Boat Building

We're building a 16' (14.5m) canoe. The design is a modern skin-on-frame. Once we finish the build we'll take it over to Macritchie and have a paddle. To make it, first we'll steam the wood and bend them around  templates. These get glued to long strips of wood called the ribs. On top of this goes kevlar roving to add rigidity. Finally, we wrap the whole thing in Dacron that gets heat-shrunk to create that classic canoe shape. No woodworking experience required. I have experience building kayaks and racing boats, so will offer guidance during each step. If you ever wanted to build a boat, this is your chance. 

CAS Strand: Creativity

This canoe-building project provides students with a unique platform to explore creativity in a hands-on, collaborative setting. The building process itself, involving the steaming, bending, and shaping of wood, naturally presents challenges that call for creative problem-solving and adaptation. Through these challenges, students can explore both functional and artistic elements, from decorative knots to practical modifications, while learning to collaborate and brainstorm solutions as a team. Realizing a concept from idea to tangible product allows students to witness the power of creativity combined with craftsmanship, offering both a sense of accomplishment and an authentic opportunity to bring their ideas to life.