So I'd like to get a book or two on building cedar strip canoes so I can begin reading up on the process and get a handle on what's involved. Watching Karl, Mac, Alan and Jim has really, really helped me (thanks guys!) and has motivated me to tackle this project when I have the time, resources, and space to do it, none of which I have at this time.

Two books that I hear about and have seen are Ted Moore's Canoecraft and Gil Gilpatrick's book. I know Canoecraft is sort of the bible for cedar strip canoe work, but Gilpatrick's book is attractive to me because it says that full-sided plans are included. Does anyone recommend one over the other? Does anyone have Gilpatrick's plans from that book - what canoes are they for?

Ideally I would like to build a tandem as my first canoe because I anticipate doing most of my canoeing with someone else.

Hello SJ,
Great books, but be sure to search the 'net for even more relevant information. The site I gave you last week is excellent for following some mighty fine builds and learning from a group of incredible craftsman. Here is another link to NorthWest Canoe, where you can dig into more materials as well as review the free plans for a number of designs. If you search real deep you should be able to find the NW Build Canoe notebook. Another excellent resource.
Good luck and make some space as the project is great fun.
Mac

I used Canoecraft as my sole source. I even lofted my own plans from the tables. Lofting is not difficult, just tedious. Just get a tablet of extra large graph paper from Hobby Lobby or similar store. If you do decide to loft your own plans be sure to check for updates to the tables because there are some errors in the book.

Met a newbie builder over the weekend, and he had a new book from Susan Van Leuven, called "Illustrated Guide to Wood Strip Canoe Building".

I was quite impressed ! Enough so, that I ordered it from Amazon.
Very well illustrated. I just glanced through it. She is building a Wee Lasse.
I did not notice if it was stemless or not. I'm a big fan of stemless construction.

I'm always looking for other builders perspectives on building canoes.

Jim

Don't buy one book, buy them all. Read them, be confused, read them again, start to kinda figure it out, build your canoe using a mish-mash of different methods. Suddenly after the first one everything makes a lot more sense. Build another canoe using the methods you were happy with while also trying new methods to replace the ones you weren't happy with. By the 6th one you'll start to feel like you're actually getting it figured out with your own system.

Don't get pigeon holed by any one book or method. Lots of ways to build a canoe and they all work. Eventually this becomes liberating but at first it's overwhelming. It would be so much simpler if there was one specific route to follow but instead you're forced to choose between 3 or 4 different routes every step of the way and you don't have the experience to know which one is right for you. Just keep reminding yourself that they're all the correct route and after trying them all out you'll discover which ones you like best.

Building a stripper is easier than it looks. Plenty of opportunities to screw up but it's also easy to fix/cover up those mistakes. We all make them.

Alan

quote Alan Gage: "Don't buy one book, buy them all. Read them, be confused, read them again, start to kinda figure it out, build your canoe using a mish-mash of different methods. Suddenly after the first one everything makes a lot more sense. Build another canoe using the methods you were happy with while also trying new methods to replace the ones you weren't happy with. By the 6th one you'll start to feel like you're actually getting it figured out with your own system.


Don't get pigeon holed by any one book or method. Lots of ways to build a canoe and they all work. Eventually this becomes liberating but at first it's overwhelming. It would be so much simpler if there was one specific route to follow but instead you're forced to choose between 3 or 4 different routes every step of the way and you don't have the experience to know which one is right for you. Just keep reminding yourself that they're all the correct route and after trying them all out you'll discover which ones you like best.


Building a stripper is easier than it looks. Plenty of opportunities to screw up but it's also easy to fix/cover up those mistakes. We all make them.


Alan"

+1

Thanks for all the tips. I ordered the Ted Moores book to start with and will check out NorthWest Canoe's extensive resources. Now the planning stage begins!

Well put Alan !

It's great to borrow ideas from others whether it be from a book or another builder !
It's kinda like a song, if they were all written the same way, how boring life would be !

Jim

My copy of Susan's Illustrated guide to wood strip building, arived.

Great illustrations, and many different options in the process of building.
I didn't find anything new. But a great book to begin with.
As Alan states, buy them all, and sort out what works best for you.

Jim

Just finished reading Canoecraft. Wow, I have to hand it to you guys for the incredible boats you're putting out. Excited for starting my first build at some point in the future.