Pram build Phase 4

 Well, I did it!! The Pram is together and now awaits sanding (which I already hate) but must wait for spring as the basement is "off limits" for sanding so I have been advised. I did choose to bond in the seat and the thwart per the plans. I also made a modification I think will help the rowing ability of the boat. The first picture shown is simply the seat(s) bonded in, the second is the boat with a 1x2 piece of wood trim clamped to the sides to stiffen the side of the boat especially where the oar locks sit.
 After bonding the boat together, it seemed the sides were still a little flimsy and since my target use for this boat is rowing, I decided to beef up the side bumpers! A 1x2 in Aspen is a pretty stiff piece of wood so I borrowed a steam bending fixture from one of my buddies and it worked like magic. It basically is a simple heating element that boils water then directs the steam into a PVC tube that the wood is inside of. In my case it was a compound bend so I steamed it for 2 hours. With some clamps and bolts, I formed the wood onto the sides of the boat and let the wood dry. Voila! The wood now can be removed from the boat and holds it shape perfectly. The last photo is the fixture laying on my driveway. Enjoy the photos and I am sure the boat sanding will only take two weeks!