Canoecraft: An Illustrated Guide to Fine Woodstrip Construction (Paperback)

~ (Author)
Key Phrases: strongback centerline, stem mold, paddle blank, Bear Mountain, Rob Roy, Steve Killing (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

An excellent definitive book ... something you must read if you are going to build a woodstrip canoe. -- Canoeist, July 2001

Included as one of "Woodworking's Top 40" books: "a gentle push toward your own canoe project." -- Joanna Werch Takes, Woodworker's Journal, August 2001

Review

An excellent definitive book ... something you must read if you are going to build a woodstrip canoe. (Canoeist 200403)

The book to buy... All in all a very comprehensive boatbuilding book and highly recommended. (Pete Greenfield Water Craft )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Firefly Books; 2nd edition (September 2, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1552093425
• ISBN-13: 978-1552093429
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 8.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #58,368 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #4 in	Books > Outdoors & Nature > Outdoor Recreation > Canoeing
  #15 in	Books > Nonfiction > Transportation > Ships > Boat Building
  #56 in	Books > Outdoors & Nature > Outdoor Recreation > Boating

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a must have, May 15, 2003

By A Customer

I have read other books on canoe building and this one was for me the best. It has good advice on which style of wood strip canoe to build for your purpose, looks at plans, materials and tools and then goes through the process of building a 16 foot Redbird. It had enough detail (marginally fuzzy b&w photos but excellent line drawings) to guide me, a complete beginner, through the whole process and I recommend it. Other books have great tips and overviews of the techniques, and are useful for additional information; but this was the one that, by leading me through each step in enough detail from start to finish answering my questions as it went, made me confident that I could safely start the project and build that canoe.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The revised edition is even better than the original!, March 28, 2005

By	Charles E. Phelps (Pittsford, NY) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I am making my fourth cedarstrip, the first three (Kipawa, Mattawa, and Chestnut Prospector) following the original edition as my guide and reference manual. I ordered the new edition partly because I'd worn out the original, but even after having built three cedarstrip canoes, I found new information and ideas in the revised edition making it worthwhile. The new edition has improved and expanded information about various building tips, jigs to make the building go better, a new section on staple-less building (the style I've used for all four canoes), an expanded section on canoe repair, and a new chapter on paddle making, among other improvements.

This book is a gold mine of information about building cedarstrip canoes, and comes as close to "step by step" instructions as I could imagine. It is slightly limited in scope, for example, by concentrating on only a range of products and sources available for materials, but otherwise terrific. For example, it only discusses (and borrows heavily from material about) the West System epoxies, bypassing some very valuable alternatives that a more complete discussion would include. (Examples: it omits discussion of Mas Epoxies or System Three epoxy materials, which include a very nice new product line for strippers that gives a nearly clear coating rather than the amber colored finish that West Systems and earlier System Three and Mas products give you.) It could also profitably include information on more of the modern designs available (e.g., John Winters' work). But these are quibbles; it is an outstanding book, improved significantly in the revised edition.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book, November 14, 2000

By	James (Jonesboro, LA United States) - See all my reviews

A very good book for the beginner. While the lofting of the patterns can be intimidating, the author does a good job of explaning the basics. The plans and the information contained in the book are very helpful. One thing building a canoe with an inner stem can be a bit tricky, you may opt to just run the strips past the form and glue the together this works very well.