Dugout Canoe

Arctic · Post by **Arctic** » Mon Oct 31, 2005 5:37 pm

Just wondering if anyone out there has info. or experience on building a dugout canoe. I have a set of plans (more like a set of instructions) that details the method of building it. They date to the 1920's and use an axe and some very basic cutting tools. The construction calls for a 17 foot log- getting that would seem to be the hardest part! The rest is just hard work.

So can anyone offer anything- just in the research phase now- but this is peaking my interest as a possible next project after my 15' Hiawatha stripper is done.
Would love to hear from you.

Mark
Cantley, Quebec.

Glen Smith · Post by **Glen Smith** » Mon Oct 31, 2005 6:21 pm

This book:

available from Bear Mountain Boats has a chapter on the construction of a dugout canoe and there are a few line drawings. Not very detailed but interesting, historically.

There are many websites that cover the construction methods to some extent, such as this one: http://www.civilization.ca/aborig/water ... 01eng.html. A "Google" search will turn up many more possibilities.

Arctic · Post by **Arctic** » Mon Oct 31, 2005 7:53 pm

Thanks Glen,
I am more and more convinced that you must have a PH'D in all things Canoe!
Now some more questions for you, hope you don't mind? I am in Cantley Quebec (Just moved here from Nunavut last year) I notice you are from Baie St. Paul- I am not yet familliar with Quebec Geography, where abouts are you near? Are there many Quebecois builders in our neck of the woods? The only other one I found (on the internet) is Paugan Fall Canoe Works in Low, about an hour from my place. Ever hear of them? http://www.magma.ca/~paufacan/english.html

Mark
Cantley, Quebec

Glen Smith · Post by **Glen Smith** » Mon Oct 31, 2005 8:21 pm

No PH'D, just a passion for canoes and kayaks.

Baie-St-Paul is located on the Northern shore of the St-Lawrence River about 80 km East of Quebec City. You can do a mapquest search for postal code G3Z 2G8 to locate it.

There are several strip-boat builders in Quebec and many cedar-plank-boat-builders. There used to be one in my area but he went out of business about 4 years ago. One of his employees bought all his materials and tried to make a go of it but he failed also. There was one in the Gaspé area but he went out of business too. The market in Eastern Quebec isn't big enough!

I have never heard of Paugan Falls Canoe Works but I have them bookmarked now for future reference. I had several Quebec based boat-builders bookmarked but I have deleted most of them for different reasons. Here is one: http://www.canoeart.com

As for one-time builders or amateur boat builders, there are tons of them spread out all over the Province. I regulary get emails from several of them. The majority are in the Montreal area.

davidb54321 · Post by **davidb54321** » Tue Nov 01, 2005 7:12 pm

Glen,

That would put you near St Simeon(not sure of spelling) wouldn't it? I've been accross on the ferry there a few times.

Glen Smith · Post by **Glen Smith** » Tue Nov 01, 2005 7:39 pm

Yes, St-Simeon is about 45 minutes East of here.
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