Building Wood Canvas Canoes

[dboles]

Hope this will hedge in here or moved to another forum if not correct
A friend and I have been back at building wood canvas canoes.These are built on a form ribbed planked then covered in canvas.Then the weave on the canvas is filled and last step is varnish and paint
Should have been taking pictures all along every step,but never got around to take any until today
The shop

Both boats

This canoe is made of Yellow Cedar
the other in the background has yellow cedar ribs and western Red cedar for planking

Ribs and planks of yellow and red cedar

Planks and ribs of yellow cedar

The yellow cedar boat will have Mahogany seats decks and thwarts and outwales
The other boat will be tricked out in some fine maple including birds eye decks.
Dan'l

 

[wildmike]

Now those are nice!! Where did you find the info on how to build those?

 

[Carolina River Rat]

I'd like to do one of those meself. Have to be in something other than cedar though. I can't work the stuff without sneezing nonstop.

 

[Scott Free]

I sure hope pictures continue until the canoes are completed. I love canoes, but especially traditional canoes. Wow! :thumbup:

 

[DPKnives]

Dan very nice looking. I would love to see them when they are done. Of course I will have to settle for pictures. Great job. Doug

 

[Codger_64]

That is great! I've always wanted to build one myself, but never had the money, time, space and interest all at the same time. It looks like you'll be done by spring? Designed the manboards yet? Guestimated finished weights?

 

[dipbait]

Theres a lot of work in one of those. I use to have a wood canvas kayak.

 

[Aubrey]

Absolutelty beautiful!! Do you work from plans or how did you go about it? I would love to see the progress and finished product.

Regards from Africa

Aubrey

 

[dboles]

Doug get here and paddle it no sense looking at pictures
Long before spring thinking of watering them for a paddle sometime around Oct 16th
They are 16 feet long and around 34 at the widest.Around 70 lbs
I like this design and have tripped solo with 5 weeks of food,done week long trips tandem and countless daytrips
Heres a picture of one built for my brother-It just had to be paddled to work all the bugs out of it before he got it

Dan'l

 

[smersh]

Wow -- beautiful!

 

[ElSitherino]

Damn good job, sir. How long have you been making these vessels?

 

[John G]

Beautiful work!

 

[grunt soldier]

man those look great. you are a very skilled. if you don't mind me asking what do you think money wise you will have tied up in building this. just supplies not counting labor

 

[Stickman]

Man, that is artistry, beautiful work. I'm really enjoying seeing your pictures, looking forward to seeing your newest creations.

 

[dboles]

A few people want me to update this thread with progress of the canoes.
The planking is done,the canoes have been treated with a brightener to take out a few stains,warm water is put on the outside to swell out hammer blosoms,a few cracks in the planks epoxied.Planking is 1/8th inch thick so sometimes a few cracks happen

Thwarts and decks have been installed
This boat has Mahgony for those

Long view on its side

They are getting close but a few steps remain
Hulls will be oiled with a 50/50 mix or turpentine and tung oil
a quick sanding in and out,varnish canvas filler for canvas and paint
grunt soldier Im not the skilled woodworker that'd be Mike the friend Im building with but Im learning which is nice price is around a $ 400-500 depending on wood sources (everything seems to be a $100 these days)
ElSitherino we been at canoe building/restorations for around a dozen years
Thanks for all the kind words
Dan'l

 

[Carolina River Rat]

Very cool.

 

[ElSitherino]

ElSitherino we been at canoe building/restorations for around a dozen years

Well, it certainly looks like you've been at it longer, great looking work.

I always enjoy seeing a finely crafted canoe, makes me want to upgrade mine to one of yours.

 

[Barbarossa]

Nice! I got done reading a book the other week about the "Voyager's" (not how the French spell it) and the fur trading they did. I like the old birch bark canoes and the work that went into them. This reminds me of this. Keep up the great work.

 

[dboles]

Just an update on progress
Canoes have been treated with a 50-50 mix oil and turpentine, canvassed and the weave filled and we are now painting and varnishing
A coat of varnish

view of mahogany deck

Varnished planking

THanks
Dan'l

 

[miwoodcock]

Hello, I'm miwoodcock and I'd like to find someone who teaches building of a wood/canvas canoe, also where to buy a form or how to make one.
I live in norther Michigan but I'm willing to travel.
Thanks