People often ask me if the continuous lashings I use are vulnerable to breaking. The answer is that in 17 years of doing this I’ve never had one break, but it wouldn’t matter if it did because the coating essentially glues the skin to the frame effectively trapping and isolating each lashing. Nothing wrong...
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Turning yesterday’s houses into tomorrow’s canoes
Turning yesterday’s houses into tomorrow’s canoes... Old growth fir from old Portland homes salvaged by the Rebuilding Center becomes the keel, lower stringers, and rub strips of two lightweight canoes headed to Everest with The Weight We Carry....
Video: Bending in ribs for two full-size solo canoes
Bending in ribs for two full-size solo canoes for The Weight We Carry. Unlike the double-paddle pack canoes I’ve been working on up to this point, these are both longer and wider – meaning taller gunwales, thicker ribs, and more stringers. It’s a good opportunity to check the scalability of the build system I’m...
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Latest batch of the super simple canoe sails
The latest batch of the super simple canoe sails I’m developing. I make these out of a single folded sheet of 4 ounce Dacron. They can be raised or lowered in seconds, tuck neatly out of the way when not in use, and perform surprisingly well....
New canoe catamaran system
The catamaran system for the new canoes is simple, effective, and stores out of the way as floorboards when not in use....
Video: St. Johns sail test with the latest pair of canoes
St. John’s sail test with the latest pair of canoes. Just finished filming a tutorial on building interchangeable canoe/kayak sails - look for that and a new canoe design video update soon....
Wide angle view down the center of one of the canoes
Wide angle view down the center of one of the canoes. You can see the continuous lashings holding keel and stringers in place....
Video: Nesting fit check
Nesting fit check. Dialed in the nesting spec on this last round of canoes so that the pair can be closer in width. Nested together these two total 35 pounds, full specs below. Video course shot, beta instructional videos and plans coming in October! Larger: 27.75″ wide, 11′-8″ long, 10″ deep, 18 lbs. Smaller:...
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Video: New canoe fly over…
New canoe fly over......
Canoe framing
Canoe framing: white oak ribs and yellow cedar keel and bottom stringers for strength, red cedar top stringers, stems, and gunwales for light weight. It’s a privilege to work with wood of this quality....
Video: Finishing the frame for the smaller of this set of nesting solo canoes
Finishing the frame for the smaller of this set of nesting solo canoes. This one is 11 feet long and 26 inches wide. Frame is red cedar, white oak and fir. Haven’t weighed it in yet, but expect the completed boat to be about 17 pounds....
Oiling one of the canoe frames
Oiling one of the canoe frames. This one uses fir for the keel and lower stringers, for greater durability, which contrast nicely with the dark red cedar of the upper stringers....
Timelapse: Steam bending ribs for a pack canoe
Steam bending ribs for a pack canoe while shooting the video for the new building course. I free bend all my boats this way - it takes about 20 minutes to rib a 12-foot canoe....
Keels on, ready for ribs
Keels on, ready for ribs....
Canoe deck in the studio
Canoe deck in the studio. This autumn light is making shooting the instructional videos a pleasure....