20' E.M. White

[Abenakiregion]

While I'm on a roll... Here are some photos of a very challenging restoration of, what I believe is, an E.M. White. I have another 20' White built around 1913 and everything about this canoe said E.M. White from the beveled and wide planking, shape of the thwarts, and decks, to the tapered ribs. Unfortunately, you will see in the pics, not a lot was salvageable. The canoe was given to me by a guy who restores canoes proffesionaly. After the cost of his time and materials, he would not have been able to turn a profit. I, on the other hand, was looking for a challenge, not a profit. Careful what you wish for!
I intentionally left the new wood natural rather than trying to match the dark patina of the original wood. This was a challenge project so I thought it would be better to allow one to see what was new and what was saved.
I basicaly was able to save 13 of 49 ribs, 2 of 4 thwarts, 1 seat, a handful of half ribs, and about 25 linear feet of planking. After replacing the rest - she was as good as new!

 

[latremorej]

Wow! Nice work!

Jason

 

[Mihun09]

Very nice and much effort put forth, something I have coming still.

In the photo's it doesn't show your rib method... do you bend them around the outside like is pretty standard, or, do you just bend the steamed wood in place on the inside. I know some do that and I would like to try it, almost guaranteed they will fit properly, unlike the times the outside wrap has the wrong angle or is just too wide at the turn on the bilge. The odd time I've tried on the inside it tends to bulge the planking out, so I'm obviously not doing it correctly yet.

Maybe next year I will get back to the Morris.

Karin

 

[Abenakiregion]

Very nice and much effort put forth, something I have coming still.

In the photo's it doesn't show your rib method... do you bend them around the outside like is pretty standard, or, do you just bend the steamed wood in place on the inside. I know some do that and I would like to try it, almost guaranteed they will fit properly, unlike the times the outside wrap has the wrong angle or is just too wide at the turn on the bilge. The odd time I've tried on the inside it tends to bulge the planking out, so I'm obviously not doing it correctly yet.

Maybe next year I will get back to the Morris.

Karin

Karin,
I bend the ribs on the outside. In the case of this canoe, it was very time consuming as each rib had to be done in a separate operation. If multiple ribs are done at the same time, it is too easy to begin to distort the hull shape. The other "fly in the ointment" is the two part proceedure I used. I first had to replace the bad rib, and later, in a second stage, remove the planking and replace with new against the new rib. Far easier to build from scratch on a nice sturdy form.
Dave

 

[Iskweo]

That is beautiful work but I fear it is optimistic to label it a restoration..lol. You pretty much built a new one on an EM White form. I like the honest approach though with not trying to hide how much repalcement wood is there. I would have been tempted to replace all the rest too and make it brand spanking new. Thats easily a $5000 boat.

We are rotting cedar collectors also and have some that are less than half original when finished. Boats that are meant to be put back to work, not hung in someones living room. Somebody has to do it and yoiu sir, rock.

Christy

 

[Abenakiregion]

That is beautiful work but I fear it is optimistic to label it a restoration..lol. You pretty much built a new one on an EM White form. I like the honest approach though with not trying to hide how much repalcement wood is there. I would have been tempted to replace all the rest too and make it brand spanking new. Thats easily a $5000 boat.

We are rotting cedar collectors also and have some that are less than half original when finished. Boats that are meant to be put back to work, not hung in someones living room. Somebody has to do it and yoiu sir, rock.

Christy

Christy,
Thanks. I agree, it's not really a restoration, and I can only surmise that it is an E.M. White since there was no builder's plate, etc. I had actually thought of replacing the few original parts, but liked the idea that at least part of an old canoe will be travelling once again. It would easily be $5000+ if I had itemized parts and labor!
Dave

 

[Canotrouge]

Christy,
Thanks. I agree, it's not really a restoration, and I can only surmise that it is an E.M. White since there was no builder's plate, etc. I had actually thought of replacing the few original parts, but liked the idea that at least part of an old canoe will be travelling once again. It would easily be $5000+ if I had itemized parts and labor!
Dave

I lik ethe fact that you kept some of the old parts, it makes it that much more interesting, it has a story to tell!
Great work!

 

[Boreal Birch]

Abenakiregion.........
Someone once wrote, "A thing of beauty is a joy forever", I don't know who wrote that, so I can not give them credit, but they were looking at the canoe you restored. Well done, I love the old and new!! Great craftsmanship, you should be standing proud, we all salute you!!!
............BB

 

[forest runes]

Abenakiregion , Its amazing what a person with a vision & patience can accomplish. " A river cuts rock not thru power but persistence" but I think You know that already !

 

[sailsman63]

Lovely finished boat. I also like the recovered parts, in the yacht world this would definitely qualify as a restoration!

One question: I'm not sure if this is a camera distortion thing, or an optical illusion, but on the back of the truck, the keel line looks like the stems run deeper than the hull at beam, sort of a reverse rocker. Is this part of the shape, distortion from the loading method, my imagination? If it's real, is that part of the original designed shape?

 

[Abenakiregion]

Lovely finished boat. I also like the recovered parts, in the yacht world this would definitely qualify as a restoration!

One question: I'm not sure if this is a camera distortion thing, or an optical illusion, but on the back of the truck, the keel line looks like the stems run deeper than the hull at beam, sort of a reverse rocker. Is this part of the shape, distortion from the loading method, my imagination? If it's real, is that part of the original designed shape?

It's probably a combination of the above. The keel line on a White is pretty much straight, and this one is not arrow straight after all the rib replacements. I didn't note any large amount of distortion and the shiny shellac bottom bounces the light around quite a bit.
Dave

 

[Jim Dodd]

Excellent work ! You know you WC canoe building !

​Jim

 

[Robin]

What a nice restoration, and it looks like a really nice poling canoe. Perfect for your area.

Did you hold that big clinching iron by yourself in the middle of that big canoe? And then do it over again when you replaced the plank...my arms hurt just looking at the pictures and thinking about that.
Keeping everything square and level must have been some effort, I can only imagine.
Thanks for posting those pictures, really nice build history.

 

[Abenakiregion]

What a nice restoration, and it looks like a really nice poling canoe. Perfect for your area.

Did you hold that big clinching iron by yourself in the middle of that big canoe? And then do it over again when you replaced the plank...my arms hurt just looking at the pictures and thinking about that.
Keeping everything square and level must have been some effort, I can only imagine.
Thanks for posting those pictures, really nice build history.

All the E.M. White Guides are great poling canoes. this 20' paddles very nice too. I was able to do my own clinching until time for the half ribs. Then I had to call on a friend to help.
Dave