Canoe

So I built a cedar strip canoe back in 2006/2007 while at the seminary. Lot's of people ask how you do it. Here are a few photos to give you a sense of the process.

The forms

You actually build the canoe upside-down on these forms. Eventually once all the strips are glued in place, you lift the canoe off these forms.

Cutting the forms

The forms are spaced about 1' apart, and the canoe is 15' long, so you need about fifteen. I cut them out of 5/8" MDF.

Ends of the cedar strips

Strips are 16' long, and 1/4" x 3/4", with bead and cove router edges. Wood is western red cedar.

Canoe building selfie

A bunch of strips have been laid and glued.

More stripping

This process takes a while because you can only lay a few strips at a time before waiting for the glue to dry.

Getting to the "football"

The last few strips are called the "football" because of the shape. Note the blue chalk line. I will lay all the strips for half the canoe and then cut straight along this line.

All the strips are laid

The Stems

Glueing on the stems (end pieces). The wood is black walnut. Once glued on, they get shaped to make a nice clean end on the canoe.

Getting ready for fiberglass

Once all the strips are glued and stems are shaped, you give the whole thing a nice sanding to get it real smooth.

All sanded and ready for fibreglass

Fiberglass

This will make sense with the next few photos. This is the fibreglass. Literally, a big sheet of glass fabric. The fibreglass and epoxy is what seals the canoe and gives it strength.

Epoxy

Note that the epoxy turns the fibreglass clear when it is applied.

Outside done (mostly)

The outside of the canoe fully glassed and epoxied. Note that you cannot see the fibreglass anymore.

Time for the inside

Canoe has been lifted off the forms, and now gets prepped for glassing the inside.

Glassing the inside

Same process for the inside. Fibreglass cloth and epoxy.

Close-up of epoxy going on the glass

Note how the glass disappears under the epoxy.

Sanding

Once all the epoxy is cured, the whole canoe gets a good sanding to prep it for varnish.

Glueing on the gunnels

The canoe is leaning under the weight of all the clamps. Each gunnel has an inside and outside component.

Gunnels added

All gunnels and trim is installed, sanded and ready for varnish and oil.

Varnished

Looks much better with the varnish.

Done

Finished

Canoe was finished on Divine Mercy Sunday, 2007.

Easy to carry

Weighs 50 lbs, and easy to carry.

The launch

Paddles like a dream.

La Verendrye, Quebec

This was on my second trip with the canoe, summer of 2007, in La Verendrye, Quebec.

Good fishing boat

A nice boat to fish out of. Caught this pike in Temagami. I let him go immediately after this photo, and he happily swam away (probably only to get caught again).

Also in Quetico

Handles waves like a champ.

I know how to make a canoe, and how to enjoy it.
I know how to build a cabin, and how to live in it.
But You O God, You made us, and You live in us.
The things we make last for a few seasons.
We only use the canoes we create for a short time.
We only live in the houses we build for a few years.
But Your love for us will endure so long that we cannot count the time.
You will comfort us forever.
— Joseph Chiwatenhwa (a Huron Native and a courageous helper of the Canadian Martyrs)