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No Fishing and a TAF Update

October 26, 2024 by · Leave a Comment

No Fishing and a TAF Update

Thank you for reading this No Fishing and a TAF Update. I apologize for this pitiful fishing report. Between the wind, doctors, mechanics, the VA, yard work, and etcetera, I did not get out fishing this week. I did tie some beautiful flies while my car was being repaired. Got some more of that coming up, too, unfortunately- the repairs aren’t finished. I only got as much done as I could afford. The good news, The Assistance Fund got a bunch of donations!

I made this synthetic minnow at the car dealer while my car was being repaired.

Subscribers without photos- go to https://www.spottedtail.com/blog/, please.

A huge THANK YOU to all the donors, by name and in no particular order-

-Laura Rice
-Ed Perry
-Dean Altenhofen
-Anonymous
-Walt Sheppard
-Earl Gillespie
-Ken Shannon
-Emily Nelson
-Kelly Holz
-Curtis Duffield
-Michelle Wilm
-Anonymous
-Marcia Foosaner
-Nicholas Colantonio
-Stephen Truscott

We have raised $1,542.70 over 15 donations, 30 percent of my goal, and thank you, thank you, thank you again! Great job!

I also got a new member on my fundraising team, Mr. Dean Altenhofen. Thanks for helping out, Dean!

The fundraiser link if you’re motivated to donate (Please!)- https://giving.tafcares.org/-/NVCCHJED?member=SPEXUGER

As a reminder, the Assistance Fund helps underinsured people living with life-threatening, chronic, illness obtain treatment and medicine by providing financial assistance for their copayments, coinsurance, deductibles, and other health-related expenses.

The updates will continue every week until the fundraiser ends (at Thanksgiving), and of course if you’ve considered donating, it’s not too late!

I have every intention of fishing next week (although I can’t Monday because of a doctor appointment. How quickly the days slide away!)

Another car repair fly. Knocked out 22 while waiting. You know I want to get these things wet!

The Econ, at 9 feet on the gauge, is still way too high to fish. The lagoons might be good, though!

That’s the No Fishing and a TAF Update. Better reports will come, I promise.

Every day is a blessing. Don’t waste it- Go fishing! Go paddling! Go for a walk! Stay active!

John Kumiski
www.johnkumiski.com
www.spottedtail.com
www.spottedtail.com/blog

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, © John Kumiski 2024. All rights are reserved.

Filed Under: Flies and Fly Tying, Uncategorized · Tagged: ,

Hurricane Milton and TAF Report

October 12, 2024 by · Leave a Comment

Hurricane Milton and TAF Report

This is a screen shot of Hurricane Milton from the internet!

Thank you for reading this Hurricane Milton Report. We were very fortunate that the worst thing that happened to us was a mess of small branches down in our yard, and being without power for 24 hours. Minor inconveniences!

Subscribers without photos- go to https://www.spottedtail.com/blog/, please.

Before anything else, though, I want to brag on The Assistance Fund. They sent me a letter recently, asking for publicity. I’m happy to give it. Please read what’s written below.

In 2019 I was diagnosed with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. The cause is unknown, the disease progressive and incurable. Scar tissue replaces healthy lung tissue, preventing oxygen exchange. Once this process starts, it continues until death results. A drug called OFEV, which I have been taking since October of 2020, slows the disease’s progression. I would already be dead if I weren’t taking it.

A dose of OFEV costs $200. I take a dose every day, so far for four years. My Medicare covers much of that cost, but my copay is hundreds of dollars a month. The Assistance Fund gives me an annual grant that covers the balance, which I could otherwise not afford. That I am able to share with you my experiences outdoors with these reports every week is due in large part to the grant The Assistance Fund makes available to me. Bless The Assistance Fund!

The Assistance Fund provides similar funding to over 35,000 people with all kinds of exotic ailments, not just me! Again, bless The Assistance Fund!

Please, join me in supporting The Assistance Fund (TAF)! TAF helps patients and families facing high medical out-of-pocket costs by providing financial assistance for their copayments, coinsurance, deductibles, and other health-related expenses. Your donation will help ensure that no person goes without treatment because of an inability to pay.

I’ve started a fundraiser. Please click this link to donate! 

I will be giving updates every week until the fundraiser ends (at Thanksgiving), and of course asking for donations, too. Thank you so much for considering this!

———————————————————–

OK, back to Milton. Wind damage across the board seems like it’s less than what was anticipated. There is a lot of water, though. The Econlockhatchee crested at 17 feet. Since I like it around two feet, it will be a while before I fish there.

This is a screen shot from the internet!

The gauge on the Haulover Canal reads 2.9 feet as I write this. I like it around 0.5 feet. I haven’t been over there since I got home (the hurricane, you know) but that high water is likely to be dirty, too. Fishing is likely to be tough. I hope to check it Monday, and will report next week.

That’s my Hurricane Milton and TAF Report. Thanks for reading it!

Every day is a blessing. Don’t waste it- Go fishing! Go paddling! Go on a trip! Stay active!

John Kumiski
www.johnkumiski.com
www.spottedtail.com
www.spottedtail.com/blog

All content in this blog © John Kumiski 2024. All rights are reserved.

Filed Under: opinion, Uncategorized · Tagged: ,

Ways to Brighten Your Mental Landscape

February 14, 2024 by · Leave a Comment

Ways to Brighten Your Mental Landscape

A Guest Blog by Michelle Hartman Photos courtesy John Kumiski

In our increasingly fast-paced world, maintaining mental health can be challenging – but it’s also crucial. While therapy and exercise are beneficial, there are other, less conventional strategies worth exploring. Today, John Kumiski Outdoor Communications shares methods to brighten your mental landscape, offering a fresh perspective on achieving a healthier, happier you.

Embracing Mindfulness: A Path to Inner Peace

Mindfulness and meditation are potent tools for achieving mental tranquility. By practicing mindfulness, you can manage stress, diminish anxiety, and enhance your overall emotional health. Allocating a few minutes each day to quiet your mind and concentrate on the present can significantly improve your mental state. This practice helps in developing a deeper understanding of your thoughts and feelings, leading to greater self-awareness and emotional regulation.

Rethinking Caffeine: A Subtle Influence on Mental Health

Caffeine, often overlooked, plays a significant role in mental health. Excessive caffeine can heighten anxiety and disrupt sleep patterns. By reducing your intake, particularly from hidden sources like certain sodas, you can maintain a calmer mind. Switching to caffeine-free options or herbal teas can provide refreshment without the negative mental health impacts. This small change can lead to better sleep quality, reduced anxiety, and overall improved mental well-being.

Cast Your Line: Appreciate the Calmness of Fishing

Fishing offers significant mental health benefits, such as providing a peaceful escape from daily stresses, enhancing self-esteem through the mastery of skills, improving concentration by focusing on the task at hand, and promoting physical activity which in turn boosts mood and mental well-being. Moreover, spending time outdoors during fishing increases vitamin D intake, which has a positive impact on mental health, helping to alleviate depression and improve overall emotional well-being.

Reconnect with Old Friends: The Benefits of Staying Social

Reconnecting with old friends and acquaintances after years of lost contact can be a heartwarming experience, often bringing a sense of nostalgia and joy. In the digital age, the process of finding these long-lost friends has become easier than ever. By utilizing a search engine, one can simply input a name, graduation date, and school to swiftly locate fellow high school graduates. This efficient method provides quick results and various options to reach out, paving the way for rekindling friendships that once seemed lost to time.

Volunteering: A Path to Emotional Fulfillment

Volunteering can significantly improve mental health by providing a sense of purpose and fulfillment. Engaging in community service fosters social connections and offers the satisfaction of positively impacting others. This altruistic activity can reduce feelings of loneliness, boost self-esteem, and provide a sense of belonging, all of which are vital for mental health.

Learning New Skills: A Mental Health Booster

Acquiring new skills or hobbies can have a profound effect on mental well-being. Whether it’s learning a musical instrument, painting, or exploring new culinary techniques, these activities provide mental stimulation, a sense of accomplishment, and joy. They not only break the monotony of daily life but also enhance cognitive function and self-esteem, contributing to better mental health.

Walking: Therapy for the Mind

Walking is a simple, yet effective activity for mental and physical health. Regular walks, especially in nature, offer numerous benefits. They provide exercise, fresh air, and a change of scenery, which can uplift your mood and reduce stress. Walking also offers an opportunity for reflection and mindfulness, further enhancing its mental health benefits.

Natural Stress Reducers: Soothing Mind and Body

Natural remedies like chamomile tea or lavender oils can be effective in reducing stress and promoting relaxation. These substances have calming properties that help in managing anxiety and improving sleep quality. Incorporating them into your daily routine can be a simple yet effective way to maintain good mental health.

To brighten your mental landscape you don’t always require conventional methods. By embracing these unique strategies, from working from home to walking every day, you can make significant strides toward a happier and healthier life. Each approach offers a different path to improving mental well-being, allowing you to find what works best for you in your journey.

 

Michelle Hartman is a lifelong nature lover. Her love for nature inspired her to start Summer Camper. Summer Camper provides children ages 8 -16 with amazing summer camp experiences that are designed to create lifelong memories. The Summer Camper team is dedicated to offering high-quality programs that promote personal growth, friendships, and a love for nature and the outdoors.  At Summer Camper, we believe that camp should be a safe and welcoming place where everyone can feel like they belong. Summer Camper aspires to provide programs that meet the ever-changing needs of families and allow children to explore their world in new and exciting ways. Visit their website here…

Filed Under: Guest Blogs, opinion, Uncategorized · Tagged: , , , , , , ,

Boreas Still Here, No Fishing. And Merry Christmas!

December 23, 2023 by · 2 Comments

Boreas Still Here, No Fishing. And Merry Christmas!

Last week I wrote about Boreas, god of winds. Boreas still here, and again, no fishing. The Econ gauge as I write this is just under 12 feet, the Haulover Canal gauge at 1.5 feet, so fishing would likely be a waste even if I were to brave the gale. I might be getting cabin fever…

Best wishes to everyone for a happy and healthy holiday season! Merry Christmas!

Subscribers without photos- go to https://www.spottedtail.com/blog/, please.

Great Blue Heron, Orlando Wetlands Park.

It was quite the week, though. A visit to the dermatologist to have pre-cancerous lesions frozen off my face. I remember all the fun in the sun I had for thirty years every time that happens. The winter solstice was Thursday. I love the pagan holidays! I disassembled the old camper build in my van and took halting steps towards building the new one. Rodney Smith and I took a walk at the Orlando Wetlands Park. Susan and I bought a new window install for our abode- cha-CHING! And, we had a guest blog by Julia Mitchell, enormously different than anything I might write.

Black vulture, Orlando Wetlands Park.

 

Purple aster, Orlando Wetlands Park.

 

American shad, St. Johns River.

Those of you who need fishing-related activity can take solace in the fact that the first shad to be caught in the St. Johns River will likely be caught between now and New Years Day. Dust off the shad tackle and get your flies and lures ready! Along with the shad, crappie, bluegills, a few largemouths, and if we’re lucky, those striper hybrids that Florida calls sunshine bass will be caught too!

Black crappie.

 

Largemouth bass, a very aggressive little one.

 

“Sunshine” bass, St. Johns River.

That’s the Boreas Still Here Report. Thanks for reading!

Every day is a blessing. Don’t waste it- Go fishing! Go paddling! Go on a walk! Stay active!

John Kumiski
www.johnkumiski.com
www.spottedtail.com
www.spottedtail.com/blog

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, © John Kumiski 2023. All rights are reserved.

Filed Under: central florida destinations, Uncategorized · Tagged: , , , ,

Midlife Reimagined: Embracing Change for Personal Renewal and Growth

December 22, 2023 by · Leave a Comment

Midlife Reimagined: Embracing Change for Personal Renewal and Growth

Guest Blog by Julia Mitchell,  photos by John Kumiski.

 

Navigating the midlife phase can be a transformative experience rather than a crisis. This stage of life, often marked by introspection and change, offers a unique opportunity to realign with one’s true aspirations and desires. The following strategies provide guidance for embracing this phase as a period of positive growth and self-discovery.

Embrace Wellness as a Foundation

Well-being should be the cornerstone of any life transition. A balanced approach
to physical health, including regular exercise, a nutritious diet, and sufficient rest,
lays the groundwork for mental and emotional stability. This holistic approach
fosters resilience, enabling you to face the challenges of midlife with vigor and a
positive outlook.

Chart a New Professional Path

If your current career no longer sparks joy or fulfillment, it might be time to explore new horizons. Crafting a polished resume in PDF format can be a significant first step in this journey. A tool to convert a PDF can facilitate the process, ensuring your credentials are presented in a professional and accessible manner. This small act can set the stage for a rewarding new career chapter.

Cultivate Self-Understanding

Midlife often prompts deep reflection on personal happiness and fulfillment. Whether through personal introspection or professional therapy, understanding the root causes of your discontent is crucial. This self-awareness is a powerful tool, guiding you toward more fulfilling life choices and relationships.

Expand Horizons with Online Learning

In today’s digital age, educational opportunities are more accessible than ever. Online courses and degree programs offer a flexible and practical way to acquire new skills or qualifications. Exploring these available options can be a
springboard to a new career or a deeper understanding of a beloved hobby or interest, reigniting your passion for learning and growth.

Revitalize Your Style

Refreshing your wardrobe can be a powerful way to boost self-esteem and mark
a new phase in life. A style update can reflect your evolving identity and renew your confidence, helping you to feel more aligned with your current aspirations and lifestyle. This outward transformation often mirrors the internal changes happening within, symbolizing a renewed commitment to yourself and your journey.

Seek New Adventures

Stepping outside of your comfort zone and embracing new experiences can be a revitalizing aspect of midlife. Whether it’s traveling to a new destination, trying a new hobby, or meeting new people, these adventures can bring a fresh perspective and invigorate your daily life. Embracing the unknown with an open heart and mind can lead to profound personal growth and a deeper appreciation for life’s diverse experiences.

Embrace the Power of Laughter and Positivity

Surrounding yourself with humor and positive relationships is vital for emotional well-being. Laughter and joy are not just fleeting moments of happiness; they’re powerful tools for resilience and mental health. Cultivate a social circle that brings laughter and positivity into your life. Engaging in activities that spark joy and amusement can significantly uplift your spirits and offer a refreshing escape from daily stressors.

Gain Perspective Through Reading

Books about midlife transitions can offer valuable insights and perspectives. Reading about the experiences of others can provide comfort, inspiration, and practical advice, helping you to navigate your own journey with a sense of companionship and understanding. This literary exploration serves as a reminder that you are not alone in your journey, offering diverse viewpoints and strategies to manage this transformative period.

In this journey of midlife transformation, embracing change is key to unlocking a richer, more fulfilling chapter in life. This period, often characterized by introspection, offers a precious opportunity for personal growth and self-realization. It’s a time to reassess priorities, explore new passions and jobs, and
build a lifestyle that resonates deeply with your evolving sense of self. By actively engaging in this process of renewal, you can redefine what fulfillment and success mean to you. Ultimately, midlife isn’t a crisis to be feared, but a valuable milestone in life’s journey, rich with opportunities for renewal, discovery, and joy.

 

Julia Mitchell, incredibly passionate about the activities that fill her days, wants to share her adoration for her favorite lifestyle topics with the world and encourage others to turn their INspiration into OUTspiration.

Filed Under: Guest Blogs, Uncategorized · Tagged: , , , , , , ,

Boreas Makes an Appearance

December 16, 2023 by · Leave a Comment

Boreas Makes an Appearance

In ancient Greece, Boreas was the god of winter winds. Yeah! He showed up this week! Wind speeds ranged from 15 to 30 miles an hour, steadily, all week. No, I did not fish. The bad news is, it looks the same for next week, too. Merry Christmas!

Subscribers without photos- go to https://www.spottedtail.com/blog/, please.

Tuesday I had a doctor’s appointment. When I got there, I got a, “We’re very sorry, Mr. Kumiski, but the doctor isn’t here today. They were supposed to call you…” No one called me. If I hadn’t shown up, I would have gotten an invoice. Since the doc didn’t show up, I sent them one.

When they don’t pay (and they won’t), I will write it off on my taxes as an uncollectable debt. This is the same doctor that, when I was sick and called repeatedly, took four months to return the call. Then I got billed $150 for a ten-minute telephone conversation. Power to the patients!

——————————————————

Susan and I have been pretty happy with the camper setup in my Toyota Sienna, but we found a better design, which you can see below-

I spent part of a couple days this week disassembling the old camper build, in preparation of assembling a new one. The new bed will be a few inches narrower than the old one, but we think overall this build will make better use of the space we have in there.

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I tied a few flies, and did some writing, some of which was about tying flies!

https://riversandfeathers.com/author/john-kumiski/

https://blog.globaloutdoors.com/?author=604144e9071ab616be8ac66a

——————————————————

I took a walk on the Florida Trail, but did not take any pictures. But I did wrap and ship presents and even a (very) few Christmas cards! Pretty laid-back week, all-in-all.

That’s the Boreas Makes an Appearance Report. Thanks for reading!

Every day is a blessing. Don’t waste it- Go fishing! Go paddling! Go on a trip! Stay active!

John Kumiski
www.johnkumiski.com
www.spottedtail.com
www.spottedtail.com/blog

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, ©John Kumiski 2023. All rights are reserved.

Filed Under: Sienna Van conversion, Uncategorized · Tagged: , , ,

One Day Fishing Report

November 24, 2023 by · Leave a Comment

One Day Fishing Report

Thanks for reading my One Day Fishing Report. There was that Thanksgiving thing you may have heard about, and with the exception of Monday, the weather was shaky the rest of the week.

Ordinarily at this point you’d read, “Subscribers without photos- go to https://www.spottedtail.com/blog/, please.” I don’t that link works right now. Feel free to try. If it doesn’t work, there will be no recourse until I straighten out the website.

The website! I believe I saved all the content on the old one that I wanted to. I believe spottedtail.com moved to the new host. The domain isn’t pointed that way yet. If I have time on Saturday, I hope to work on it. If not, it will be at least a couple weeks.

Either way, most likely there will not be a post next week.

OK, Fishing!

Wednesday Scott Radloff and I took the Bang-o-Craft out from Haulover Canal. Wanted Beacon 42, but the bridge was closed. We headed east, then north. The water was fairly murky. No sight fishing happened, but it was cloudy.

Scott, tossing a small jig, hit a solid fish on his first cast. Unfortunately, it came unglued. I got a juvie redfish, then an eight-inch snapper, then had a suicidal seatrout, a fairly large one, attack my tail-amputated-by-a-puffer plastic shad right next to the boat. Usually, panic ensues and the strike is missed. Somehow I caught and released this beast. It was probably pushing four pounds, quite a nice one.

We went to change spots, and the motor decided it didn’t want to work anymore. With minor difficulty, we returned to the boat ramp and loaded the boat, just after noon. We’d gotten three hours in.

I shoot photos of clever signs and bumper stickers I see. Below, please enjoy a few of them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That’s the One Day Fishing Report. My next report, two weeks hence, should have some solid fishing and photo action. Thanks for reading!

Every day is a blessing. Don’t waste it- Go fishing! Go paddling! Go on a trip! Stay active!

John Kumiski
www.johnkumiski.com
www.spottedtail.com
www.spottedtail.com/blog

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2023. All rights are reserved.

Filed Under: Fishing Reports, Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Report, Uncategorized · Tagged: , ,

The Weatherman Struck Out

September 23, 2023 by · Leave a Comment

The Weatherman Struck Out

The weatherman struck out this week.

Subscribers without photos- go to https://www.spottedtail.com/blog/, please.

A doctor I used to fish, a man by the name of Jim McCully, wrote a fascinating book called Beyond the Moon. The book is about how the tides work and why they are so hard to predict. Sea level is anything but.

The United States government publishes a book annually called the Coast Pilot, which gives tidal predictions for the year at places all along the lengthy coastline of the USA. They use computers to make these predictions, of course.

At the time McCully published his book, sixteen separate factors (if my memory serves, been a long time since I read the book) went into the computer model that makes the prediction. At least eight other factors, considered to be of minor importance, are not used. And a big, important factor- the weather- can’t be used, since weather can’t be predicted a year in advance.

So the tidal prediction is exactly that. A prediction.

Weather forecasts are also predictions. I took a meteorology course during my university time, and if nothing else learned that predicting the behavior of giant air masses is extremely difficult. Air frequently doesn’t do what you expect it to. I wonder how many factors go into weather prediction models?

It’s hard to predict the weather 24 hours in advance, never mind a year.

All that having been said, the weatherman missed three straight forecasts this week, by miles. Strike three, you’re out!

The forecasts for Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday all read like this- “Showers likely in the morning, with scattered thunderstorms, increasing into the afternoon. Rain chance 70 percent.”

Where I’m located, we had some light rain in the evening on those days. During the day it was partly cloudy with lots of sunshine, beautiful days.

This was my expectation. It did not come to pass. Image cribbed from the internet.

Did I go fishing? I did not! Not wanting to get caught out in the likely lightning, I did not go fishing. So I was partly perturbed with the forecaster for bad predictions, and partly perturbed with myself for putting too much faith in them. I certainly know better.

I didn’t wet a line this week. I did spend time preparing for an upcoming fishing trip with Mike Conneen, however. I’ll be very prepared after all that prep time!

Please, wish us luck!

That’s the weatherman struck out report. Thanks for reading!

Every day is a blessing. Don’t waste it- Go fishing! Go paddling! Take a walk! Stay active!

John Kumiski
www.johnkumiski.com
www.spottedtail.com
www.spottedtail.com/blog

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2023. All rights are reserved.

Filed Under: Fishing Reports, Uncategorized · Tagged: , , , , ,

No Fishing This Week, but…

April 15, 2023 by · Leave a Comment

No Fishing This Week, but…

For me, there was no fishing this week. The wind machine cranked through mid-week, with small craft advisories until Wednesday night. I could have gone Friday, but…

Regular readers of this blog know I have been working on building a canoe. I started skinning it on Friday.

Sewing on the skin, which is a ballistic nylon.

 

Skin tacked on, ready for permanent attachment.

Regular readers of this blog also know I have a Sienna van, adapted to camping. After replacing the shocks, all that build needed a re-build. Along with house repairs, that’s what occupied me the rest of the week. Now we can go camping again!

Since most folks look to this blog for fishing, I dug up some April-y kinds of photos from years past, all taken on the Atlantic.

My first cobia, my best on fly, taken off Cocoa Beach a long time ago while out with Rodney Smith.

 

Son Alex with a tripletail, taken off Cocoa Beach.

 

Son Maxx with a cobia, taken off Cocoa Beach.

 

Rodney Smith with a tripletail, taken off Cocoa Beach.

 

Tammy Wilson, cobia, off Cape Canaveral.

 

Mike Conneen, king mackerel, off Cape Canaveral.

 

 

I don’t remember this guy’s name. He was on a charter with Tom Van Horn, off Cape Canaveral. He had a heck of a day! I tagged along to get pictures.

And that’s the no fishing this week report. Thanks for reading!

Every day is a blessing. Don’t waste it- Go fishing! Go paddling! Take a walk! Stay active!

John Kumiski
www.johnkumiski.com
www.spottedtail.com
www.spottedtail.com/blog

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2023. All rights are reserved.

Filed Under: Fishing Reports, Sienna Van conversion, Uncategorized · Tagged: , ,

Building a Canoe- Making the Frame

March 25, 2023 by · Leave a Comment

Building a Canoe- Making the Frame

At the end of my last post, I wrote, “With any luck I’ll have a mostly framed canoe by Tuesday morning.” Wow, that was so incredibly optimistic. I learned this week that building a canoe is a marathon. Hopefully I’ve shed all time goals.

There was a bit of a time press this past week. Mike and I had cut the ribs. They needed to be bent before they dried out. But first mortises had to be cut into the gunwales. Stems needed to be built. Those cut ribs needed to be prepped. Tests needed to be made. First, the mortises.

The nice lady at Harbor Freight pointed me to the plunge routers. Seventy-five dollars later, I own one. I took it home, read the manual, watched some youtube videos, and proceeded to teach myself to use the beast with an ancient and warped 2×4. Then I built the mortise jig, put it on the router, and attacked the poor 2×4 again.

The results were not pretty. I couldn’t see my cut lines. I was trying to cut too deep. I removed some parts from the router so I could see, and made shallower cuts, then the deeper ones. Next thing, I’m cutting mortises in my gunwales. While not perfect, currently they are full of canoe ribs, so I guess they were good enough.

Cutting the mortises into the gunwales.

 

The gunwale mortise-cutting jig.

I needed a table saw, to make spreaders, to prep the ribs, maybe to make the stems. For the price of two day’s rental, Home Depot would sell me one. It’s in my office. I move it to my work area every day with a little garden cart.

I used the table saw to make the spreaders. The center spreader was installed between the gunwales, and then the capture forms pinched the ends together. When I saw the shape of the canoe come together for the first time, a well of emotion engulfed me. I had to fight back tears! It was a short, but powerful, moment. Now, get back to work, John.

The appearance of this simple shape provoked a powerful emotional response.

The stems took me a full day and part of another, as well as three boards. Let’s say I made some grievous errors, and some minor ones that were just as useful at making the stems unusable. With the help of the table saw and a half-dozen stems-worth of trial and error, they finally got installed. So did the keel, with much less trouble.

These joints should fit tightly. Try it again!

Needless to say, Tuesday had come and gone and there was no nearly framed canoe. Yet.

Brian Schultz at Cape Falcon Kayak spends a lot of video time explaining steamed wood-bending technique. There’s nothing like actually doing it, though. For a goober like me, bending oak is way harder than Brian makes it look. I broke several ribs just trying to learn how to bend them, and several more getting the test ribs in the boat. There was quite a bit of Brian Schultz texting going on through all this, too.

Wrestling with ribs.

Friday was rib bending day. The intention was to fill all those mortises. Every single rib was a wrestling match. Several mortises were split. Many ribs were broken. When I was finished, the boat looked like a chimpanzee had done the work, and I only had two pieces of rib stock left. Many texts to Brian were exchanged, with photos. He suggested I remove the most offending ribs and re-steam and re-install them. Brian, thank you so much for your help!

Cracked mortise. Clamps and glue fixed it right up.

 

Reinforcing the mortises with clamps.

 

Does this look professional?

I re-steamed half the ribs in the boat. They were still not perfect, but as good as I thought I could make them.

Does this look symmetrical?

I clamped the stringers on.

Does this look like it’s going to be a canoe?

It was a long and tiring day.

The boat shaping, and the rocker, are undoubtedly going to need more work. But, I have a have a mostly framed canoe.

Even though I’m building a canoe, I just may go fishing next week.

Every day is a blessing. Don’t waste it- Go fishing! Go paddling! Take a walk! Stay active!

John Kumiski
www.johnkumiski.com
www.spottedtail.com
www.spottedtail.com/blog

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2023. All rights are reserved.

Filed Under: Uncategorized · Tagged: , , ,
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