Aidan & Darcy Canoe Build

Rough cedar just waiting for father & son canoe builders...

Aidan & Darcy standing next to their pile of 'rough' lumber soon to become a canoe

Starting to the mill boards down to size

Running each board through the bandsaw

Tending the fire & boiling the stem bands

The stem bands bent easily onto the form… nice job!

Checking each rib

Running the ribs through the sander

The pile of ribs are now ready for the router

Finishing touches on the stem bands, sawing out notches

Clamping the inside gunnel in place, now ready for the ribs

Boiling and steam bending each rib over the canoe form

nailing each rib to the inside gunnel

All ribs completed!

Getting help sanding the ribs to be ready for the planking

The first plank

Plus… extra hands on deck

A family canoe build!

The planks are coming along, with extra help

Planking continues...

 Yay, the canoe comes off the form!

and the ends get closed in

Half ribs are shaped and nailed into place at the bow & stern

Additional designs are carefully added

Using the clinching iron & hammer to clinch each tack on the canoe

 Taking a break and starting to cane the canoe seats

Doing a great job!

Applying the interior varnish coats

Stretching & hanging the canoe in canvas

 Securing the canvas to the inner gunwale

 Carefully blow-torching off the canvas

 After applying fill… it was onto the paint!

During & after the summer storm, a few days without hydro… 

Attaching the outer gunwales

Gunnels sanded and ready for varnish coats

Coating gunwales in varnish…

and working patiently on their canoe seats!

Seats & thwarts installed, ready for a test run!

CONGRATUATIONS Aidan & Darcy
on your beautiful canoe.
 ~     ~     ~
It was a truly a pleasure to build with you both!