After supervising the construction of more than 500 canoes during his 30 years as an outdoor resources instructor in the school system of Skowhegan, Maine, Gil Gilpatrick shares his voice of experience through easy step-by-step instructions that will successfully guide both novice and accomplished woodworkers in the building of a sturdy, ready-to-use strip canoe.
This revised and expanded second edition of Building a Strip Canoe includes plans and patterns for eight proven designs, most of which are Gil's original adaptations, and more than 100 photographs and illustrations. Also included are directions for making handwoven cane seats and attractive, lightweight, stalwart paddles.
A Master Maine Guide, Gil tests the performance of his own canoes on the challenging Allagash River every summer. As a result, his many years of experimenting have refined his contemporary construction method of augmenting traditional wood strips with fiberglass and WEST System epoxy. From safety in the workshop to repairs and maintenance, Gil explains the learned shortcuts while also offering a helpful list of sources for the lumber, tools, and supplies needed to build a beautiful, durable Canoe.