Click to View the Full Thread

Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Group Forum: Boat Builders and Repair :: Dreaming of a cedar canoe
 
Author Message Text
1JimD
04/02/2015 06:10AM
 
Your building skills are fine ! I helped a School teacher and his daughter build their first canoe. The Teacher had no wood working skills, and his only power tool was a hand drill. His daughter caught on and finished a great canoe, winning Blue ribbons at the county and State Fairs.
Books are fine, especially to start the snowball rolling ! But being from Minnesota, you should be able to find a builder nearby, willing to help you along.


I just checked your location, and to me it would be a no brainer, to Contact Dennis Davidson at North West Canoe !! He even offer free on line plans !
Dennis has classes, plans and materials. Tell him you want to bead and cove your strips !!! Don't let him talk you out of it !! For a beginner, and an experienced builder, Bead and Coving your strips, makes assembling a canoe a snap, and you get the best results.


Welcome to building ! One Warning ! It's addictive !


Jim

 
DeanL
04/01/2015 09:00PM
 
Hi guys. I've peeked into this forum off and on and truly admire the work you all do! Curiosity has finally gotten the best of me and while strolling by a Barnes & Noble picked up a copy of Ted Moores Canoecraft that I've seen mention here several times.

At this time a completed canoe is a long ways off but dreams have to start somewhere. I have average woodworking skills and access to a wood shop that has all the normal tools. I have built a fair amount of furniture but no experience with canoe building.

What would be the best way to get this snowball rolling? Start reading the book and getting familiar with the building tools and terms I'm guessing would be a good start. Anybody know if Northwest still has building classes?

Thanks in advance for the help and keep the pictures coming.
 
KarlBAndersen1
04/01/2015 10:01PM
 
If you can do a class, that would be spectacular.
There are also a number of videos which helped me a lot.
I had never built a canoe before, but with patience and persistence managed to throw this together, and made every piece from raw materials:



 
tumblehome
04/01/2015 10:05PM
 
quote DeanL: "


What would be the best way to get this snowball rolling? "



I would suggest you stop dreaming and start building.


I can't tell you how many 80 year old men I've talked to over the years that have always dreampt of building or owning a wood canoe. It's really quite sad that someone in the waning years of life never made their dreams happen. It's not that hard.


I built my first canoe at 26. I don't want to be one of those old men.
Karl (post above) built his canoe is about a month. Bam! You're done!


Tom
 
DeanL
04/01/2015 10:35PM
 
quote tumblehome: "quote DeanL: "



What would be the best way to get this snowball rolling? "




I would suggest you stop dreaming and start building.



I can't tell you how many 80 year old men I've talked to over the years that have always dreampt of building or owning a wood canoe. It's really quite sad that someone in the waning years of life never made their dreams happen. It's not that hard.



I built my first canoe at 26. I don't want to be one of those old men.
Karl (post above) built his canoe is about a month. Bam! You're done!



Tom"



Kinda like that commercial, "time to take my dreams and launch them into lake reality".
There are a bunch of plans in the Canoecraft book, any preferences on a mid size tandem? This whole idea is going to get a huge eye roll from the wife. Maybe if I can convince her she'll be the first to paddle in it we'll be in good shape.
 
Wables
04/09/2015 07:07PM
 
Don't worry about the wife...I had mine 3/4 stripped before she saw my first one in the shop! Seriously, read Canoecraft cover to cover a few times and start building. Post your questions here and over at Bear Mountain as you go. I lofted the Bob's Special from Canoecraft for my second boat. It is fun for short trips, but too small to trip with 2 adults. It does paddle solo well. I also built the Freedom 17-9 and it is a great tripping boat.