Wood Strip Canoe

[David Unnerstall]

I will build a wood strip canoe this winter and have decided on a Rob Roy style one man canoe that can carry me, camping gear and/or the old dog. There are companies out there, like Sandy Point Boat Works that sell plans, an "essentials" kit and complete kits. What I cannot decide is if I should acquire the wood locally and machine it myself or buy one of these kits. I have an old table saw and a newer router table and have above average skills. To those who have done this before: what is the level of difficulty in this?

[jackbat]

Hello David. My name is Jack and I own Sandy Point Boat Works. If you want to call and talk or email me I am happy to tell you the positives and negatives and can certainly go over what it takes to make your own kit. Not trying to sell you anything, just trying to help. We have a teaching site which has no sales stuff on it at all if you simply want more education on the subject. you can find it at www.intheboatshed.com

Making your own kit is not difficult if you have the right tools, patience and access to the right stock. In general you will need a good quality table saw with a good fence, lots of featherboards, a decent surface planer if you are as critical as I am to make them exactly 1/4" thick and a good router and router table with a decent set of canoe bits.

That is the short of it. If you want to talk about it, don't hesitate to give a ring or shoot an email. Happy Holidays.

[chambug]

I will build a wood strip canoe this winter and have decided on a Rob Roy style one man canoe that can carry me, camping gear and/or the old dog. There are companies out there, like Sandy Point Boat Works that sell plans, an "essentials" kit and complete kits. What I cannot decide is if I should acquire the wood locally and machine it myself or buy one of these kits. I have an old table saw and a newer router table and have above average skills. To those who have done this before: what is the level of difficulty in this?

David,

I had a fully equipped woodworking shop for years, but I never thought about doing what you plan. Do it!!! Keep me posted on your progress.

People have more fun than anybody![/i]

[David Unnerstall]

Actually I did start it. It ain't perfect but I don't see any reason it won't float. I have some pictures on Facebook and they provide a link whereby non-members can access it:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=25776&id=100001533025115&l=8dea43b04b

[kevthebassman]

Hats off to you Dave for a good looking boat so far! It's looking awesome!

You wouldn't happen to be related to the Unnerstalls who own that construction business out in Pacific, would you? My aunt Mary has worked there for many years.

[David Unnerstall]

Hats off to you Dave for a good looking boat so far! It's looking awesome!

You wouldn't happen to be related to the Unnerstalls who own that construction business out in Pacific, would you? My aunt Mary has worked there for many years.

Thanks for the comments on the canoe, but I have made my share of mistakes. I do believe it will function as a canoe, though.

No we are no relation to the Franklin County Unnerstalls, at least in this country. They got here first. A Frank Unnerstall enlisted in the Civil War from Washington, MO. I am from the Unnerstalls of Baden, a neighborhood in North St. Louis. I still live in the area but it has changed bit.

[kevthebassman]

Well only one way to get better at boat making, and that's practice practice practice. Things like that are just this side of a work of art, in my opinion.

And I didn't know there were any other Unnerstalls, not a name you hear very often, which is why I assumed you were a relation.