

Steaming attempt number 1.  Consists of a 4" PVC pipe, dryer flex hose, a backpacking stove and a funnel.  (I spent all of $19  on the PVC, the rest from the basement...  A few coat hanger sections through the pipe for a rack and good to go.  You can see the result here.  Looks good.

Unfortunately, it does not work.  The contraption creates steam, and some even comes out the end (when not plugged with a rag).  But, it is barely warm by the time it gets to the end of the 6 feet of pipe.  Steaming a test piece for an hour had no impact on its pliability.  Back to the drawing board.  Need something with more heat, more steam and perhaps insulated.  Might get some more steam using a camp stove, but on-line forums indicate propane burners, a la maple syrup boilers are more like it.

Seems much too complicated for what I am trying to do, so we'll go with  something more primitive.  I'll just soak it for a while and see if that works!  (The picture includes our celebration for pi day.  The pic is not at 9:29, but we'll pretend it is and note that the time is 3.1415926.  That won't happen again for a while!)

You'll have to wait for the next post to see if a good long soak in the tub is better than a short steam bath.

Finished stripping gunnels!  Done with stripping for now (whew)

I have also removed one rib near the rear, and will use this location to do a test rib.  Rib was removed by chipping to and around a nail with a chisel, snipping the end off the nail and removing it from the outside.  Tedious, but not bad.

Now to buy materials for a steamer.  Current plan is to use a camp stove with a small (5.5" D) pot.  A 4" to 6" PVC junction placed on top.  4' of 4" drier flex hose to another 4" to 6" PVC junction.  5' of 6" PVC pipe with coat hanger wire drilled through for a 'shelf'.  Hopefully, I can fire up the stove and there will be enough heat to keep the steam to the end of my steam box.  I am worried that the steam might cool off too much, condense and run back without getting the end hot and steamy, but we shall see.

Out of town for the upcoming weekend, but hopefully another post soon with the results.

Major milestone!  Finished stripping inside.  Next to strip decks and gunnels.  Need to get back to reading up on removing, shaping and installing new ribs.  Before that, I guess I need to decide how to wash and if I should bleach or use teak cleaner.

You can see the ribs that are cracked to distortion I left unstripped.

Oh, in the mean time, Dave took one of the white cedar boards and cut it into 4 ribs.  Also need to decide if I want to stain the new ribs.

I have some ponderin to do I guess. ..