Boat-Building and Boating

by Daniel Carter Beard

Fig. 82.—Mode of carrying roll.

Effects of Heat

It is laid where the sun will not shine on it and harden it. The first effect of heat is to make it pliant. Long exposure to heat or to dry atmosphere makes it hard and brittle.

The Woodwork

is as follows:

Five cross-bars of rock-maple ([Figs. 83], [85], and [91]). All the rest is of white cedar, taken from the heart. The sap-wood absorbs water, and would make the canoe too heavy, so it is rejected. The wood requires to be straight and clear, and it is best to use perfectly green wood for the ribs.

Two strips 16½ feet long, 1½ inch square, tapering toward either end, the ends being notched ([Fig. 83] A) is a section of the 16½ foot strip. Each strip is mortised for the cross-bars (see [Fig. 85]). The lower outside edge is bevelled off to receive the ends of the ribs.

The dimensions of the cross-bars ([Fig. 85]) are 12 x 2 x ½ inch, 22½ x 2 x ¾ inch, and 30 x 2 x ⁷/₈ inch. The cross-bars are placed in position, and the ends of the gunwales are tied with spruce roots after being nailed together to prevent splitting. Each bar is held in place by a peg of hard wood.