Wood and canvas canoes are closely tied to Native American innovation. Native Americans spent a few thousand years or so developing their bark canoe designs. About the turn of the last century, suitable birch bark became hard to find. Someone, possibly a resourceful Mainer, got the idea to use canvas instead of birch bark on the hull and wood canvas canoes were born. Some of the older models and designs came from study of the performance of birch bark canoes. Hundreds of thousands of wood canvas canoes were then constructed before aircraft aluminum and synthetics became the readily available material of choice.
Wood and canvas canoes are constructed over a canoe-shaped wooden form. The reusuable form allows mass production of canoes of the same size, shape, and paddling characteristics. White cedar ribs are steamed and bent over the shape of the form and thin red cedar planking is tacked to the ribs. The hull is then pulled off the form and a canvas is stretched and tacked onto the cedar hull at the gunwales. The canvas weave is filled with a rock hard filler to make the new skin durable and waterproof. Many a secret filler recipe exists. Finally, the canoe is painted. The pallet of colors is limited only by the builder's imagination, not by the Royalex plant.
These watercraft are remarkable in that they are nearly 100% biodegradeable and repairable! I just rehabilatated a 1914 Old Town. With half a dozen new ribs, new canvas skin, and new varnish, it has regained it's youth and will be good for another 20 years. How many plastic canoes will be around for more than 100 years?
There are many myths associated with wood and canvas canoes. The major ones requiring debunking are as follows: Myth No. 1 - they are heavy. They are heavy compared to some Kevlar boats, but are actually very close in weight to Royalex boats that people take on canoe camping trips. Old Town Canoe Co. used photographs of young ladies is long dresses portaging canoes to make the same point in their catalogues. Myth No. 2 - they leak. Not so, a well maintained wood canvas canoe that is stored well is as dry as any other canoe. Myth No. 3. they are fragile. Not so. Before modern materials were developed, many a river in North America was explored with birch bark and wood canvas canoes. Also birch bark and wood canvas canoes can easily be repaired in the field.
Well, if you are not a believer or an addict yet, hopefully the following pages will make a convert out of you! Enjoy your stay and see you downriver. |
