Book Features
Each step in the building process is covered by a chapter. I get very frustrated when an author’s instructions for a given task are incomplete or the author makes too many assumptions. Therefore, I have endeavored to include details for every task required. You should not need anything but the information in this book to complete your canoe. Each task is described in detail with plenty of diagrams and pictures. At the end of the book are appendixes that provide a detailed project plan, a materials listing and the tools used.
Innovations and Techniques
Included throughout are numerous innovations and techniques that depart from the norm or are new to the craft of strip canoe building. These include:
ü Smaller than normal strip dimensions
ü Long infeed/outfeed tables made from closet doors
ü Adjustable length strongback
ü Strongback work shelves
ü Parallelogram feather board
ü Using Excel Charts to make form patterns
ü Rope clamp for nearly stapleless construction
ü Cam Clamps
ü Compound bevel strip joints
ü Strip splicing miter box
ü Board spicing jig
ü Using super glue to bend strips
ü Hardwood shear strips
ü End pours borrowed from kayak building
ü Ipé gunwales and keels
ü Dual keels for bottom protection
ü Gunwale spreading jig
ü Rope seats
ü Monkey fist grab handles
After reviewing the chapter on fiberglassing this is what J. R. Watson of Gourgeon Bothers, Inc., the makers of West System Epoxy products had to say:
It’s great. I think you discuss fiberglass application very well and in ways noothers have covered. … We’re gonna want some copies for our library and tech staff.
-- J.R. Watson
Gougeon Bothers, Inc.
West System Epoxy Products