Dugout Canoe

This dugout canoe was created for the Hayward Area Historical Society Museum. The canoe is part of the exhibition from the California Exhibition Resources Alliance (CERA).

This canoe was first carved as a model from a section of a willow. Then an actual full size canoe was created from a 30" by 8' redwood log. Choose spruce, pine, cedar, cottonwood or redwood.

Step 1 Get a log

We bought our log from a lumber company since we were in a hurry to make it on time for a museum. Try to find a downed tree to use as your log. Ask around; keep your eyes out; be ready, as you will want to work the log green since it carve much easier. Best to find your log next to water so you can get your boat into the water with out hauling. Some times you can find a log washed up on on a beach.

Comments

[sawdust13]

In the south, a cypress log would work also. Cajuns in Louisana, make pirogues from them and that is just a flatter canoe.

[KingOfCatfish]

Pirogues are quite fun! My father and older brothers built one when I was a small child, still have it. That little boat will go in 4" of water with two people inside of it and not even scratch bottom.

[nickodemus]

What adds to the awesome-ness, you did this all in your driveway. Nice work.

[Re-design]

Even with a chainsaw, that's a ton o' work. Great job.

[DELETED_axol123]

(removed by author or community request)

[Matin]

This boat was make for a museum so we did not get a chance to put it in the water. But I have every reason to expect it would be good in the water. It was copied after the Lewis and Clark dugouts: http://www.lewis-clark.org/content/content-article.asp?ArticleID=513 One important trick is to make sure the bottom is flat; this makes the boat stable. A round bottom makes for a tippy boat.

[stickmop]

Aug 25, 2009. 5:45 PMstickmop says: Canoes aren't tippy - canoeists are. :-) (Very) generally speaking, flat bottom canoes are good for initial stability but once you lose it, you're in the drink. A round bottom canoe can flip you if you are casual about hopping in but they often have more secondary stability going through the chop. There was a dugout in my family years ago, but it was stored under a porch. Someone may have stolen it, but more likely it just rotted away.

[jesse8fox1]

lol we are done making one of these at conner prairie

[I_am_Canadian]

Thats legendary epic.

[TreeFrog]

You seem to have left the sides very thick - I always thought the idea was to slim them down as much a possible (and even then she'll turn like an oil tanker...) Still - fair play - most of us don't actually make these things....

[Matin]

Thin is best but this was quick for the show. One way of making a thin boat without the worry of hollowing too deep is to finish the outside and bottom; then drill a lot of small holes in the bottom and sides in a grid of every 6" or so, to a given depth of say 3"; then hollow out the inside of the boat till you just see the hole marks. Finely go around and drive plugs of wood into the holes. Yep, she is very slow to turn. Ah, but what a way to go... Been hiking for weeks; come to a river; cut down or find a tree; hollow her out, and now you and all your stuff are floating.

[TreeFrog]

certainly beats walking (downstream anyway...) Nice Instructable!

[hydrnium.h2]

I thought they burned the hollow spot into the canoe?

[Matin]

From my understanding, the Indians used fire and stone tools. Louis and Clark used steel.

[gmoon]

I do appreciate your efforts...but historically (and practically), 8 ft isn't a very realistic LOA. Sized for a single person, it's too small to be useful; too heavy for one person to portage.

And boat stability increases proportionally to length. I.E., doubling the length will double it's stability (it's counter-intuitive, but true.)

Or (I suspect) was the length scaled for the display?

[Matin]

Right you are. This was just for display. 16' to 20' would be more like it.

[Kiteman]

Or they simply bought the longest log they could afford?

I have no idea how much actual trees cost, but museums tend to have tight budgets.

[Matin]

It was a combination of room size and money.

[gmoon]

Yep--for a historical society, it is a very ambitious project.

[carpespasm]

Something to try to keep the canoe from splitting would be sealing it with a stain or oil finish. You could use transmission fluid as well, but be very thourough in wiping it into the grain and clean of excess before putting it into the water, you don't want to wash a slick off the sides.

[Weissensteinburg]

Cool! How long did it take, start to finish?

[Matin]

About three weeks, part time with the help of friends. Use the Huck Fin approch to your advantage. Pace your self so its fun and not a back problem. Wear eye protection, get good sharp tools and be careful.

[theRIAA]

how many bloody hands did it make?

[chewie]

How hard is it to shape? great instructable!

[Matin]

Not hard with good tools. Chain saw is a must unless you have time.