A Seed Germinates

Back at it now after the Christmas hiatus. Before heading to the homeland for the holidays, I had pretty much everything set to fly once I got back, anticipating a Christmas cookie-fueled burst of initiative and ardency.

True to my plan, cookies and all, I stepped into the shop three days ago, admittedly feeling a bit giddy for the big moment. I set to work right away laying the first planks, thus marking the time of conception for the fledgling vessel. (So I've got babies on the brain, so what? My sister just announced her first tadpole, so there). This is really the bread and butter segment of this sort of canoe construction, when vision becomes reality. This is also the most monotonous step of the way (sanding giving it a run for its money, though), but the progress made is constant and the growing canoe hull keeps begging for more.

Planking also presents an opportunity to work in any kind of design or artistic bent, should one choose to do so. Sounds cool and all, but from the start I've envisioned a more subdued scheme that would turn more of the focus to the boat's lines and hardwood trim. However, the color of cedar is notoriously variable, even within a single board, so I tried to at least make the planks look arranged on purpose. Even had I just tossed them on haphazardly, it's still a cedar canoe - kind of difficult to ruin that, though I have been witness to one or two hideous jobs (how did they manage to do THAT?).

Planking continued along merrily, until I reached "the football" stage (a technical term, but still apt in any case, if you know me). This is basically the bottom of the boat, where the planks get successively shorter and are no longer able to attach to the stems. As the ends of every plank will have to be trimmed back to the exact (!) keel line, I continue up one side only while making sure to select correspondingly colored pieces, marking them and setting aside for a bit later.

Which brings me to the now, and all of you up to date, and hopefully all of us over our nog and jolly-time hangovers, real or perceived. Here's to more joy and wisdom to be had by all in the New Year.

I'll leave you with some sage wisdom from the writer Sarah Knowles Bolton:

"Upon life's seas, to yourself be true, And, whatever your lot may be, always paddle your own canoe." 

The stripping begins.

The aforementioned so-called football.

Working up one side of the bottom. The strips will be planed off along the keel line, and the matching  opposite pieces will be laid in.

Finally underway!

After considerable effort in procuring the building materials, and generally getting my life in a semblance of order, I'm finally taking the first steps towards realizing my dream (or one of many dreams, at least). It feels like it has taken much too long to get here, but I am happy to be at task anyway.

Building the forms and the strongback is a critical and time-consuming process, but proper attention to detail will ensure a straight and clean-lined vessel. I elected to forgo this part of the process however, allowing my somewhat limited free time to be allocated to the actual building of the boat. I was fortunate to find a kindly chap who had just finished building his own, and was willing to sell his forms and strongback to me (thanks Dean!). These sort of things tend to get passed along unless you are a professional, or at least a habitual, boat builder. After all, what could you possibly repurpose a set of round shaped plywood pieces and a 20 foot long beam on legs set at knee level? I was thankful for the excuse to drive the 4 hours to Nelson to pick it up, as I was able to visit a number of friends in the area whom I hadn't seen a while. The strongback, being strapped upside down on top of my truck, garnered many puzzled looks from passers by, and more than a few "What the hell is that thing?" comments from interested folks.

Since I wasn't dead set on any one specific design, I was more than happy to adopt the design Dean had chosen for his. As such, I will be building a 17'9" Freedom, designed by the well-known yacht and canoe designer Steve Killing, and is one of the offerings from Bear Mountain Boats, the source of all things wooden canoe (not the only one, but probably the best known one). It is more of a modern design, as opposed to the more frequently observed traditional and native designs, with relatively vertical stems with little curvature (i.e. less sideways wind resistance). The bow is more narrow than traditional canoes, with the widest point located aft (behind) of the center of the boat, making this particular boat a fast one. The size is relatively large, but I'm building this with the intention of using it, lots. Going far and long, big loads and all. And ample room for the beer cooler, lest ye be without proper hydration. Perhaps I'll build a smaller boat for day trips and fun, once this hobby becomes an obsession!

Set up was a snap thanks to all of Dean's prior hard work, save for a couple new forms that had to be built, and a general check to make sure everything was plumb and straight. The stems, the first pieces of the boat to be dealt with, were steamed in a jerry-rigged contraption consisting of a PVC tube (originally, and likely still is, my fishing rod depository), an antique jerry can, some washing machine hose, and my good ol' trusty camp stove. Once properly bent and dried over the stem molds, the narrow laminations were epoxied together and re-clamped over the stem molds again. These pieces will provide the attachment points for the cedar strips later on, and really are a vital component of the canoe's structure. Western red cedar was used for the inner stems (for weight savings and workability), and white ash for the outers (for durability and color scheme).

Stem laminations getting glued up and clamped down.

Everything set up and underway. 

First time for everything

As I've made the continental rounds lately, many folks have expressed a keen interest in keeping abreast of my plan to build a cedar strip canoe. I've never given this blog thing a try, so I figured why not add another self-educating foray into something new, in an attempt to catch up with the modern world, while simultaneously developing my skills in the old fashioned endeavor of crafting one's own transport. So here it is, in all its awkward glory!

Building a cedar strip canoe has long been a steadfast dream of mine. I'm not certain how it all started, but I've got a certifiable love of outdoor adventure, all things wood, and a healthy appreciation for craftsmanship. Seems appropriate, then, that a hand made wooden canoe would satisfy those inclinations quite handily. I'm now at a juncture in my life where I suddenly have a) time, b) an adequate space (much thanks to my kindly neighbor Brian and his newly constructed and as-yet unfilled garage), and c) the gumption to finally get at it.

Building this canoe also represents an attempt to find my footing and a new direction after an extremely difficult year in which I've come to reconsider everything. My life has been marked by many significant transitions, but none so far the magnitude of now. Where it goes from here, I've nary a clue, but I do know things will be different. The creation of this canoe will mark the beginning of a new trajectory, a mental and philosophical renaissance, if you will.

So tag along if you wish, and I welcome any comments, suggestions, or discussions along the way.

"Take everything as it comes; the wave passes, deal with the next one." - Tom Thomson