teen builds birch bark canoe

[robin wood]

Ever since watching Caesars bark canoe 20 years ago this has been a dream of mine and here is a young man who has just built himself one. Hats off to him.
http://www.grandforksherald.com/event/article/id/237291/

 

[Muddypaws]

What a beautiful canoe! He's a jammy git for living somewhere that can provide the right kind of birch bark, though.

 

[Dannytsg]

As has been said above. The kid is privilege to be in the right area but that takes some doing.

 

[robin wood]

Er yes 250+ million folk living in the US and probably 50 million of those living far enough North for birch, of them maybe 50? have built a birch bark canoe? and to do it off your own back before you're 20?
Whilst we don't have good birch bark we do have access to incredible large diameter hardwoods which the Swedes are hugely envious of, how many of us use them?

 

[rik_uk3]

Wonderful stuff, well done to the lad.

 

[Retired Member southey]

What an fantastic achievement! Cheers for posting it Robin

 

[Androo]

A man after my own heart, done with full reverence and respect, this is something I have been dreaming of doing for the last couple of years. I don't think the Lake District has even one suitable Birch though...
Thanks for the post!

 

[santaman2000]

Er yes 250+ million folk living in the US and probably 50 million of those living far enough North for birch, of them maybe 50? have built a birch bark canoe? and to do it off your own back before you're 20?...

Living far enough north for birch? We have birch here in Florida, and I harvested about $35,000 worth off my land in Mississippi that blew down during Hurricane Katrina (lost several times that which couldn't be salvaged before it was too far gone) And that was at reduced prices due to the sheer volume of blowdown available to lumber companies.

Have to agree with you about how few people have the interest and talent to do this though.

 

[joejoe]

one in a milion

 

[drewdunnrespect]

awesome mate i do like that thanks for posting and he must be a really talented with wood

 

[robin wood]

Living far enough north for birch? We have birch here in Florida, and I harvested about $35,000 worth off my land in Mississippi that blew down during Hurricane Katrina (lost several times that which couldn't be salvaged before it was too far gone) And that was at reduced prices due to the sheer volume of blowdown available to lumber companies.

Have to agree with you about how few people have the interest and talent to do this though.

Yep spent a year in Florida so know birch grows there but does it make the thick bark you need for this sort of work? I had always been of the opinion it needed the very hard winters to make good bark. If that's not the case I need a new explanation of why the same species Betula pendula makes good bark in Russia and Sweden but not the UK.

 

[Everything Mac]

Well done that man.

Could we use lime bark?

 

[forestwalker]

In some parts canoes were made from elm bark, and also spruce. So there are alternatives...

 

[santaman2000]

Yep spent a year in Florida so know birch grows there but does it make the thick bark you need for this sort of work? I had always been of the opinion it needed the very hard winters to make good bark. If that's not the case I need a new explanation of why the same species Betula pendula makes good bark in Russia and Sweden but not the UK.

I cain't really give you a sure answer. I don't remember the bark being different on the birch I saw in Canada but TBH I wasn't really looking for any difference so I just cain't be sure.