Goodwillie Voyager Birch Bark Canoe build part 2

 Here are a few more pictures of the North Star Voyager Canoe Build.

 

 Gores stitched up.

Here is a Picture of Kevin and Patrick bending the cedar ribs in front of a class of 5th graders. The ribs were steamed and become very easy to bend. Once dried to shape they can be removed and cut to size for the final fitting.

 

Inserting ribs.

 

Many ribs inserted into canoe at this point. Notice the braces across the gunwales. Kevin said that there is so much force created by the ribs while they are taking shape that it would split the canoe apart if the gunwales are not braced.

 

 

I missed out on the next part of the build which was pulling out the now shaped ribs, trimming them to size, inserting the thin cedar sheathing under the ribs and pitching up the seams....When your done this is what it looks like completed!

 This was the launching of the North Star Spring of 2010. I think this picture has 3 adults and about 14 kids riding in the canoe and there is still plenty of freeboard! These boats were designed to haul lots of gear!

 

Here is a picture of my son Matt and I in the canoe at the launch. I would like to thank Kevin, Patrick and Mr. G. at the Goodwillie School for letting us hang out and help out with the build.

 

Goodwillie Voyager Birch Bark Canoe Build part 1

I had learned of the Goodwillie School a few years ago as I supplied some knives to them for projects. This is a school for 5th and 6th graders and a part of the public school system.The kids take regular classes as well as many hands on projects for learning.

Two years ago they built a 12' birch bark canoe and last year they built a 16' boat.

12' hunter and 16' ricer

Etching on 16' canoe done with winter harvested bark


Here also are pictures of a birch/cedar bark conical home and a round elm bark home.

Really cool stuff going on at this school.

This past year they decided to build a 24' French Canadian Voyager canoe from the fur trade era. They were looking for people to help and I couldnt wait to get a look at it and help with construction. I really wanted to get a good idea on how these things went together.

The first we got to look at the canoe, the main bark was sewn together and the thwarts and inwales and outwales attached.

Next step was to fit the stem piece and man board in the bow and stern.

Here Kevin shapes the stem with a crooked knife.

Man board and stem attached in the bow

Me stitching the gunwales with split spruce root.

Stem stitched up as well as the inwales an outwales.
More to come...