As something to do during second lockdown, I’ve decided to build a Birch strip canoe.

First, building the frame to build the canoe on.

After a few weeks the birch strips arrived.

First strip on.

Next strip. I’ve cleared out eBay of (affordable) 3 way clamps.

After a few weeks the strips start to build up. I can only put on one strip, on one side, per day.

By mid December, I am working on the bottom of the boat.

The bottom starts to fill in.

Until I reach the seventy first, and last strip of wood.

All the wood strips in place.

Now to smooth out the ends.

Before.

After.

The fibreglass and resin for the canoe.

After the first coating of resin on the wood.

You can just see the 10cm reinforcing strip of fibreglass running along the middle.

Laying the fibreglass sheet over the canoe.

Applying the resin on to the fibreglass, which then becomes transparent showing the wood.

After two and a half hours of applying and smoothing it, the resin has soaked through the fibreglass, holding it on to the wood.

Another layer of resin is needed to fully cover the fibreglass and make it smooth.

Nice and shiny, but I did had to sand it down before moving it.

Now to turn the boat over and do the inside. This is how it appeared with all but the end forms taken out.

Out of the garage for the first time, the end forms are still in place.

With the end forms taken out. It only weighs 14.2 Kg.

On its cradle, ready for the inside to be sanded and coated.

It is ok, the pattern causes optical illusions.

After the inside had been sanded down to smooth it down, and remove glue and clamp marks.

Next, resin to seal the wood on the inside, and then fibreglassing the inside.

Three and a half hours later, after the resin had been added to the fibreglass.

Now to add the gunwales. I built a steamer to make them more flexible.

Clamping the gunwales in place before they cool down.

The ends needed an extra steam.

The gunwales were then sanded down. Sadly, after 18 years service, my Woolworths sander died. RIP.

With the decks and gunwales added, it looks a lot stronger.

Next, using spare birch strips, I made the decks look presentable.

The finished canoe, varnished with seats added.

The smaller seat moves back and forth, so the boat can be balanced, if it has either one or two people on board.