What a winter!  We had tons of snow and the skiing was great.  One storm brought us so much snow and drifting that our neighbor had to plow us out with his bulldozer. The shop stayed nice and warm, probably due to the steamer being on just about every day.

We have been working on a nice run of 6 Old Town canoes, all from different owners, that span a vintage from 1907 through 1976 and everything inbetween.  It is interesting to see the different methods and techniques that varied from decade to decade.

The Penn Yan Swift is canvassd and filled and the trim work is being worked on.  We also had a good run of new canoes and we recently had a couple from Texas come join us for a week of canoe building in one of our classes.  

The phone continues to ring from people all over the country placing orders for new canoes and sending us their canoes to be restored.  Let's take a look at some pictures.

Old Town OTCA

This OTCA required several new ribs.  Here is what the process looks like from the old original interior, to new ribs installed, to the finished product.

   Above is what the interior looked like when it came into the shop.  Blistering, flaking, and peeling varnish that was dark and grimy.

Here is what the interior looked like with the old interior finish stripped out and the new ribs installed (the lighter colored ones in the foreground) as it receives the first coat of new varnish.

 

 Here is that same interior all varnished with the new ribs stained to matched the older ones. 

 

 

 

The canoe all finished and ready to go.  This canoe has seen three generations of use from the same family and never left the lake it was delivered to when purchased new until it came to our shop for restoration.

 

 

New Canoe Building

 

Some pictures of new canoe building.

 Every canoe starts out with top quality materials.  Above is a peice of clear 20' Eastern Red Spruce.

 The stem is steam bent over a form, notched to receive the ribs, and beveled for the planking before it is secured to the form.

Emily pulling a rib from the steamer.

 

The form with all the ribs bent on.

Here, Emily is installing a deck into a canoe that has come off the form.

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Two completed hulls waiting for canvas.

Stems are bent on the jigs for the next crop of new canoes.

 

 

Some Pictures from around the shop

 

 

Seats waiting to be caned.

 

 

A picture of the shop from this past winter.

 

 

Here is what the work bench looks like when Dylan is done working.

 

 

Here is what it looks like when Emily is done!

 

 

Dylan resawing rough lumber.

 

 

Randy and Deb came up from Texas to build a canoe in our spring canoe building class.  Here they are taking pause before lifting the planked hull from the form.

 

 

1907 Old Town Canoe

 

This canoe was pretty beat up when it came in.  Here is what it looked like.

 

 

 

 

.....and here is what it looked like when finished.

 

 

 

 

 

Penn Yan Swift CUTM

 

 

The new transom being fitted.

 

 

Once fitted and installed, it is time to focuss on the planking.

 

 

Here is Emily making repairs to the rotted portion of the deck.

 

 

 New deck beams are needed.

 

 

 

Emily installing the deck strips.

 

 

 

Dylan bending in new oak transom braces.

 

 

All the structrual work is comepleted and the interior has received its' first coat of varnish.  You are looking into the part of the stern that was rebuilt.

 

 

Only canvas for this Swift, just like the original.

 

Stay tune for more..........................