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.