That big old racing canoe, the one that I took the lines off of, needs a lot of woodwork repairs.

The gunnels will need replacing, and before I can start that I secure the shape. This canoe has so many broken bits that the shape is not stable. I set the whole thing up on a 4x4 to keep the bottom keel line straight-not hogged or rockered. Sitting like this is not very stable for working on so I set a couple of sawhorse on either side to keep it upright.

I used my zip poles to press the canoe to the 4x4 beam. This keeps the canoe in place while keeping the gunnels accessible for working on. Take a close look at those gunnels because they'll be gone soon. You may or may not be able to see that they are actually ripped out of pressure treated 2x4's! No planing or sanding has been done to the wood, and the wood is in short pieces. I guess that you have to use what is available and just do the best that you can.

The seats are...interesting. Old plastic chair seats, like you used back in school, mounted on some aluminum rod. The risers are sections of aluminum ladders, and the padding is, well you can see what the padding is.


Here is a perfect example of why you should stagger the planking joints on the ribs! The planking provides some continuity of structure across the rib. No structure and the rib can actually split apart as this one has.

And a long view down the canoe from the stern.