Birch Bark Canoe Takes Shape! Forming the Gunnels; Making the Sheer Line | BUILD | WOODWORKING | DIY
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 4 ต.ค. 2024
- Peter finishes making the gunnels and installs the thwarts. Using boiling water, he forms the gunnels to make the sheer line.
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Featuring - Peter Kelly
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.
#18thcentury #pioneer #birchbarkcanoe #woodworking #canoe #canadianwilderness #DIY #bushcraft #selfsufficiency #canadian #frontier
Back in the late 90s I visited some Algonquin Friends near Eganville several times, the second visit for their pow wow. Stanley was a birch bark canoe builder. His Father had built the biggest birch bark canoe on record. Stanley had an old photo with 36 men paddling across their lake! Now that’s a lot of birch bark! As you’ve said in one of your videos how large pieces of bark are hard to get anymore and Stanley said the same. My first visit he was shaping the bark on a table much like yours. When I returned for their pow wow it was completed except for the weaving of the seats. Beautiful works of Art and your is no exception! Stanley made 2-3 canoes a year. An Elder and the last of the Algonquin builders his brother told me. My second visit Stanley had an apprentice, which I was so glad to see. I know there are other builders now, you for example. It is Wonderful that you’re doing as was done and keeping these wonderments of our Ancestors alive and kicking! Thank You Peter! DaveyJO in Pennsylvania
Sadly there are very few builders still doing it, but a few are starting to pick it up.
So pleased to know it is live music played by real down to earth artists. My family was blessed with several good musicians playing banjo, steel guitar, hammer dulcimer, 12 string guitar and mandolin. The Collins and Crocketts put on a real mountain jam session. I was the only family member with no musical instrumental talent {unless you count the spoons} but was blessed with a good singing voice so our little band would do sets at county fairs, home jam sessions and various pubs and bars in the mountains. Love the old mountain ballads .
Playing spoons properly, in my opinion, does take some talent. I’ve played guitar for 50 odd years and have been working on the violin for the past 10. Music is a big part of my life.
Thank you, Peter and Cathie!
And a thank you to you as well Drago.
Don't know about you Peter, but I found making the mortises and tenons to join the thwarts/gunwales together was the most intimidating part of the entire build up until now.
Indeed, a rather nerve wracking moment.
And each week I look forward to your progress Peter. I understand doing it the old fashioned way. Pride in your work shows through.
Always the positive feedback each week, thanks Mark.
My father can’t speak English very well but he loves your videos !
That’s quite flattering, thank him for us.
Danny from Deep South Homestead recommended your channel to us, looking forward to watching. 😀
Thanks Loretta, we’re glad you’ve found us. Danny’s channel is very good.
Your zest for life is amazing, there are watchers, there are dreamers, there are complainers, there are those who are a mixture of all. But you my dear sir are a doer!! Your passion for life leaves me feeling inadequate. It’s nothing that can be taught, it’s got to be a sovereign gift from the Almighty I Am….
Thanks Daniel. The way I see it, is that one can make the decision to not be any of the things in your first sentence. Life is short and one should simply reveal in each day.
@@TheWoodlandEscape I agree but some do it better than others. Lol
"By the shores of Gitcheegoomee, by the shining big sea wster stood the wigwam of Nacomis, daughter of the moon, Nacomis...." OK, Hiawatha, if she looks as good as the other canoe you previously showed, she'll be a dandy. Name her Nacomis. Every good thing deserves a name, especially something you put your mind, your hands and your heart into.
You are absolutely right Larry and your proposed name is food for thought. I’ll let you know what I name her, or is it a him? Oh my, more things to ponder!
@@TheWoodlandEscape well, anything that can glide over the water as beautifully and gracefully as a canoe and at the same time be so obstinate and contrary if she's not handled right and who can dump you in a minute if you get out of line.... welll, it's a she.
Fair enough, lol.
That was a good day.
The racoons I still remember the cartoon series in TV
Looking really good Peter. Can't wait until the next video. Be well.
Thanks David.
You are a very wise man Sir....love the canoe history and your building of one...
Thanks, Gregory.
I'm enjoying this so much I can't wait for the next video. Take care my friend
That’s flattering, thanks Phillip .
What a slow process! Very interesting. That raccoon you show in the begging is certainly a BIG fellow! Best wishes on finishing the canoe and finding just the right birch tree for the job!
Found some excellent bark last Saturday and your right, one must love the journey and not focus on the destination when building a bark canoe.
Video opens as employee rambles in for work!
Yup, now if could just get the last sod to do something!
Peter your videos are every bit as good as prime time tv. Thanks (Old guy from Arkansas)🇺🇸
Well now, that’s a compliment, thank you.
Another excellent video. I really enjoy watching you work on your canoe. Thanks for sharing your skills and compliments to your wife for the fine camera work!
Thanks John, I’ll pass your compliment on to Cathy.
Like your 'bandit possums' masks and all!!
Top answer as to why continue to build by hand & traditional methods.
Stick to it bloke!!
Want a cheap as chips canoe, meet you at the bottom!!
Now if you didn’t just give me my first morning smile Stephen and for that I thank you.
Enjoying the process of building.
Thanks Linda.
I have always stood in awe of people with the ability to play an instrument or in some cases like my brother, multiple instruments...really cool talent.
Love to sit around a campfire with you clan and play some home grown music.
AWESOME!
Catherine's fine filming had me think that I would C U Peter, sporting a 'coon cap' later in the vid LOL! But that was not yet = 18th C. With the cold U suffer, it's gotta be a temptation NOT to succumb to making 'good use' of the critter. How 'disciplined' U both R! The 'labors' of your birthing-the-birch, have us all pregnant with fine expectations. What an ART! The sailors of yore, used to chime the phrase; "Shiver me timbers1" and now we watch you; 'Simmer me timbers'. Here's hoping you find a birch worth it's bark for your build. Thanks most kindly 4 both your time/talents shared. Health and God Bless!
You never fail to bring a smile to our faces, Marie. We found and harvested an excellent piece of bark last Saturday.
Nice to see this thing start to take shape.
It is indeed, getting closer to the real fun part of the project. The bark goes on the table next after I make a few mor bits and pieces.
Excellent as usual, I am glad I didn't hear any loud cracks when the steaming process began.
Thanks Gary and you and me both on the cracking sound.
Hey Peter! The Algonquin style has been my favorite type of canoe for as long as I can remember! I believe that the length you have chosen is perfect for one person to paddle and portage about! I look forward to the day it launched on the water.
I,m not building the old style Algonquin that would have been used in the 1700’s but, the more modern style used in the Early 1800’s, if one can call that modern, lol!
@@TheWoodlandEscape Time is pretty relentless in its march forward!! You're going to get a lot of joy... and satisfaction when that paddle hits the water! I am relieved that the 2nd attempt at the gunnels worked! Now... if only the birch bark will cooperate as well! Good luck and keep plugging away at it.
Actually found some good bark about a week ago.
@@TheWoodlandEscape HUZZAH! Persistence paid Off! Good on you for going (literally) the extra mile! Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!
Looks good from my house! lol 🪓📏🧹🪣
Thanks for another great video, i find the process very interesting. Without people like you, this skill could easily be lost to history.
Thanks Jeff. Sadly there is only a handful of bark builders out there. It is a pity because it is not all that difficult to learn, albeit time consuming.
Only thing better is if I were there with you! I love this!!
Thank you and if you were here I’d be putting you to work,lol.
Peter, your patience is commendable. To see this lengthy and laborious process through to its conclusion will be fun. Off to North America next week. Can’t wait for the next instalment….
Not sure on the patience but, I am sure on determination, lol. What part of N. America are you coming to and from where?
@@TheWoodlandEscape, I am a native New Jerseyan, who lives in Melbourne, Australia. Heading to South Carolina for a couple of weeks, then back to my roots for a week, then back Down Under. I grew up near the Revolutionary Capital of the Thirteen Colonies, Morristown, New Jersey…
Safe journeys.
HI...thanks for the video. Danny from Deep South Homestead recommended your channel.
We appreciate your interest and have been very flattered that Danny from The Deep South Homestead has recommended our channel.
Another great video! I'm binge watching the entire canoe build! It's fascinating... thank you
Awesome, thank you!
I looking forward to see it finished.
As do I but, I must say, one needs to enjoy the journey and not focus on the destination when it comes to bark canoe building. It does take me approximately 600 hours.
Coming together nicely Peter!
Starting to take shape, Chris.
The best tool you have is patience, it’s so true!
So true Alex but, I must admit, occasionally I can’t seem to find the tool in the box!
Hi from Syracuse NY USA brother and everyone else thank you for sharing your adventures in history ( live adventure in history).
Thanks as always Earl for your kind words.
You are welcome my brother
You are a lucky man, if I were you I'd stay in the woods in the real world cos it crazy out here :)
Yup, very happy to stay out here in the hinterland!
What a tedious process! You have the patience of Job. I would love to be your apprentice. Future generations will lose that skill. Good luck finding just the right birch bark. Stay safe my friend.
We did find and harvest an excellent piece of park a few days ago. If your somewhere close to Eastern Ontario I’ll take you up on the apprenticeship job. Sadly it doesn’t pay well,lol.
Glad to find you channel, Danny at Deep South Homestead sent me! Very impressive, thank you sharing!
We’re glad you found us as well. Deep South Homestead is an awesome site.
Such an interesting video, looking so very forward to your next. Thank you.
Appreciate that, Richard.
Fascinating!
Thank you.
Good on ya Brother.
Thanks Jack.
Hi Peter, Danny from Deep South Homestead recommended your channel, he said you have some great content. Looks like you do have a lot of interesting videos and I look forward to going through and checking them out. 💝😊💝
We are really flattered that Danny is recommending us, his channel is real deal when it comes to living close to the land and sustainably.
It's coming together.
Indeed it is. Made a lot of progress today.
I've really enjoyed watching the build process. I was surprised when you tied the line from the end to the upright instead of the other end. My assumption initially was that you were going to use a spanish windlass to pull the ends up and hold them.
Where were you when I needed you David. The windlass would have been brilliant.
Once again Peter, I marvel at yours and the indigenous cultures" patience at building this incredible craft. Makes my head spin. Karen and I were wondering about the opening theme and background music pieces. Who is the artist ...we are of Scots/Irish Appalachian heritage from the mountains of West Virginia and love the banjo picking and "mountain music"!
Thanks Everett. The music we use is played by a couple of our friends from Nova Scotia. Al MacDonald and Richard Fortier. When we visit I have the good fortune to jam with them. We draw from about 40 tunes that they recorded for us, most are their own compositions. The sad part is that they’ve never published any of their work. Love the State you live in and your Appalachian history including the music that came out of those mountains. Ever see the movie, The Song Catcher!
I’m amazed that you can make a canoe by yourself. It seems it would take several people to hold and bend and all, but you and the heavy stones seem to have it worked out.🤗
Also, I just now realized how much the bottom of the canoe looks like snowshoes until you start to bend it. Do you think one might have given them the idea for the other? Just an thought….
Thanks for teaching us this. It’s really interesting🐝❤️🤗
Thanks Deborah and to the snowshoe idea, that is need food for thought. Or is the chicken and egg thing … perhaps the canoe came first!
@@TheWoodlandEscape Right! Maybe they had their canoe built to the stage you have there, and looked at it and said, “Wait a minute… that would get me over the snow like a big lynx paw, if I had a small one sized down to my foot“. And the snowshoe was born… lol🐝❤️🤗
I admire your patience and craftsmanship. That will be a family heirloom when completed. I kayak fish using a Hobie Lynx completely the opposite approach. Fine work sir.
Thanks Danny for such positive feedback. Always thought I’d like to try fishing from one of those fancy floating things!
@@TheWoodlandEscape the Hobie is a technical marvel. Mine has forward and reverse.
Cool
Just subscribed. Danny from deep south homestead sent me
Thanks Starla. Danny’s channel is awesome.
@@TheWoodlandEscape yes it is
Best tool in the tool box is patience, totally agree Peter.New Subscriber and thoroughly enjoying your channel, Take Care and Have a Great Weekend 🙂.
Thanks Donald, we sure appreciate both your support and interest.
What an Awesome process seeing it come together, thanks for sharing it with us
It is actually starting to come together. Thanks Tammy.
When I first saw you pulling those ropes, I thought you were going to make a windlass for fine tensioning of that steamed wood.
Good idea, Pat. You’re the second person to suggest that. It certainly would have been a great way to do it … next canoe.
Just started watching the series. looking forward to seeing the complete build.
Thanks, Joseph, I hope you enjoy.
Good afternoon Peter and friends. Always a pleasure to see the next video. Thanks for sharing and hope everything is going well in your neck of the woods. Wishing you a happy Father's day friend. Thanks again and we'll see you down the road.....
Also I noticed you posted your email, I'll drop you a line soon.
Always positive feedback, thank you. We do have an email on The Woodland Escape … I was a bit tardy getting that up, lol.
Hey thanks for the info man I really appreciate it yes I'm going to take this up I've got a lot of birch trees around that new property I've been looking at and there's plenty of cedar trees it's the white paper birch we call paper butcher on the West Coast thanks I appreciate it I'm going to try this I'll try to keep a video record that you know a recording of this so now you send it to you so I can show you some progress and you've been awesome just totally awesome bless both of you you've taught me so much just by watching things that I were doing wrong that I've now started doing the right way yeah I I'm you you guys are outstanding and just keep the videos coming as long as you can man see you oh PS I I am a custom knife maker I've been making them for 30 years I make them the modern Way and now I'm switching to coal fire and I do do my own forging from time to time when I get the chance and I'm a custom gun maker gunsmith by trade I've been building black powder firearms for about the same length of time so if you ever need anything give me a holler man and I'll see what I can do for you thanks a lot and that's that's the least I can do for what you've been teaching me
Wow, yours actually going to build one, good on you I say!! It does take a big time commitment, but Larry, when you push off from shore on your maiden voyage, you’ll have a smile of satisfaction on your face that may never be repeated!
Just wondering if you might send me some pictures of your flintlocks via our email on the Woodland Escape. I’ve built 2 flintlocks but, may be looking at a third and right now, I’ve too many irons in the fire.
Peter, thanks so much for taking the time to video this process. Down here in my part of Kentucky, unfortunately, both cedar and birch trees are pretty scarce, and I don’t think I’ve seen any suitable for canoe construction. What other woods/barks might have produced suitable canoes? I’m aware that some dugouts were made of poplar and cottonwood, but a dugout isn’t remotely what I’m interested in.
Our pleasure Gregory. Cathy gets all the create for the filming, I just live an earlier lifestyle. The Mohawk commonly used elm bark. They are rather a crude looking but, quite functional. The Northern Cree used spruce bark as birch didn’t grow big enough in diameter. They also used spruce for ribs. If using spruce for ribs you must split then out when green and you split them across the grain not with the grain as ones does when using cedar.
I Like your Videos, very best that of the many animals living around youre cabin.
Thank you very much!
I had to chuckle when you said "if I got my math right" Thinking of our native people who had no math skills, just by word of mouth how long and what something looked like . We called that tribal knowledge, passing it down from generation to generation. Thanks for taking me on your voyage and explaining what is what.. Blessings
Our pleasure William, appreciate your feedback.
Peter, another enjoyable episode; thank you and your videographer/producer/editor spouse!
Two questions: 1) Do you think the boiling water method might work better by draping/wrapping some burlap on the work to hold the heat around the wood pieces?
2) As you are an arborist, do you have any insights as to why one birch tree produces suitable bark for a canoe and the others around it do not? Same species, same location, same time of year, but different quality? Some tree species need southern exposure to do well, some require swamp conditions, some are altitude dependent, what makes one birch better for canoe building and not it's neighbors?
1. Never found a need for anything other than boiling water. The ribs when I get to them are actually boiled in water.
2.Because birch makes both wonderful furniture as well a veneer plywood, over the years the biggest, the best, etc we’re harvested, leaving a very poor green pool for the species. The same can be said for maple and oak. So, I’d say it is more as a result of greed versus biological.
@@TheWoodlandEscape Thanks, use what works, that makes sense! Aah!, greed will be the end of us.
I love watching the canoe build. The
Music and nature around you is so wonderful to listen to and watch. Thanks for sharing. Will be waiting for the next next build video.
Always a kind word Beverly, thank you.
Did you make some of your shaping tool from farrier tool for trimming horse hoofs?
Love your builds. Primitive technology and skills are true art forms! The hot water bending of the wood is pretty amazing. Curious about when the native America canoe builders developed this process.
Some look like ferries tools but, the ones that do are for cutting curves or really fine gouging. I do make my own. The birch bark canoe is approximately 3000 years old and I’m sure they had figured out the hot water for bending.
LOVE watching you do this, I stood up and broke a rib last night, it'll be a bit till the floods go down here, but God willing I'll be up n out fishing soon, keep up the great work there,she's looking FINE !!
Thanks Rob. Sorry to hear of your rib issue … been there done that and is not very comfortable.
Awesome you make it look really easy man how many of these things have you built totally think I'm learning everyday every time I watch your program thanks a lot I want to build one of these myself God bless you guys
Only 3 but, it does get easier with each one. Thanks for your interest Larry.
*The Woodland Escape* Bravo well done, thank-you sir for taking the time to bring us along. God Bless.
Glad you’re enjoying.
NU LASI PALARIA DE LOC .
Awesome it's a perfect beautiful day to be out exploring listening too the sounds of nature birds out and about up at the cabin building things canoes birch bark out in the woods and forest nothing better than being outdoors working and building love me some canoes the outdoor world and living is wonderful love your outside work area where you build and measure thanks for explaining and taking the time to show us
Appreciate your positive feedback Cade, thank you.
My pleasure man always your very welcome buddy
Hi Peter, I enjoy the updates on your build. I am very interested in the design you mentioned. I commend you on your knowledge and craftsmanship! I enjoy going back watching your older videos on the weekends. Thanks, take care see ya on the next one.
You be a very loyal roller Gil and we thank you.
I am simply in awe of this project, Peter. You are doing a fine job explaining the process. Thanks for sharing.
That’s good feedback James, one never knows how it comes across.
Great fun watching you , do you know if the Algonquin built larger Canoe and did they venture into the open sea? There knowledge of building seems quite advanced.
Roger
The most common length of canoe in the 17 and 18 hundreds is similar to mine … 11 to 14 feet but, they did build ones that were 18 to 20 feet. They were noted as on of the better built crafts.
looking good Peter! loving the progress. finding the right bark for the outside is a quest. youll find it! Good size!
Thanks Kendall and I’ve actually found some really good bark, last Saturday.
Would you be interested in a visitor? I'd love to check out the canoe and the home you've built
Absolutely, Noah. E-mail us at … thewoodlandescape1@gmail.com.
New britches ! Is that the right term? Would they be made out of linen? Was linen locally grown? Was the fabric available at HBC ? Thanks so much for the quality of the videos.
Course linen was certainly the material of the day and yes, readily available at any HBC post. Appreciate your interest in our channel.
Hi Peter
This vid is very interesting. Loved watching the process of you shaping the gunnels. How many hot water soaking will it take for the shape to set in?
As an aside, there were tornado warnings for your area on the 16th. How was it there for you?
Usually just one soaking will set their memory. As to the weather warnings, no tornadoes but, crazy strong winds and heavy rains … no damage.
What's the smallest, most lightweight alqonigon (sorry I know I butchered the spelling) would have made been stable, yet a good river runner?
Historically Cheryl, they often made them as short as 11 feet. I suspect they would not be for the inexperienced due to being quite tippy. I’ve found 13 feet to be about the shortest. They also built canoes with flared sides instead of the tumblehome we see in most modern canoes. Flared sides were both more stable but, the craft also displaces more water and can carry a bigger payload.
Appreciate your efforts and dedication! Interested in your hand auger. It looks to be a boring bit from a brace and bit set. I am familiar with another tool. I believe the name is gimlet. Is this a ready made tool you have or something you built? Thanks for your time. Keep your powder dry!
The bit is store bought, I welded a tube to the top for the wooden handle.
Watch your top knot.
How did Cabin ever moved since you built it from the frost
The cabin is built on grade, set on rocks, so, so far it has not moved at all.
I'd love to see it firsthand when it's finished. Is it preferable to work with green wood or seasoned? I'm thinking of mortice and tenon where the green wood is used for the morticed piece and shrinks around the tenoned wood. Also,green wood might be more easily bent. I know nothing of canoe building, so forgive me. Another great video!
One can use green or dried but, as you mentioned, the green wood does bend a bit nicer. If your ever in my neck of the woods don’t just see it first hand, take it for a paddle.
@@TheWoodlandEscape That would be a great experience, thank you.
Long time to see you what's going on with canoe
There is one episode a week, next one will be posted tomorrow.
Did I miss the gathering of spruce roots?
You have not Ric. It will be a video very soon.
I look forward to their use, thanks for the reply,
Interesting aside Ric, black spruce regeneration is dependant on forest fires which force open the cones to release the seeds. The unfortunate thing it seems is that global warming is having an impact in that too many fires tend to burn off the top soil making regeneration of black spruce far more difficult. We are seeing less regeneration these days. 🤔
What are the books of the name of the books that you use to get your dimensions for your canoes and do you know where I could possibly get a copy thanks man
The Bark Canoes and Skin Boats of North America by Edwin Tappan Adney and Howard I. Chapelle. I believe it is still available. It is without the Bible if your considering learning the skills of bark canoe building.
What is the life span of these canoe’s?
If they are stored inside in the winter , decades. I’m still paddling one i made 17 years ago. Still has the original root lacing.
Sure you can build a canoe but you cant put the door to the bird house in the right place............
I don’t know Judy but we have 70 some odd and most have tenants in them. The squirrels often chew an opening big enough for them even the ones that have portal protectors. We number them all so we can keep track of what species of bird uses them.
@@TheWoodlandEscape 70, holy cow, too cute. Maybe you should do bird house special? Did you make all of them?
Yup and all from scrap pieces of wood let over from other projects.