greybeard canoes & kayaks

I know that I said that I wouldn’t overdo the posts this time around, but forming the inner stem is always a momentous occasion. Your forms are in place and you’re finally building.

The last few times, I was able to use three standard 1/4″ strips to make the inner stem. This time, I was rewarded by the sound of cracking wood as I bent the strips over the form. Deciding that I didn’t want to hear that sound again, I planed four strips a little thinner and then (as last time) soaked them in the tub in hot water for over an hour.

This time, the strips bent well and the end result was a beautiful inner stem mohawk shown below.

By the way, I use Gorilla Glue for this part. It reacts nicely with the damp wood and gives a good bond.

Tagged: canoe building, cedar strip canoe, internal stem