How to Build a Dugout Canoe

The dugout canoe is the oldest watercraft used by humans. These canoes are universal in use. They have been constructed in Europe, Asia, Australia, and North and South America.The dugout canoe predates history, and is still in use in places like the jungles of South America and Africa for fishing, hunting, and transporting goods and people. Building a dugout canoe requires a great deal of effort and time. As you build a dugout canoe for yourself, consider the usable life is only about two years. Also, consider the tools the original builders used were made of stone, not steel, and there were no chainsaws to aide them. The building of a dugout canoe would have been a collaborative effort of neighbor helping neighbor.

Things You'll Need

  • Log of pine, cedar, redwood, spruce or cottonwood
  • Axe
  • Adz
  • Chainsaw
  • Pencil
  • Paper
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Instructions

    • 1

      Create a drawing of what the dugout canoe should look like, and refer to it as you build the canoe.

    • 2

      Find a log long enough and with a diameter large enough to use as a dugout canoe.

    • 3

      Use an adz to strip the bark from the log.

    • 4

      Draw an outline of the canoe on the top and one one side as a guide.

    • 5

      Using the chainsaw, make cuts perpendicular to the log about every 6 inches along the bottom of the log. Remove the material with the adz to form a flat bottom.

    • 6

      Form the shape of the dugout canoe by removing all excess material. Use the axe and saw interchangeably as needed. Use the chainsaw to remove larger pieces and the axe for smaller pieces. This step requires you to use your judgment as you go. Take your time and refer to the drawing often.

    • 7

      Refine the shape of the dugout canoe with the adz.

    • 8

      Hollow out the interior of the dugout canoe using the axe and adz. You need to keep the bottom and sides a uniform thickness of about 3 inches.