Complete Birch Bark Canoe Build, from Birch Bark, Cedar, Spruce Root, Spruce Gum to Maiden Voyage
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 1 ต.ค. 2024
- This is a compilation of the birch bark canoe build series, distilling all the videos into one , "to the point" synopsis.
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Featuring - Peter Kelly & Catherine Wolfe
Cinematography - Catherine Wolfe
Producer & Editor - Catherine Wolfe
Contact Us: thewoodlandescape1@gmail.com
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MUSIC
The amazing music in this episode is graciously provided by our friends, Richard Fortier and Al MacDonald.
#birchbarkcanoe #woodworking #bushcraft #canoe #canadianwilderness #DIY #selfsufficiency #canadian #frontier #18thcentury #pioneer #1700s #activeseniors #zoomer
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I am stunned! I built a 17' cedar strip canoe and it took 125 hours. I can't imagine how long your canoe took with only hand tools to build. You know how to teach because you know how to do what you teach. Thank you so much Professor.
Been called a lot of things, but never professor, I thank you very the kind compliment.
Just found your channel a week or two ago. Thoroughly enjoyed the videos I’ve watched. Used to rendezvous back in the 90s. Did a little trecking. You remind me of some of the people I used to reenact with. Looking forward to the enjoyment and relaxation of your channel and living vicariously through what you do. Even inspired to get back out a little again. Keep up the good work.👍👍👍
I've helped build a couple. A lot of work. Nice work table, also you explain the process very well. Good job. My great grandfather used to sell them to American tourists in the 1920s and 30s for one dollar per foot.
Wow, a buck a foot. I don’t build them to sell but, those that do are charging around 500 to 600 a foot.
@@TheWoodlandEscape I'm sure he was taken advantage of, but I know he probably appreciated the opportunity to make a little money. My grandmother, who just passed away last December at 94 used to make 10 dollars per month cleaning cabins at a tourist camp in the 40s and 50s. As long as they made enough to survive the winter they were satisfied. Different times for sure.
It is indeed different in our modern world … lots more stuff and easy to come by but, I believe the quality of life has has been sadly affected.
Imagine that ... Ya I'll take that 16 footer, give him $ 20 and he gives you back change !!
I have watched several of your videos. I am impressed with your production quality. Outstanding photography and sound. The music is excellent and not overwhelming. Beyond that, your content is truly valuable, I would hope that your films are carefully archived because they are cultural artifacts. I envy your skills and commitment. If you were in Japan, you would be considered a national treasure as some Japanese potters and wordsmiths are designated.
Wow, thank you, one of nicest compliments you have ever received. Glad you’re enjoying our endeavour.
This series has been a blessing to watch.
Thank you!
Glad you feel so, Richard, thank you.
Hey Peter & Cathy! I still greatly admire the grace, beauty, and utility of that canoe. I will be looking forward to seeing how it handles of your first expedition! WOOF!
They are an amazing craft, Martin. I too can’t wait to get out on a trip with it.
Hi Peter, a wonderful surprise on this Monday good job on the re-upload! Still enjoyable to watch. See ya on the next. Take care.
Thanks Gil.
Great video, and very informative. Love to see the old ways being resurrected!
Glad you enjoyed it!
From a guy who has only built canoes from fiberglass, using polyester and/or epoxy resins (about 20), i give you all the credit in the world.
Thank you so much.
great job Peter! give the wife a hug, job well done. looking forward to seeing some moose pictures!
Thanks Kendall . Hopefully we can call one or two into camera range.
how satisfying that would be to finish a project like that! awsome job👍 and it looks great!
Thank you.
Excellent, I learned a lot in this- Cheers
Glad it was helpful!
Hello there my friend. I enjoyed watching this just as much as the series of videos, like I said in one of my comments, I wish I was there helping you standing side by side with you,learning this skill. I do envy you ,to live in such a beautiful place and live the simple life,I know it's hard work but it's like you know it was a simpler time. Thank you sir for the videos you make for us.
WellPhilip,should you ever find yourself in Eastern Ontario, I’ll put you to work. It pleases me that you find pleasure in our endeavor.
So amazing 👏 such talent patience and hard work!
Thank you.
Its so beautiful..
Thanks Judy.
Hi Peter, I've been looking for a handy neck knife with the exact type of design as the one featured throughout this build. Possible to direct me to how I could purchase one similar to this lovely one? Btw, really enjoying the videos!
I don’t make my stuff to sell, the reason being I’m afraid my passion would become a job … orders to fill, shipping etc. I can direct to you to who I believe to be one of Canadas best knife maker, his name is Nick Skinner. Now there is an appropriate last name for you. Google his name and Nova Scotia, Canada or look him up on face book. Alternatively, should you find yourself in my neck of the woods, I’ll fire up the forge and instruct you in making your own for no charge.
Absolutely, beautifully amazing! You are a very fine artisan my friend.Along with the tipi and the moccasin, canoes are one of the greatest items we received from the Native American people. And how about all those wood chips in the start of the video. Wow! A never-ending supply of fire starter.
Thank you. You got that right about fire starter, I not be running out anytime soon.
What a great time line to the completion. Hope to see it on the water again soon.
We are off tripping the end of Sept and first of Oct and with any luck,some moose sightings.
Congrats on 50k subscribers! How would the natives and pioneers have stored their canoes during the winter? I read an account of them storingthem underwater so that the bark did not freeze. Is this what you do? Thank you for the amazing videos.
Thanks Aden. That is exactly how they stored them. They would swamp them with a few rock added and let them rest on a sandy bottom of a lake or River.
Thanks! You explain things very well and have answered many questions I had, which is going to help when my nephew and myself build one next spring... Seeing you paddle the finished canoe is very inspiring..
Glad it was helpful! You’re going to love paddling a birch bark, no other material holds a candle. Good luck with your build.
I watched the first video on the Birch canoe
Me gustaría saber que madera es esa que cortan con un cuchillo como si fuera manteca, la habren y se termina cortando muy pareja como si la hicieran con una máquina.
Eastern White Cedar.
Outstanding video. I am writing a post-apocalyptic story about a long-lived Vampire (starting out in the Jamestown Colony) who happens across an Amish community (because they would thrive in that environment) in Alaska that don't know how to build a ribbed canoe. Hugh shows them how in return for supplies. The master carpenter is upset because as he says "It is a lot of simple tasks done with simple tools that creates something beautiful. I am embarrassed I did not think of it."
Being able to watch this process from start to finish really helped in writing my story.
Thank you.
Amazing to watch. Just discovered your channel and have been enjoying the art, work, stories, and history. As to the canoe, how many hours did it take from whenb you first started gathering the materials until it was water-worthy?
Depending on the length I’m building, I’ve found approximately 600 hours start to finish if I’m doing it alone. Appreciate your interest and support.
That is as, amazing thing as I have ever seen, thank you!!
Our pleasure, Harry, glad you enjoyed.
Good evening from Syracuse NY USA everyone thank you for sharing your adventures in history
Thanks again Earl.
Like a good stew.......... it's just as good the second time around.
A man of my own heat, Hayward. I always it even better the second and third time around!
Good luck hunting with the camera ... For second I thought you were going to say you were going to use a bow to hunt ! ... done that been there .
Hope you show some pics .
We should able to call in a moose but, as you know with hunting, it doesn’t always go the way you have in mind. I also bow hunt for deer but, not moose.
Best compilation of videos on TH-cam ever!!!!
Flattered indeed, I’ll pass your kind words on to Cathy.
Very interesting. The North American natives had such a tree like that. None of our trees would work, so our natives in the extreme south Pacific used the Dugout method. Worked for them!! They built ocean-going twin-hulled boats too.
Interesting! Our native nations on the west coast did the same and some very big ones … 30 to 40 plus feet.
absolutely beautiful, taking everything straight from nature and turning it into a useful tool
It is like the craft is a living thing and oh so satisfying. Thanks for watching.
One of your knives is shaped like a farriers hoof knife. Very interesting teaching visual, very well done. I bet a canoe like that one in 1755 was worth maybe more than a horse? We have to use aluminum canoes here, rivers are rocky and would tear that birch up!So if you owned a trading post back in the french indian war and traded for British silver, beaver pelts, rifles etc, what kind of price would you set for that extraordinary floating truck you meticulously crafted? I imagine if a woodsman owned that canoe back then, he would be quite wealthy!!
The knife is called a moggatogin or crooked.knife and was invented indigenous peoples. It is a very nice tool. A birch bark canoe would indeed have have cost more than a horse. Rarely we’re items given a cash value. Number of beaver pelts was the currency of the day.
Protecting a birchbark canoe from rocks: a Brit travelling with natives in the 1800s in New Brunswick reported that for shallow/rocky streams they made and attached more cedar strips lengthwise on the underside of the hull. That allowed the canoe to slide over rocks like a toboggan.
Beautiful work and a joy to watch! 🏴
Many thanks!
So, in the Algonkin, you’ll still be able to have your muzzle loader along?
That is one park I’m not allowed to carry a firearm.
Picked up a lot of detailed tips. Great video
Glad it was helpful!
Awesome videos. I really enjoy your channel. Very interesting history and skills. I hope to be able to live like you when I retire. There working on that canoe with just the birds and the sound of the wind through the trees. You are blessed.
I am a very lucky fellow for sure. We appreciate your interest in our endeavours.
Its kind of a large basket of sorts.
Pretty much, lol.
The flut tune, cuan beal inse known ad, here on Ireland
Truly watching a masterpiece be crafted! So much more involved than I had thought! Thank you for sharing this!
Thank you, it is a labour of love!
Holy cow! What a craftsman!
Thank you.
great work! plus you have a David Carradine look going on!
You think so? Thanks for your interest.
😂 was thinking the same thing, or maybe a brother or a relative.
Peter, I watched all the other canoe videos yesterday! Now I find this one...😂😂
Oh my, that’s a lot of viewing. We tend to do compilations of all our major project. A little late know but, for future reference.
Впечатляет ,отличная работа !
Fantastic, what a great job!
Thanks so much Tammy.
Thanks. I have built a wood and canvas canoe myself. And watching you, I wonder how first nation folks bent their ribs without steam boxes or metal pots to boil water...
Hollowed out logs filled with water and hot stones from the fire. Also an elder once told me they simple poured boiling water over them collecting the spillage in a second clay pot to be reheated.
@@TheWoodlandEscape I was just reflecting that it is the heat that makes it possible to bend the ribs etc. While hot water/steam makes it more controllable perhaps they just judiciously used fire...
@@DonWarfield Thin clear cedar has got to be about the easiest wood to bend. One does need much heat to make the gentle curve of a canoe. Now bend ash for toboggans is another matter.
@@DonWarfield Thin clear cedar has got to be about the easiest wood to bend. One does need much heat to make the gentle curve of a canoe. Now bend ash for toboggans is another matter.
Beautiful work, had no idea there so much to building a bark canoe.
Thank you very much!
Enjoyed and I respect. Beautiful journey.
This video popped up in my feed, truly on for the archives. Best ive every seen. I live in N.Ireland. I've been paddling & coaching others for over 40yrs. I worked professionally as a canoe coach & in my spare time. I was a joiner & carpenter by trade in my younger days. I've made many paddles & run paddle making workshops. I wish I'd had this video 35yrs ago to inspire trainees. At almost 67yrs & retired, I spend my time in my wood shop & my forge, trying to make historically accurate knives, axes, paddles and carvings. Many thanks for making this canoe & keeping the skill alive. Regards, Hugo
You certainly sound like a man of my own heart, Hugo. Thanks for your interest.
Cuánto pesa la canoa?
About 55 pounds.
Fantastic video! So much work but it pays off. Incredible quality craft.
What's the name of the reel played on guitar at about 44:27?
The music is often originals and supplied by friends out east. It may very well not have a name.
that's a great boat...and a great master boat builder...thx to share and clear instructions you did to make it....i just don't know how many (bear) grease/fat/oil to put...i will do some try....one of the 02 best videos on canoe building i saw...thx again. Alan. (thx for your lifetime you took, to put this video on you tube possible..) (sorry for my english..)
Your English is very good, Gene. I'm glad you enjoyed.
@@TheWoodlandEscape Sorry...it's in french/candian..
Your English is a whole lot better than my French, lol.
Yah, I began corresponding with D. Gidmark, boat builder and author in 1991. Finally, in June 2000, when my late wife was terminally ill, I went to Maine to what I thought what would be a great learning experience for two weeks on a remote Island near Baxter State Park, to learn how to build a 3 foot model. Not a full size canoe, but a model. A drunk teacher and his native wife, bickering and arguing and arrogance is what I learned. Terrible experience and a waste of good money that was much needed. I h8 that man.
Oh my, a drunk teacher is never a good thing and I totally understand your anger.
Hi Peter, I met you as you were setting out for your Algonquin moose trip on Sept. 26. As we got ready ourselves to launch, we noticed your moose call was left behind. I hung it up on the sign. I hope you got it as it was gone when we came out. Great meeting you and I have been enjoying your videos. Regards Allan Walker
Hi Allen, I appreciate doing that for us but, sadly someone snatched it. I trust you guys had a good trip. I fashioned a very crude call and we were able to call in 3 moose. We got some footage of a nice 2 year old bull at 60 years but, didn’t quite get the camera focused. You can see him on the video we’ll be releasing this Friday. Appreciate your interest in our channel.
Thank you for this beautiful instruction video for building this canoe. Congratulations to you as the builder and to your wife as the filmer. A question on the use of spruce pitch, is there a reason why you or the First Nations didn't use birch pitch for water tightening the stitches. I believe in Europe the Vikings and other people around the Baltic Sea used birch pitch for making their boats water thight. Enjoy your videos a lot. Thank you.
Great question and one I can’t answer. Just the way the Indigenous people did it at the time of European contact.
You inspire me to do this in the near future. You gave excellent instruction and made the whole process enjoyable. Time well spent. Thanks for the effort of sharing with us.
I encourage you to give it a try Nat, you’ll not be disappointed!
Well it October 2nd. And I'm presuming that you two are quietly floating around and calling to the moose. You're sure to see trophy size bulls. With only a camera along.
How did you know. We just got back and successfully called in 3 moose. We did get footage of a nice 2 year old bull but, not the best footage as we were more interested in watching than filming. You’ll be able to see it this coming Friday.
Very nice job everyone
Thanks Earl.
You are right on the money with the history
I have been doing this for years what you your family is trying to teach others
Thank you, both! Your knowledge, ingenuity and persistence are an inspiration. Simply amazing.
Thank you.
Start to finish I never saw a single band aid on your fingers. Had it been me, I'd have needed a whole roll of gauze, splints, stitches and would probably have lost a digit or two along the way. Well done sir!
Thanks Pat. My old hides tougher than the bottoms of my moccasins but, I can assure you there was a wound or two that required some irrigation.
That was movie quality. I was impressed before but that was epic. You two are a great team. Townsends mentioned you in their last livestream, hopefully you guys can work together soon. What are the winter projects going to be ? A flute maybe? Keep up the great work.
A flute, you may just have planted the seed. Townsends is the is an icon in 18th century living history and we we’re flattered to get a mention. We would love to do a collaboration with him. I’ll pass on your combo Cathy.
Outstanding!!! 👍✌️ Canoed in Algonquin when I was 13. One of the best weeks of my life. Many weeks ago 🤣
Pretty had to beat the beauty of Algonquin . It is a grand thing to have memories that are that meaningful stay with us.
All I can say is thank you so very much for this knowledge, i got so much out of this and hope to use this some day.
Truly incredible build and education, cheers!
Glad it was helpful, Carson.
Appreciate your efforts and dedication! The beautiful part of this is we don't have to wait until the following week to see how you progressed. You did a wonderful job in the build Peter and Cathy as well in the editing of this video. Thanks again and keep your powder dry!
As always Ashley, we thank you for your continued support. Watch your top knot!
Great job Cathy on the video editing 👍👍👍👍. Can't wait to see it loaded down for your trip. Great work Peter. Be Safe.
Thank you, I’ll pass that on to Cathy .
well golly what a wonderful life yall lead, one day i hope to spend time with someone of your experience! thank you both for your beautiful video!!!
Our pleasure!
One of the best videos Ive ever watched thank you so much for sharing this with all of us! I am going to attempt this as Im trying to harvest more food from the ocean for my family. Would you suggest a round bottom for rougher water?
Definitely round bottom and like most original canoes it should have flared sides not tumblehome sides. Flailed side canoes displace more water and have a much higher cargo capacity.
Absolutely awesome well done man
Thanks Chad.
Your welcome man
I tell others If I can be half the man that Peter Kelly is I'll be doing alright. Lol Great compilation you both, thank you for the wholesome content.
Doesn’t get more flattering than that, thanks, Preston.
3 tar and 1 fat?
Actually much much less than that. I start with a couple of tablespoons in a gallon and gradually add more as required.
so this is what david carradine does on his spair time
Ah, if I had a penny for everyone who has suggested such a resemblance, I’d be a wealthy man, lol.
Can't wait to see your "moose hunts" for this year, Peter. Those lens hunts won't limit Cathy to one and are much easier to pack out!
We’ve packed out our fair share of moose meat and you sir are spot on,the camera gear will be a Wee bit lighter.
Hello Friend!
Loved this video. Nice work both of you. Peter I have a question.
I heard them talking on the CBC with and elder about the quality of birchbark decreasing due to the environment. It is making the traditional ways much harder to sustain. Have you found the same problem? You found a nice piece there to harvest. Was it a tough hunt?
Very hard to find good bark these days. Perhaps partially environmental conditions but, I think it is because in our greed for good veneer birch wood we harvested the best genetic trees, leaving poorer quality trees to give us poor quality seed stock for the next generation.
@@TheWoodlandEscape that also makes sense. We don’t seem to be getting the message do we? Take care!
l 'homme des bois maitrise son affaire ; super
It was great watching the build from start to finish, thanks for taking the time to put the video together.
Glad you enjoyed, Jeff.
WHAT a beautiful; 'souvenir' Catherine...WELL DONE! 'Souvenir = 'a thing that is kept as a reminder'. In QC our license plate beckons us to recall the 'past' = 'Je me souviens'. Yes, and such a marvel of craftsmanship your canoe Peter! I'll bet even U enjoy watching the vid. I do think Plato pegs U well here; "Success is an ability to move from one failure 2 another with enthusiasm." Mistakes make the perfection in us and by golly your infectious 'inner joy' has U win, win, win...eh Catherine? Tis a Gift! Thank U most kindly 4 sharing your time/talents with us. Health and God Bless! :)
Well Marie, if failures make one successful, i exceed my own expectations! I do believe my best gift is sheer determination, followed by a “wee bit” of patience. Again I must thank you for always bringing a smile to my face. Perhaps your the reason I have so many wrinkles on my face.
@@TheWoodlandEscape Do U notice the lines on a face that is smiling? Too kind? :)
Thanks again Peter and Cathy for sharing this video with us. 👍
Our pleasure Kirk. We do enjoy producing these and heck, we’re doing this stuff regardless, might as well record it.
What a beautiful thing. And it moves so well on the water. Awesome!
I’ve built a number of canoes and this last one is the best paddling of them all … kinda like a leaf on the water.
What's coming up this spring any new builds?
Perhaps it will come to me while I hibernate by the fireplace for a spell. Any suggestions, Kristy?
Great video, great build. Love the history lessons.
Glad you enjoyed it and we appreciate your interest.
Saw this one a while back, but It's next in line, & of course I love the content, so I'll enjoy watching again.
You’ve been a loyal follower and we certainly appreciate it!
@@TheWoodlandEscape I appreciate you folks as well, & your content is excellent. Believe it or not, I lived the lifestyle you & Cathy portray for many years. Including days of starvation on the mountain & bathing in an icy stream. Ahhhh those were the days. Lol.
A very enjoyable video from start to finish.
Thanks Ted.
I have a question regarding the pitching compound. I have heard about the pitch and bear fat with the addition of carbon (wood ash or charcoal?). Is this a thing or do you choose not to use it? I may have missed it from the video. Isnit pitch spruce? Great video. I ‘ve been watching a long time. Really good content and educational.
I believe they refer to spruce as gum and pine as pitch. The process of sealing the canoe is referred to as pitching. Adding charcoal is indeed used, not sure why, perhaps as a binding agent. I’m having some issues with the pitch I made so I’m going to redo it with charcoal.
@@TheWoodlandEscape Thanks. Funny how TH-cam changes a question (re pitch) to appear to be different, but you answered what I was wondering. Please share the results of the added carbon formula if you try it. Again good information!
Amazing! You are such inspiration!
Thanks, Vitaliy.
I have built a wood strip canoe before. I find this way using only natural products amazing! Great Job! Thanks for sharing! 🤩👍
Wood strip canoes are beautiful as well! Birch bark canoes are a great performing craft on the water.
Wonderful! I sill want to see Cathy in the canoe.
We’ll work on rectify that, Millie.
Like you mentioned in this video ... Its quite amazing how the Natives came up with such a craft, and were able to construct it with very few tools and only Natural materials. Did you learn this skill from Natives or mostly research ? Well done and it must feel good to finally bring it on a float !
A bit of both but primarily a little trial and error.
@@TheWoodlandEscape thanks for the reply ... Now I'm scared of the urge to try making one of these, creeping up on me !!
You’ll need about 500 hours , give or take.
@@TheWoodlandEscape Would that include gathering all the natural materials, or just the building part ?
5 to 6 hundred hours overs the whole process.
respect
Thank you.
Always enjoy the compilation vids as go to for reference. Great idea Catherine!!
She always comes up with the good ideas! I trust all is well with you.
@@TheWoodlandEscape
All good here.
Did you also make the canoe in the thumbnail ?
Actually the canoe in the thumbnail is the one filmed build. This was my third birchbark build.
Amazing craftsmanship.
Appreciate that, Randy.
Thank you, absolutely beautiful!!!❤
Glad you like it, Ben.
Peter, how do you store your canoe during the winter?
I have a small fleet of canoes and they all get stored in a friend’s barn over winter.
Excellent video - thanks!
Thank you.
Excellent video - thanks!
Thank you.
What kind of roots are you stitching with?
I’m using White spruce.
Absolutely amazing the things you craft, these ways should be taught, in case of SHTF we all may get a crash course, you sir have nothing to worry about,I would go to bed every night with a smile on my face knowing all the things you know and are capable of.
Thanks Randy for your kind words. There is a problem with having too much on ones mind though … try and shut it off when you lie down to sleep, lol.
@@TheWoodlandEscape believe me, I understand, one is never really "done " .Always things to improve, I will love to see your blacksmith shop when finished, Im just getting started in that trade, so much to learn.
You and I both. By giving up my modern blacksmith shop I will actually have to start learning how they did things back then … looking forward to no welders, grinders, cut off wheels etc.
moose bark canoe?
Love it! What an effort. Well done Peter.
Thanks Karl.
Hi, thank you guys for giving us this complete build version. I thoroughly enjoyed watching it again. It turned out to be a beautiful boat. Bubba your the man. God bless y’all. (Old guy from Arkansas)🇺🇸
Thank Steven, glad you’re enjoying.
BEAUTIFUL.
Fascinating build! You're a man of many talents.I've anticipated this project and as always, you've come through splendidly! Appreciate all you and your crew do! Cheers! -Steve-
Thank you. Not much of a crew though, simply Cathy and I.