Sarum Skin-boat How-to

Not the only way, but the way we've done it that works. An important word: what you find here is an IMCOMPLETE record of the process, created for a student who was unable to complete his boat at school. As time goes on, I may fill in steps, but this is by no means a full set of directions. When it comes out soon, I recommend the book Building Skin-on-Frame, Double-Paddle Canoes by Hilary Russell,of Sheffield, MA.

Order of Operations

  • Creating the Stem-Knee assembly
  • Attaching Knee to Keelson
  • Fill four spaces in gunwale for thwart attachment
  • Sand gunwales and breasthooks
  • Attach thwarts
  • Fit, drill gunwale rub rails
  • Assemble floorboards
  • Shape nose and tail for brass rub rails
  • Coat all wooden parts with oil or varnish: frame, rubs and floorboards
  • Skin the boat
  • Shrink the skin
  • Skin coating
  • Attach all rubrails, wooden and metal
  • Last odds and ends

Notes on related subjects

1.16.2012

Knee - Keelson Assemby and Shaping

 
Keelson glued to Knee
Keelson faired into knee to create curve of the boat end

1.06.2012

Putting the Stems and Knees Together.

Stem and knee glued and clamped together on a flat surface.

















The curve at the bow and stern of the boat are glued together from two pieces to avoid weaker, short-grain sections when making this sharp turn.  It could also be done with a naturally crooked piece of wood, and we have done this once, but it requires seasoning the found piece for a season or so, plus the actual harvesting of the wood, so for us its easier to piece them together.  This could also be laminated to create the curve.
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