Learn to Build Skin-on-Frame Boats

Instructor: Hilary Russell
Location: Yestermorrow campus, Warren, VT

Course Description:
Skin-on-frame boats evolved from baskets. Coracles -- round, basket-like crafts -- are still in use in Wales for salmon fishing; Irishmen still row their Currachs off their wild west coast, and native people of the arctic still fish from kayaks and umiaks. Yet these boats also appear in a variety of modern forms -- from tough whitewater, aluminum-framed take-down boats, to wood-framed, nylon skinned baidarkas. This course will take you through the building process of an ultra light, double paddle canoe. As the group builds this simple elegant craft by steaming and installing ribs, lashing stringers to the ribs and stems, and stretching on a tough nylon skin, you will acquire the basic skills and knowledge necessary to build any kind of skin-on-frame boat. The finished class project will be raffled to a workshop participant. All Levels. Please Note: This class will begin Friday evening at 6pm.

Course Objectives:

Each student will learn to

•  appreciate the ancient tradition of building simple, sustainable skin-on-frame boats;

•  use and learn to care for a few necessary tools, such as a pull saw, block plane, and chisel;

•  experience the thrill of bending steaming hot Vermont white cedar;

•  understand why a lashed-together, flexible craft is in fact stronger than a rigid one

•  develop a knack for joining pieces of wood that meet at odd angles;

•  gain the knowledge and the confidence to build an elegant skin-boat.

Recommended Readings:

Building Skin-on-Frame Boats, Robert Morris (Hartley and Marx) -The best all around book about skin-on-frame boat building, it includes several kayaks, two rowing boats (one with a sale), and a canoe.

"The Return of the Wee Lassies," Hilary Russell ( Adirondack Life , 2006 Annual Guide, vol.XXXVII,No. 4) Everything you'll want to know about double paddle canoes.

Umiak, Skip Snaith (Walrose and Hyde) - well-illustrated with thorough explanations, especially strong on lashing techniques.

Qayaq, David Zimmerly (Unversity of Alaska Press) - A classic study of the form and function of traditional Kayaks.

Useful Websites

www.gaboats.com - This great website offers detailed plans for twenty-six skin-on-frame canoes, kayaks, rowing boats and sailing boats. Although the methods differ from mine, the plans are valuable and learning two different approaches will be useful.

www.coracle-fishing.net - A generous, colorful website about one on the most primitive and beautiful skin-boats still in use.

Tools/Materials to Bring

•  safety goggles

•  hearing protection

•  comfortable, closed-toe shoes

•  dust masks (with two elastics)

•  camera (to photograph the step-by-step process)

•  notebook (to expand further the detailed outline I will give you.)

•  16' measuring tape

•  adjustable square

•  utility knife or any sharp knife

•  sharp scissors

•  low-angle block plane

•  pull saw

•  ¾" chisel

•  wood rasp

•  sanding block and sandpaper (#50, #80, and #120)

•  light hammer

•  Phillips and slot screwdrivers

•  6" or 1' metal rule

Optional:

•  cordless drill and bits (very useful!)

•  orbital electric sander

Draft Schedule/Outline:

Fri. Evening

• introduce to skin-on-frame boat building- history and methods

(this information will also be discussed as we proceed through the course)

• introduce the shop-tools and safety

Sat. Morning

• steam and install ribs (20 latitudinal supports)
• begin installing stringers (6-8 longitudinal supports lashed to the ribs)

Sat. Afternoon

• complete installing stringers
• fasten stringers to stems (the curved pieces that shape the two ends of the canoe)
• some students can plane, sand, and polyurethane the paddle, backrest, and thwart.
• begin installing inwales

Sun Morning

• Install the inwales, back-rest, and thwart
• fair up the boat (plane and sand as necessary)
• polyurethane boat (this water-base product dries in one hour)

Sun. Afternoon

• If time permits, we will skin the boat. If time is short, I will review in detail how to skin a boat.
• course evaluation
• clean-up