: A neighbour is restoring his father's old cedarstrip/canvas canoe. He has
: removed the damaged canvas leaving flat ribs covered by thin (1/8" or
: less) 2.5" wide cedar strips. The strips are not tight to each other,
: but have approximately 1/16" gaps between them. Several of these
: strips are missing and will need to be replaced.

: He wants to eliminate the canvas and leave the outside as natural looking
: wood with the brass nail heads (attaching the cedar to the ribs) showing.
: His idea is to replace the missing cedar strips, leave the gaps and just
: fill them with epoxy/sawdust mixture, then glass the outside with one or
: two layers of 6 oz. fibreglass. There is not much strength with the very
: thin cedar, but he is hoping that by glassing the outside and using the
: ribs for strength, he can get away with just varnishing the inside, where
: the ribs prevent him from glassing. Any advice before he gets much
: further?

Hmmm, it sounds to me like packing all the gaps with dookie and glassing one side will produce a heavy, unattractive, weak boat.

Jim