The rib bands on the new Prospector form are getting a work out as 2500 tacks for each canoe we build get hammered into them. We are on our sixth prospector this winter and have a few more to go.
With 5 Penn Yans going on in the shop at once, we sometimes feel like we are in Penn Yan-mania.
The cedar pile is getting shorter and shorter every week. Since September almost 1000 rough sawn board feet of cedar have been turned into new canoes or replacement parts for restorations.
We just completed our second new canoe building form for this year, we can't seem to keep enough white oak stacked in the lumber shed, the steamer puffs away daily, Our second canoe building class just finished up, and the chisels and plane irons hit the wet stones every week. All good signs of a busy canoe builders shop. We're loving it!
Here are some pictures.
EARLY CHARLES RIVER CANOE
No builders tag but clearly an early canoe from the Charles River area.
It is apparent that the builder of this canoe was still honing his building methods.
Emily working on replacing 24+ ribs
Closed gunwale construction with a bevel cut on the inside of the rib
and a corresponding bevel cut on the inner gunwale.
Yes, this is an odd way of doing it that creates more work,
but it is rather ingenious and the system works well.
Yes, this is an odd way of doing it that creates more work,
but it is rather ingenious and the system works well.
Emily paring the miter joint on the inwales
New decks being made
The new decks installed
The classic inwale notch that is indigenous to most Charles River area builders.
A side view of the notch. A rather ingenious construction detail.
It allowed for a very fine sheer line at the end while still allowing the rails, decks, stems, and planking to join together nicely with adequate surfaces for fastening them all together.
This is something most builders struggled with.
18' OLD TOWN SQUARE STERN PADDLING CANOE
This one suffered some damage from a tree falling on it.
Most of the bow was rebuilt.
An interior shot of rebuilding the bow.
Never met a transom that didn't need replacing.....
so the saying goes....
so the saying goes....
The transom is shaped to size and then the rabbet (groove)
to receive the transom rib is cut along the outer edge.
to receive the transom rib is cut along the outer edge.
The mortise is the center square portion that has been removed on the bottom.
The white piece of wood on the right is the simulated transom.
Transom being installed
Somehow it grew legs and walked away...
...to the finish room.
Now, if it could only grow arms and varnish its' self....
Now, if it could only grow arms and varnish its' self....
NEW CANOE BUILDING
Many new canoes being built.
Here are a few pictures
Bending ribs around the form
Working on the cant rib installation
Working on the hull
A nice 20 foot long piece of clear ash for gunwale stock
Emily planing some gunwales
Birds eye view of the Prospector
Annie installing wannigan ribs
The Prospector is a big, big working hull.
PENN YAN MANIA!
Warning! If you are not Penn Yan obsessed, this section may not be for you
-or-
maybe you might just become Penn Yan obessed....
Warning! If you are not Penn Yan obsessed, this section may not be for you
-or-
maybe you might just become Penn Yan obessed....
The Cartopper in the finish room.
Yes, all those light colored ribs are new replacement ribs.
Yes, all those light colored ribs are new replacement ribs.
The interior of the cartopper all varnished.
Hey, where did all those new ribs go?
Hey, where did all those new ribs go?
Getting ready to canvas the cartopper.
For such a small boat there sure are a lot of fasteners.
There are close to 200 nuts and bolts on this boat and that again in screws.
And, they are all frearson (R&P) - a canoe builders favorite
(Yes, I am being mildly facetious).
All kidding aside, we do have a soft spot for Penn Yan's.
For such a small boat there sure are a lot of fasteners.
There are close to 200 nuts and bolts on this boat and that again in screws.
And, they are all frearson (R&P) - a canoe builders favorite
(Yes, I am being mildly facetious).
All kidding aside, we do have a soft spot for Penn Yan's.
Annie working on removing the bow deck on the Trailboat
Once the deck is removed the rot has no where to hide.
Emily installing the new inner gunwales.
Working on a little rib replacement
The Penn Yan Swift getting a new transom
Dylan making a pattern for the new transom ribs
Test fitting the new transom
Just the beginning of a long Penn Yan Swift journey
AROUND THE SHOP
Emily at the jointer
Annie installing gunwales on a new Prospector.
Yes, that's a Penn Yan canoe on the right.
Yes, that's a Penn Yan canoe on the right.
Engraving a new paddle
The finish room is filling up
Big square ended boats require wide canvas
Emily in the canvassing department
Gunwales being installed on the Chestnut
The Chestnut interior
Putting the BN Morris in the canvas sling
The Morris ready for outer gunwales
Emily installing the outwales.
Looking nice.
Dylan working on a pair of outer stems
Another new canoe form.
This one an 8' scale model
Now that we have an 8' foot form, why not a 34' form!
Taking delivery of an original Old Town 34' war canoe form.
This sucker is biiiiiig!
Should be fun to clinch the hull.
Seats for a Brodbeck
Mortise and tennon frames for a pair of new Mahogany seats
Emily and Annie bending ribs for a new Chicot
Emily getting the small form ready for building
Full size and half size
Planking the little one
Students from our March class with the canoe they built.
They did an amazing job!
http://www.wood-canoe.com/learning-the-craft-1/
Yes, there's a dog in there somewhere.
She loves the snow as much as we do!
They did an amazing job!
http://www.wood-canoe.com/learning-the-craft-1/
She loves the snow as much as we do!
