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Since my Atkinson Traveler build is in the filler curing stage; I thought I would make a couple of paddles for fun. I have some scant 3/4" thick Western Red Cedar, and a couple of Sycamore offcuts (the material cut off from the shaft of a single board paddle). I have wanted to make an all...

Interesting to know that about Nate. Coincidentally, his last name is Atkinson, so it just seemed appropriate that it should go to his program! Honestly, I don't know just what I will use the new canoe for. I know that sounds crazy but I just wanted to build a canoe and that's the form that...

My choice for all around use would be the Penobscot in either Sassafras or Curly Maple. I have paddles in both and like them immensely. Hey... I wonder if we're related?

As a minor development in the project, I donated the Atkinson Traveler form to the Adirondack Experience, formerly the Adirondack Museum at Blue Mountain Lake, NY. The boatbuilder-in-residence there plans to use it for a building program for kids at the North Country School in Lake Placid. I'm...

As a solo paddler I rarely have fires. Occasionally using my twig stove I have enjoyed that as a tiny glowing warm source of both physical and psychological comfort. However, on my last outing in the Adirondacks which was cold and rainy I managed two very nice fires which I thoroughly enjoyed...

Seat weaving has begun. People of a certain age... me for example.... will remember Gary Wright's 1975 hit "Dream Weaver". I sit in the basement weaving and can't get the ear worm "Seat Weaver..." to the tune of Dream Weaver out of my head!! Bow seat horizontals: Closer look at horizontals...

Canvas filled. Meanwhile I'll mill and shape the mahogany outwales, probably leave them clamped to the hull over the winter before installation over primer and paint in the Spring.

Canvas ends stretched and buttoned up. Full canvas 'flamed' with a torch to burn off the 'fuzzies', then brushed and vacuumed. Too late in the day to start filling, so that's going to be a tomorrow job when I'm fresh! Uh oh... another canoe found me. Actually I spotted this one in a...

Grab handles, thwarts, and seat frames varnished: and installed (though not seats- they need to be woven): Grab handles are radiused across their width, and lightly tapered at the ends resulting in a slight crown which mimics the crowned decks: The exterior of the hull has received a coat...

October 14, 2024 Some progress. Thwarts are rough shaped: Seat frame components rough shaped as well to mimic the thwarts. The cross rails will be 3/8" Oak dowels rather than 3/4"x1 1/2" stretchers one normally sees, and the holes for these have been drilled. I am going to go with the woven...

If I go with the alternative seat weaving, I'll probably make thwarts and seat rails like this. Just a quick & dirty experiment so far on a piece of Spruce. Tapered ends, gently radiuses edges, tapered upper surface on an arc as well. On a different topic, I have a number of small knot...

October 6, 2024 I'm trying to decide on seat frames today while watching varnish dry; 3rd coat, 1st was 50/50, 2nd 70/30, 3rd full strength gloss. I'm attempting to work out the hole spacing for a balanced look to the cane pattern, and while doing so, in the back of my mind I've been...

Nearing the end of the planking process it suddenly dawned on me... I haven't made decks, thwarts, seat frames yet! So while I'm plugging away at planking ( the hard part is using the planking material I have on hand wisely and arriving at a pleasing planking pattern!) I have started work on the...

"You are right in that the planking to stem fastenings should be the 5/8" bronze ring nails. It also helps to predill with a 1/16" bit. When Jerry and I wrote the book the shortest and smallest bronze ring nails that were available were 7/8" #14 which were way too long and way too big for the...

After a week away working in Vermont, I returned to the barn/shop and at Mr. Thurlow's ( the Atkinson Traveler designer; Northwood Canoe Co.) suggestion I steamed and installed the last, sharpest rib bends at the ends of the canoe. Logic suggested that a strongback directly over the stem recess...

With apologies for the long delay, I will begin adding pictures and commentary about this build. There has been some discussion over on wcha.org about the canoe and I will copy and paste much of that directly into this thread. I have progressed quite a way since my last posting and as of today...

Thanks Robin. I rather like that pack & paddle picture also. Even though there weren’t any other folks out during my trip, I still like to keep my gear partway into the woods, out of the landing area for any carry/portage, to avoid having some clod come along and trip over or step on my...

That's my Island Falls 15' Willow. It continues to be a favorite for pond hopping as it's my lightest canoe at 52 lbs. It's painted Grayling Gray, a Kirby's Paint color. The Atkinson Traveler is about to be canvassed & filled. I'll add to my previous thread about that canoe. Lots of...

In mid-October I made a two night trip to the St. Regis Canoe Area in cold, rainy, windy conditions. It was a Type 2 fun trip... the kind where you question your sanity while suffering, then once home warm and dry, you think "hey that was fun, let's do it again". Here are a few shots. The...

That's Mt. Carmel in the background, right? Beautiful spot.