FINE WOODSTRIP CANOE CONSTRUCTION
A guide to wood/epoxy strip canoe construction.
- Nick Schade — SEPTEMBER 5–11
After teaching this course for the past 17 years at WoodenBoat School, Ted Moores has retired and handed the reins to Nick Schade who has been building strip-planked boats since 1986. Drawing inspiration from Ted, Nick has written two books on the subject, Building Strip-Planked Boats and The Strip-Built Sea Kayak and his efforts have guided thousands of people through building their own boats using the popular strip-plank method.
In this six-day course, students will explore this method of construction while building two canoes—the 15′ “Bob’s Special” and the 17′ Freedom. There will certainly be plenty to do in a week that will inevitably fly by, so Monday will have students reviewing, setting up, and fairing the molds. Stems will be shaped and both sides of the hull will be planked to the centerline. The second day students will finish planking the bottom, install the outer stems, fair the outside of the hull, and apply filler. Wednesday will be a busy day shaping the outer stems, sanding the hull, and laying up the fiberglass cloth in three coats of epoxy resin. While the epoxy is setting up, the class will steam-bend stems for the canoes built in Nick’s next course.
On Thursday the canoes will be popped off their molds, more fairing will occur, the insides of the hulls will be ’glassed and work will begin on making trim parts. Although the hulls are impressive, it is the details that set Nick’s work apart from that of most other builders. Nick will guide students through the selection of different woods available for visual effect and the weight they contribute to the completed canoe. Gunwales, decks, and seats all follow in a natural sequence. Sanding the cured epoxy and varnishing techniques will be discussed, as the epoxy must be fully cured in advance. Throughout the course Nick will answer questions and help instill the self-assurance students sometimes need to get started on their own projects at home. If all challenges are met by week’s end, we’ll be launching two light, swift, staunch, seaworthy canoes that will “knock your socks off”!
Tuition: $750
Note: This is a six-day course ending on Saturday afternoon.