1/4 Abenaki Birchbark Canoe Project

[timtom1]

Here are a few photo's from my Birchbark Canoe Project, more to come!

 

[jon r]

:Wow: Wow! this is great to see! Looks like you are making a good job of it too! Is that Birch bark from this country?

Will there be a life size one to follow?

Cant wait to see the next instalment of pics!:You_Rock_

 

[JonnyP]

That looks great.....How long has it taken to get to this stage..? I look forward to seeing it to completion....

 

[timtom1]

cheers guys, its bark from North America supplied by my friend Ted Behne - see www.barkcanoe.net but I am wondering if Birchbark from Scotland would be thick enough for a full size one, you could use birchbark from this country to make models.

There will indeed be a full size canoe but I will make a few more models first. The full size one will either be an Algonquin, or Ojibway canoe depending on if I can get lots of winter bark.

Its been an on an off project for a while but I am determined to finish it ASAP. The amount of hours that I have been working on it, well working it out probably about 16 hours of solid work to get this far but making models is far faster than the real thing although you do use the same building processes.

Oh the one thing I like about birch bark is that you can hide your mistakes d'oh my models are no way as good as Ted's

 

[timtom1]

Stem piece bent to shape

 

[SOAR]

I so can't wait to see the end product. Nice work.

 

[Mungo]

Being 1 1/2 foot tall, I imagine you experience certain challenges while camping, and canoeing - but at least storing the canoe shouldn't be a problem. Look forward to seeing more photos!

Cheers,

Mungo

 

[RobertRogers]

Beautiful work!

 

[jon r]

Great Timtom! keep us posted!

 

[jojo]

Absolute beauty. I'd love to have a go at building a full size one. That's on my list of "things to do before I die".

 

[timtom1]

yes the tallness is a challenge hahah, thanks for the comments guys the next stage is to lash the gunwhales with roots. it takes 10 mins per lashing i figured there are 72 of them, I will post more photo's soon.

 

[dtalbot]

That is fantastic and thanks for the barkcanoe link, a really interesting site

 

[timtom1]

just started lashing the thwarts in last night however they weren't to scale so relashed the centre thwart to scale tonight, although only being 1mm thick they are still amazingly strong.

Just worked it out its going to take me 7 hours to complete all the lashings at 5mins per lashing now!

 

[jon r]

i would love to make one of these models except i dont have the birch bark! Do you think i could use canvas instead? It wont look the same but it might be the next best thing! I dont have Cedar wood either but i can imagine that with a scale model the ribs would be pretty thin and you would be able to use other materials like willow.

btw Timtom are you using traditional Cedar wood too?

 

[timtom1]

Hi Jon,

Yeah I am using cedar too, although Norway spruce apparently works just as well, Ted Behne supplied the bark too and gives me help when I need it.

I Recommend you get these two books & contact Ted

Bark Canoes and Skin Boats of North America by Edwin Tappan Adney & Howard I. Chappelle

Bark Canoes: The Art and Obsession of Tappan Adney by John Jennings

John Jennings is cool he gave me a ride back to the bus station in Peterbough Ontrario after my meal with Kirk Whipper, himself, Ted and Jeremy Ward

Tim

 

[timtom1]

main thwarts lashed in - only another 7 hours to go till the lashings finished!

 

[Hartung]

Hi timtom,

This is a great project. Go on … and…. we need more pics. I’ve always wanted to make one like you …maybe you are motivating me…. .

 

[timtom1]

I'm running out of spruce roots!! need to collect some more hence the delay in more pics being added! eek

 

[timtom1]

more lashing almost there!

:swordfigh

 

[jon r]

Jeez! that is bloody amazing now! Well done old chap! Its stunning already!!:You_Rock_