To build a canoe

Steinhauer

Steinhauer

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A couple of days ago, I went hunting in a massive mountain forest in my area. In the valley, there is a huge lake fed by the Etowah river. There are several tiny islands in hard to reach areas, and I am an explorer by nature, the curiosity is eating me alive. Is there any deer on those islands?

So, I went home determined to "one day ... some day ..." have a simple mode of transportation to those islands. A canoe, or a simple dinghy with a simple trawling motor ...

I also go gold panning as a hobby, and I saw some eroded bedrock with white quartz ... and dark, dark red soil covered in black sand. There's gold in them thar islands I betcha.

Now, mind you, this was before I looked up some "how to" guides on the internet.

I saw this listed at $7,995 :shock:

Cedar Strip Wooden Canoe Full Size18 feet long by millydilly

Unfortunately, I do not have $7,995 that I am willing to spend. But, fortunately, I do have the woodworking skills required to build one. So, when I eventually gather the materials I need (maybe a few months, who knows) I will visit this thread and record my progress.

I have been reading about cedar strip canoes, kayaks, and dinghy .. then a friend told me I should go "old school" and build a Native American birch bark canoe:

Birch Bark Canoe

Now ... I am truly in love .... I gotta make one ...

furtradecanoemain150sm.jpg
 
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27VZtSl02B8]Birch bark canoe building - YouTube[/ame]
 
I have several canoes for boy scouts- but no paddles to go with it. we had to borrow them, but I at the point where I want to build paddles .. maybe we can do a joint thing . LOL
 
This is a great project. As a wood worker, you know a wooden boat takes more care than a fiberglass one.

Here's my take: If you want wood, find one that is used and restore it as long as the cost is in your range. I'm betting there are a lot of people in that area that want to get rid of what they have.

This way, you get more time on the water and the wood working experience.
 
Ok, I found a place that sells cedar lumber .. but the plans I have require the strips to be 1/4" thick. :hmm:

That seems awful thin. I think the fiberglass resin cloth makes it leak-proof and adds durability though.
 
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