Ever wanted to build your own canoe?

Watch this Space – Coming soon the details are still being finalised

Have you ever wanted to build your own canoe? Don’t have your own shop, have never steam bent wood, don’t want to make the expensive form, need some guidance. We have a shop and the form for you to come and stay on a working holiday and we build your canoe with you.

The cedar canvas canoe was a fast easy way to build canoes in the bygone era of the Voyageur. The original design was taken from the birch bark canoes of the indigenous population and modified for mass production to haul the furs and trade goods across Canada. Cedar canvas canoes are not just beautiful they are sturdy useable and an integral part of Canadian history. In coming to us and building your own you are continuing that history and taking away a functional piece of artwork.

Staying in our glamping bell tents in the evening sitting by the fire planning the steps for the next day. In the daytime you will be busy in the workshop where we will bend and build all the cedar ribs and planking. Laying the canoe in the canvas to stretch the canvas to fit. We will take you through all the steps in a 1 to 1 or 1 to 2 ratio. This works best for a couple, two friends or parent child combinations.

You will need roof bars or a way to take it home with you. All the materials will be supplied to complete the canoe. However due to the long cure time required for the grain filler the final varnish and paint will need to be done 3-6 weeks later. This can be done with a return visit or at your own home.

Objective and Goals

  • Understand principles of traditional canoe construction
  • Familiarisation with terms and techniques
  • Use of all tools and techniques
  • Completion or near completion of a cedar canvas canoe
  • History of canoe construction

Dates

To be arranged directly. Please contact us if you are interested in this course.

Accomodation

Housed in a glamping 16′ Bell tent you have space in the evenings to contemplate and enjoy an open fire.

Cost

Approximate cost (Pricing depends on some variations in finish choices and timber pricing)

$5600.00 +gst

Please contact us with any questions or queries regarding this course. Feel free to call us.