New video up on the YouTube channel: Kayak vs Canoe: Which one should you build? (Or which one should you build first!) ...a quick overview of the pros and cons of both boats and builds. ...
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“I’m a loner Dotty, a rebel…”
You know you’re getting weird when you find yourself quoting PeeWee Herman while building oar templates. Apropos making a 1/16th inch deviation from the classic Adirondack Guideboat Grant Pattern: “I’m a loner Dotty, a rebel...”...
Video: Outfitting the 66 canoe
Seating, flotation, portage yoke, sails, outriggers.... All the bits and bobbles that turn a bare hull into a useable watercraft....
The simultaneous wonderful and terrible thing about being a boat builder is that you can build whatever you want.
The simultaneous wonderful and terrible thing about being a boat builder is that you can build whatever you want. If you have access to a sawmill and like to play around with design the problem is even worse. Next up on my actual work schedule is a St. Lawrence River skiff but for whatever...
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Video: A short overview of the canoe building process
To celebrate the release of our new online skin on frame canoe building course I took some time today to mix down a few short videos of the process. Enjoy!...
Sending this canoe and its nesting sister to Nepal
Put this canoe and its nesting sister on the truck today for the first leg of their journey to Nepal. There they’ll meet up with Tom and Kyle of The Weight We Carry, who are portaging them up to Everest base camp to raise awareness for mental health, and to raise funds to build...
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On YouTube: a visual walkthrough of the entire process of building a skin on frame canoe
New video up on the YouTube channel: a visual walkthrough of the entire process of building a skin on frame canoe, from selecting the wood to paddling the boat. ...
Now that the canoe plans are out, let’s talk variations.
Now that the canoe plans are out, let’s talk variations. Originally designed as a pack canoe system, it expands successfully to full-size solo canoes (minus tumblehome) and there is no reason it can’t extend to full size doubles or even small rower/sailers. There is no possible way I could build all the various canoes...
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Announcing the launch of our canoe plans and instructional videos
Plans and instructional videos launched this week for our new skin-on-frame canoe building system, the 66. Originally envisioned as a lightweight double-paddle pack canoe, the 66 evolved into a complete canoe building system that gives you the freedom to change the width, the depth, the rocker, the sheer, and the hull shaping with easy...
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What goes into creating a skin-on-frame canoe building video course
What goes into creating a skin-on-frame canoe building video course and plan set? A reasonable quality video lighting and audio set up and an inordinate amount of time tinkering with aforementioned gear. A million takes of me saying the same thing over and over until it looks sort of professional. Editing those takes until...
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Video: Chasing little waterways
I’ve always enjoyed chasing little waterways that most people don’t even notice. A 17 pound pack canoe makes ridiculous adventures like this creek entering the Columbia River worthwhile....
New carbide knives for the planer
In theory these carbide-tipped planer knives should save me a lot of time, and therefore money, on blade changes. This is of course assuming that I can break the bad habit of running nails through the planer. We shall see......
Pair of nesting pack canoes for sale (SOLD)
I build a LOT of prototypes when working on new designs. This latest pair of nesting pack canoes needs a new home. The larger canoe is 11’8” x 27.5” 18lbs. The smaller canoe is 11’ x 26” 17lbs. The larger one is a nice size for someone up to 185 lbs, the smaller for...
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Video: Ghosting along at 2 mph on a mostly windless day
Ghosting along at 2 mph on a mostly windless day.......
A visit to the Zena Forest Products mill
Zena Forest Products is a second generation sustainable forest/sawmill here in the Willamette Valley. Of all the oak they cut less than 2% is suitable for steam bending. Over the years I’ve watched so much of this scarce resource chopped into pallet wood and industrial blocking by careless saw mills, so I really appreciate...
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