Cedar strip canoe

I realize this is a drift boat forum. However my neck of the woods is not exactly drift boat country. I love the look and someday I will build one. With that being said I also realize that this website is loaded with wood boat enthusiasts. So I was going to try my hand at a cedar strip canoe and was wondering if anyone had any advise. I bought some books and done the research. Looking for any insight above and beyond the books maybe some trial and error stories to make my build a little easier. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Also maybe any tips on where to purchase cedar lumber. Apparently lumber yards no longer stock lumber. I can buy kitchen cabinets and tile but not cedar????? Thanks again.

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Permalink Reply by Rick Newman on July 11, 2013 at 7:40am

Jon, send Phil "Dorf" Dorfman a message. He's already built one and is currently finishing his cedar strip drift boat. Secondly you might want to visit Wooden Boat Forum as numerous folks there build and post about cedar strip canoe building. There is also a website dedicated to building traditional canoes and such. I will try to find that for you too.

The Big Box stores have some good products and tools but aren't good at stocking what we boat builders need. I will also look up a website that lists where different types of wood is stocked across the US.

Welcome aboard!

Rick Newman

PS WHCA.org for stripper canoes and such woodfinder.com for wood.

Permalink Reply by Vance Wonser on July 11, 2013 at 8:35am

Rick, the 1st link goes to Washington Health Care Assoc.  Change it to dot com & it's Wisconsin.

Permalink Reply by Dan Hooper on July 11, 2013 at 8:01am

This is a good web site http://bearmountainboats.com/ .

Permalink Reply by Jon Szerlag on July 11, 2013 at 9:21am

Thanks for all the help. I actually just found some cedar in Massachusetts so hopefully I can get the ball rolling. Thanks again.

Permalink Reply by Rick Newman on July 11, 2013 at 9:29am

Jon, you are most welcome.

Rick N

Permalink Reply by Phillip Westendorf on July 11, 2013 at 7:03pm

Jon,

Day one, purchase Canoecraft by Ted Moores.  Day two-three read it.  Now you'll understand what the guys and gals on Bear Mountain Boats (see Dan Hooper's previous post above).  are talking about.  

An important First Step is to select a model which you will want to build.  Discuss this with anyone you can to get information on type, characteristics, handling, etc.  Steve Killing is the designer of several  of Ted's canoes in the book.  As on BMB Forum and, like here there's lots of willing help, talent and a ton of experience. 

As you see postings on BMB Forum, make copies on different subjects and put them into a notebook and they'll be there when you get to that point.  I did this and it was a big help remembering "where you saw it before".

I got mine out today and cleaned it up.  Going tomorrow with the canoe and drift boat to display them in The Tall Ships Festival in Bay City tomorrow and Saturday.  There are 12 of the Big Tall Ships here for the Festival.  Expecting 100,000 people there this year.  

Finally removed the DB from the strongback to get it on the trailer.

Jon don't hesitate to ask questions, send a PM if it works for you.  Good luck, your going to enjoy it.

Dorf

Permalink Reply by Rick Newman on July 13, 2013 at 6:43am

Dorf, I knew that you would have the answers! Don't Tall Ships have big masts and sails? Have I seen the pictures of your masts yet? :<) By the way your boats are looking pretty darn good! Make sure you post some pictures from the boat show.

Rick N

Permalink Reply by Richard Elder on August 9, 2013 at 11:48am

I've always liked the look of strip plank construction, and the way it allows for choice and variety of wood color.  And yours is a beauty. However for a drift boat that is going to be used it seems a less than ideal approach.

With red cedar or Alaska cedar what you have is basically a medium density core material.  If you put enough glass on it to withstand normal abrasion it will no longer be beautifully transparent. Doesn't matter what glue you used between the strips or how much you try to epoxy saturate the wood from the surface.

On the other hand multi layer 1080 Sapele is much harder, denser and water resistant. (and heavier) When you abrade through a surface layer of glass cloth and epoxy or even into the surface veneer it can be easily repaired so as to be scarcely visible. Actually easier to repair than a painted surface----.

Permalink Reply by Phillip Westendorf on August 9, 2013 at 4:34pm

Richard,

I appreciate your comments and agree with them for the most part.    But.... I have no intention of running my Stripper DB in "Fast Water" that you'd find out in Western Rivers.  If come out there (hopefully soon) I'll hire a guide or bum a ride from Guy or Rick, if there willing.

Here in Michigan there are several Blue Ribbon Trout Streams that are best Fished from a boat. Having for several years fished these rivers from an Aluminum Boat, I kow what I am getting into. 

I am just wanting to build it "MY Way".  It's turned out to be a lot more time consuming than I planned but It's getting closer.  I am thankful for the many discussions and ideas presented here, as I don't know everything about canoes, drift boats or any custom wooden boat.  I just think they are really cool.

Dorf

PS:  My stripper canoe is seven years old now and has a few bumps and bruses from the rivers here in Michigan.  So far no serious intrusions into the wood, just lots of scuffs and such.  So far only had to make one small repair which breached the glass/epoxy.  West's G5 is a neat tool to make those small repairs (See Epoxyworks), Spring 2009). http://www.epoxyworks.com/28/index.html 

Also in 2011, I added a keel and two more coats of varnish.  Still looking Good!

Permalink Reply by Jon Szerlag on July 11, 2013 at 7:23pm

Thanks I did buy canoe craft that seems to be the bible of cedar strip canoe building.

Permalink Reply by Don Hanson on July 12, 2013 at 11:34pm

  When you do get going don't forget to protect your breathing when working with cedar.   In my past I did a bunch  cedar, thinking I  was too cool to need a dust mask or any other protection.... and I still pay for it now by being 'sensitized' to the cedar dust, I now have to wear a full chemical mask or I wheeze badly after an hour or two around it...  Cedar is pretty bad but other more exotic woods are even worse...I encountered some during my boatyard worker time that smelled like black pepper and really congested everyone in the shop as we worked it for a keel shoe on a large powerboat...  Wood is really gorgeous but it also can do a job on your lungs if you are too casual about breathing in the dust...

Permalink Reply by Rick Newman on July 13, 2013 at 6:48am

Don, that's a great warning. We sometimes forget about these details and pay a price later. Cedar also contains a high amount of silica. I used to like that fact when I sold Matsushita saw blades to some guys that cut up cedar with them. They used a lot of them.

Rick N

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