It must have been twenty-five years ago I sat on a park bench in Argyll, Scotland, staring in wonder at a woodstrip canoe, upside down on top of a Volvo roof rack. Every bloke that walked passed ran his hands along it – it was a visual and tactile sight to behold. I vowed to make one someday.
One does not have to be a naval architect to understand the basic principles of canoe design. They are relatively simple, yet vitally important – especially to the builder. The curves of a well-designed canoe are its calling card – a proclamation of the kind of paddling it does best.
The nuances of wood and wood choice are a constant source of fascination to the canoe-building community. George Vandemolen's recently completed Bob's Special incorporates a variety of woods to striking visual effect - with handmade wooden paddles thrown in to boot.
To us photos of Ted diligently scraping away on a C4 were just business as usual, but when we shared a few last week, Ted’s choice of tool provoked a surprising amount of curiosity. Odds are good you’ll be familiar with the paint scraper method of shaping the hull if you’ve already built your own canoe, but if you used an alternate method or are looking to refine your technique, read on for an ode to the humble paint scraper.
One question we get regularly is when our next building class will be. The answer is that we won’t be scheduling anything for the foreseeable future. But we do remember how valuable those courses were, and that’s why we'd like to pass along a recommendation for WoodenBoat's online learning program, Mastering Skills.
Decks are one of the key areas builders can use to personalize a canoe. Whether it's inlay work, book-matching, or simply an interesting wood choice, a well-chosen deck can make a canoe truly memorable. Glen Campbell's Prospector is a prime example.
Every once in awhile, a question will come into the Bear Mountain inbox about using carbon fibre in canoe construction. While our expertise is mainly based around fibreglass epoxy, we appreciate seeing how enterprising home builders have modified their approach for weight, strength, or the sheer joy of experimentation.
Early in the winter of 2021, we asked builders how the pandemic had affected their plans and projects. Ty Bailey submitted this detailed and thoughtful piece on building his Nomad 17 in response. Many thanks to Ty, and everyone who sent us their stories!
A custom planking detail, placed judiciously, will personalize your boat. This excerpt from Kayakcraft will walk you through the steps of creating a feature plank and incorporating it into your design.
