Birch bark canoe

Got to paddle this twenty-footer made by Penobscots. It was a work of art. As light as anything short of kevlar or carbon fiber, paddled beautifully, and it even smelled good.

Looks great did you build it? Building my own birch bark canoe is one of those things I've wanted to do but never had the time. I have always envied people with the ancient skills. My boys are getting to the age I might have to take the time and just do it.

Incredible! Only problem, if I had a canoe that beautiful, I'd never want to take it out on the water! Might just keep it in the living room all the time!

Very nice...

I've always loved the thought of having a showpiece canoe like that in a livingroom as a centerpiece. Who says you have to store a canoe in the garage? 

WOW!  What a gorgeous canoe.  My Dad had one built when I was just out of high school by some First People up in Northern Ontario.  I only had the opportunity to take it out on the lake once.  He kept it up in Canada where he bought it.  I don't know what happened to it but it sure was a nice canoe.  This one looks sweet too.  I am a big fan of big water canoes and you certainly have provided a beautiful example.  I have been toying with the idea of building a canoe out of heat tempered bamboo.  I have access to a huge grove of a variety that grows large enough culms to make a strip style canoe much like a cedar strip version.  I built one of those about 40 years ago and as far as I know it is still being used by a friend that bought it from me.  Now that I am "retired" I have the time to practice my crafts again so I have begun "fiddling around" with my wood working tools. 

Beautiful, I just built a willow ribbed canoe. What did they coat the birch bark with?