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Based on Tryin's calculations: My weight of 150# and lean fat of probably 10% suggests that I will need 15# of flotation. My Mustang Khimera vest has 7.5# of foam flotation, and another 13# of bladder flotation at full inflation; thus, 20.5# of potential flotation. Enough for me + 25% extra...

Robin, your mention of tumblehome made me go out to the barn to look at my current Chestnut project. Does the tumblehome in this hull appear similar to yours? The previous owner claimed this canoe is a pre-fire Chestnut Bobs Special, but the depth of the hull (13.5") more closely resembles a...

https://boston.craigslist.org/sob/boa/d/hingham-wood-canvas-canoe-restorable/7602958790.html Appears to be a Chestnut Pal, 16’. With the exception of one completely rotted stem end, it appears to be in ‘relatively‘ good shape. Not my advertisement.

Glenn, I think the standard practice is to bend one blank which is subsequently sawn lengthwise to create two bent stems. After my initial failure I decided to rip the next double-wide blank into two 7/8" square blanks, and rotating them 90 degrees into vertical grain orientation. I then bent...

Mustang Khimera dual floatation. It's very lightweight, comfortable, and non-bulky. Minimal flotation, but when more is needed there's a CO2 inflated bladder. It can be topped up by mouth if need be. Only downside is the small pocket. It does hold my whistle, Zoleo, and iPhone.

Stems notched for ribs and rough tapered.

Stem blanks are off the stem form, and on the canoe form! No bending defects. I was a little surprised by the amount of spring back once off the stem form, but clamps brought them tight to the canoe form. The stem blanks are not yet notched for ribs, or shaped for the planking bevel. This...

two pair: Crocs Swiftwater Mesh deck sandals; lightweight, adjustable instep strap, toe coverage, durable enough for portaging. I wear them with neoprene socks- two pair if the water is really cold. And, in camp, my last trip I tried a pair of regular Crocs. Used ones my son outgrew! They...

Thanks Glenn!

2nd attempt at stem building: This time, I did several things differently; I steamed longer, pre-soaked longer, placed the bending material higher in the steam box, and most significantly, I ripped the 7/8"x1 7/8" blank into two 7/8" square pieces and bent in quarter sawn orientation rather...

The previous owners bought the canoe in the Finger Lakes of NY, and brought it to central PA intended as a decoration in their antique shop. They never actually displayed it, and left it in storage, flat on a floor with 'stuff' piled into it. I bought it and replaced some planking, restored...

1950's Chestnut Chum:

Wow, a stripper isn't in my future (unless I can no longer carry my w/c canoes), but I am continually impressed with your techniques and resulting wonderful canoes! Kudos to you.

Haha, if it gets past the stem stage….. I only do that when I hit my thumb with a hammer. There will be plenty of tacks on this project, I’m sure there will be a couple of mis-hits!

Good point!

Bob, I don't think there was significant grain runout at the failure. The grain lines appear pretty parallel to the curve. The Ash was air dried about 1 year; cut out of a 2" thick slab. It was too windy to run the burner outside, and I didn't want to have that flame in the barn! I saw today...

First attempt at steam bending a stem was a bust! At this point I don't know what went wrong, but I can see from the failure that the outer wood stretched and separated at mid-curve. Did I not steam long enough (55 minutes)? Was the Ash blank flawed? Did I pre-soak the blank too long (4...

I think my wife is happy I'm not buying muscle cars or motorcycles! She thinks my interest in canoes is amusing, but she's the first to tell people about my restored canoes and invite them to come see. She doesn't ask about cost.... and I don't volunteer any information!

Spring is coming to southeastern PA! Eastern Skunk Cabbage; Simplocarpus foetida: Emerging spathe rising above the leaf litter. Snowdrop; Galanthus nivalis: It has escaped gardens and naturalized in this environment. A hundred years ago these woods were cultivated fields with several...

I'm looking forward to following this... I like the idea of using all the less common woods. Will be interesting to see the result. My buddy built an Adirondack Guideboat using only ripped down 2x4's from a lumberyard. Strip built, edge glued with rolling bevels, laminated ribs shaped on...