They should be allowed to take their natural curve, but pulled lengthways a little, so as to hold well to the shapes. Both sides should be alike, and the shapes should not be driven out of the central line. To prevent this, before nailing get a friend to hold the two ends against the stem while you nail the other ends to the stern post. Then nail the former ends to the stem, pulling them towards you a little, and keeping your eye on the central line. They may now be nailed to the shapes by means of corner pieces.
Fig. 5.
Next prepare, or get a carpenter to prepare for you, ten strips a little longer than the canoe, and 1⁄4 in. square. This is a very good thickness. These are to be arranged as in [Fig. 5], the distances between the strips being equal, or, if anything, decreasing a little towards the keel, where the pressure of the water will be greatest. They should be put on in the same way as the upper stronger strips which already form the gunwale. I may repeat that this thin wood must be thoroughly good. If any strip is not so, it is useless and must be replaced by another. Cut rests for the strips in the shapes, allowing them to project a little. Let the strips lie flat to the edges of the shapes. Do not, however, twist them in fitting their ends to stem and stern post. Those edges of the strips which would press into the canvas must be planed off. The ends, especially near the keel, will require care in fitting ([Fig. 6]).
Fig. 6.
Fig. 7.
It is better to drive no nails through the strips except at the ends. Those parts of the shapes which are between the strips should now be hollowed out ([Fig. 7]), so that when the water presses in the canvas no projection shall be produced across the direction of motion of the canoe, as such projections seriously retard its progress. All the edges of the strips which would be liable to work through the canvas should be shaved off as before mentioned.
Next for the coamings round the well in which to sit. This should be made generally strong. Make a framework of deal 2 in. × 3⁄4 in., to fit in exactly between the shapes as shown in [Fig. 10]. The breadth at the stern end may be 18 in., and at the other 14 in. This will be quite broad enough. The two end pieces should be well nailed into those strips by which the shapes were strengthened. Also fit struts between the middle points of the sides of the well and the gunwale. Fit two strips about 11⁄2 in. × 3⁄4 in., or 2 in. × 1⁄2 in., from the middle point of the top of each shape, or end of the well, to the stem and stern post, nailing the gunwale at each end into it through some interposed wedges, so as to make a solid triangle at each end.