Woodstrip Canoe Construction

This is a six-day class ending Saturday

When you see a graceful cedar-strip canoe, it might seem like building one is beyond your reach. But we’re here to show you that it’s entirely possible! Join us for a week of discovery, where we’ll guide you step-by-step to create these beautiful and functional works of art.

Working together, our class will build two beautiful designs from Newfound Woodworks: an 11’9″ solo “Otter” canoe and a 16’1″ tandem “Abenaki” canoe. We’ll use the clever bead and cove strip method, where each cedar strip locks perfectly into the next – like pieces of a puzzle coming together. This innovative technique makes assembly surprisingly straightforward and ensures your strips line up naturally without gaps, creating the smooth, flawless hull that strip-built canoes are known for.

You’ll discover why these boats have captured the hearts of paddlers everywhere:

• Remarkably lightweight and easy to portage
• Surprisingly strong when sealed with epoxy and fiberglass
• Beautiful to look at, satisfying to build
• Simple to maintain – just a fresh coat of varnish every couple of years
• Far more durable than traditional wood canoes

Over the week, we’ll share all the essentials of strip-building:

• Mastering the rhythm of working with bead and cove strips
• Creating fair, gap-free hulls
• Applying fiberglass with confidence (you’ll get individual guidance here)
• Working with epoxy and varnish to achieve a pleasing finish
• Tips and tricks for success when building your own boat from a kit or plans