How To Build a Cedar Canoe

A cedar canoe is one of the prettiest boats on the water. Its warm-colored cedar strips---shiny under layers of varnish---contrast perfectly with deep blue water. The combination of fiberglass and wood makes their hulls stiff and light. On the water, they paddle like a dream. A woodworker with average woodworking skills can build a cedar canoe in his garage in a few months. Most builders complete a canoe in less than 200 total hours.

Things You'll Need

  • Cedar strip canoe kit
  • Screws
  • Level
  • String
  • Masking tape
  • Stapler
  • Wood glue
  • Block plane
  • Sandpaper
  • Fiberglass
  • Epoxy
  • Squeegee
  • Marine spar varnish
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Instructions

    • 1

      Set up your strongback on two sawhorses. Level the strongback across both the short and long axis. A strongback is straight structure as long as the canoe that you're making. It must be wide enough to attach plywood stations to. Follow your kit's instructions for assembly.

    • 2

      Screw the kit's plywood station forms to the strongback at one-foot intervals. Align the center of the stations to the center of the strongback's narrow width. Plump the stations vertically and run a stringline across their tops to check alignment. The stations represent the cross-section shape of the canoe at each one-foot interval. Cover the stations' edges with masking tape.

    • 3

      Staple the 3/16x3/4-inch cedar strips that came with the kit to each station form. Start the first strip at the canoe's gunwales and continue until the bilge is filled in. Apply a bead of glue between each strip.

    • 4

      Remove the staples after the glue dries.

    • 5

      Sand and block plane the outside of the canoe smooth and fair. The surface is fair when it is even from side to side and the curves follow smoothly from bow to stern and top to bottom.

    • 6

      Lay fiberglass over the canoe, making sure it runs smoothly from bow to stern. Work any wrinkles out of the glass.

    • 7

      Mix up epoxy according to the epoxy's instructions. Spread the epoxy over the fiberglass to completely soak the glass. As the epoxy starts to set up, squeegee the excess from the glass. Add two more layers of epoxy until the glass is completely full with epoxy.

    • 8

      Take the canoe off of the strongback and flip the boat over. The masking tape on the station's edges should have prevented the stations from sticking to the canoe. If some of the station stick, use a hammer and tap them until they release.

    • 9

      Treat the inside the same as the outside: plane, sand and fiberglass.

    • 10

      Sand the canoe smooth. Sand both the inside and outside starting at 80-grit and continuing until 200-grit.

    • 11

      Varnish the inside and outside of the canoe with a marine spar varnish. Three layers of varnish protect the fiberglass from UV damage. Add three additional layers for a perfect shine.

    • 12

      Outfit the canoe with gunwales, decks, thwarts and seats. These parts come with the kit.