802Projects

Canoe

My High School Chemistry/Physics teacher John Little actually got me started on this. Richford offered a "Canoe" class as an elective. The students worked together to build a wood strip canoe for the school. After completion the students would go on a canoe trip and the canoe would be sold/auctioned off. After the class I wanted to build one for myself. I became good friends with the teacher, and he let me borrow his patterns over the summer. My Grandpa let me use his wood shop for the project. He even purchased the cedar lumber for me.

The book used for this project was "Building a Strip Canoe" by Gil GiPatrick. This specific canoe uses the "Redbird" plans from the back of the book. Each pattern is measured and traced out onto plywood. The patterns are then cut out to form "stations" which are screwed onto a strongback to form an upside down frame to build the canoe on. The strips of wood are cedar. They started as 1" rough cut boards. I planed them down to 3/4" then cut out 1/4" x 3/4" strips. Once the strips are done, they get ran through a router table twice to create a tongue on one side and a groove on another.

Then the strips get laid and glued together over the stations. Then comes a lot of sanding, fiberglassing, and trim work. I would really recommend the Gil Gilpatrick book if you are considering doing this. It's easy to follow. I'd also recommend buying the Ted Moores KayakCraft book. It has some tips that will also apply to a canoe. Notice the fancy steam bent wood at the bow and stern of the canoe? This is covered in the KayakCraft book.