Strip Building Reference Guide

For those folks looking to find some information on building cedar strip canoes, I have compiled the following list of resources. While not exhaustive, it is pretty well everything I've been able to find on the subject over the past 5 years or so.

• Strip-Built Boats: How to Build Any Canoe "Stripper Style"
  - Lew Miller
  (Available from Canoe & Kayak Magazine)
  Canoe America Associates
  Box 3146
  Kirkland, WA 98083
  

  Nice short pamphlet-style booklet that outlines building method and includes a very useful description of an alternate stem construction technique that eliminates the need for internal/external stems. No plans included. Plans are available separately from Canoe & Kayak magazine.

• The Canoe Building Book
  - Minnesota Canoe Association
  Minnesota Canoe Association
  Box 13567, Dinkytown Station
  Minneapolis, MN 55414
  

  MCA building guide, loose-leaf format, no plans included. Plans are available separately from MCA.

• Canoecraft
  - Ted Moores and Merilyn Mohr
  Camden House Publishing, Ltd.
  7 Queen Victoria Rd.
  Camden East, Ontario K0K 1J0
  (ISBN: 0-920656-24-2)
  

  Pretty much the "standard" by which others are measured. Includes offsets for 7 designs.

• Building a Strip Canoe
  - Gil Gilpatrick
  Delorme Publishing Co.
  Box 298
  Freeport, ME 04032
  (ISBN: 0-89933-026-6)
  

  Thorough building guide for those less interested in a work-of-art than a useable canoe. Includes reduced-scale patterns for 8 designs.

• The Stripper's Guide to Canoe Building
  - David Hazen
  Tamal Vista Publications
  222 Madrone Ave
  Larkspur, CA 94939
  (ISBN: 0-917436-00-8)
  

  A basic building guide that includes a bit of the author's philosophy of life. Includes full-size patterns for 2 canoes and 2 sea-kayaks.

• The Modern Canoe: A Practical Guide to Woodstrip/Resin Construction
  - Stephen Pellerin and Ted Blissland
  Doubleday Canada, Ltd.
  105 Bond St.
  Toronto, Ontario M5B 1Y3
  (ISBN: 0-385-25463-6)
  

  A good basic guide that, unfortunately, leans toward polyester resins. Includes reduced-scale patterns for 6 designs.

• Featherweight Boatbuilding
  - Mac McCarthy
  WoodenBoat Books
  Box 78, Naskeag Rd.
  Brooklin, ME 04616
  (ISBN: 0-937822-39-6)
  

  Mac McCarthy, of Feather Canoes, is a champion of the Rushton-style double paddle canoe. A very thorough guide to strip-building that can be extended to other types of boats. Includes offsets/plans for both his Wee Lassie and larger Wee Lassie II. Highly recommended.

• Build-A-Boat: A Beginner's Guide to Simple Boat Construction
  (Article: Building Bob's Special - Ted Moores)
  WoodenBoat Books
  Box 78, Naskeag Rd.
  Brooklin, ME 04616
  

  Includes offsets for 15'6" Bob's Special canoe.

• WoodenBoat Magazine - Issue #100 (June 1991)
  (Article: Strip-Building a Double Paddle Canoe - Mac McCarthy)
  Reprinted in: The WoodenBoat Series - 10 Wooden Boats You Can Build - For Sail, Power, Oar, and Paddle
  WoodenBoat Books
  Box 78, Naskeag Rd.
  Brooklin, ME 04616
  

  A good pictorial essay on strip-building a small double-paddle canoe. No plans.

• The Family Handyman (magazine) - May, June, July/August 1991
  (Article in 3 parts: Cedar Strip Canoe - Bruce Kieffer)
  Reprints available (?) from:
  Reprint Services
  315 Fifth Ave. NW
  St. Paul, MN 55112
  Back issues available (?) from:
  Handyman Back Issues
  Box 1917
  Marion, OH 43305
  

  ($2 for list of available back issues.)
  Included reduced-scale pattern for 18' tandem canoe. Unfortunately, promoted the use of polyester resin for strip construction.

• Rip, Strip, and Row: A Builder's Guide to the Cosine Wherry
  - J. D. Brown and John Hartsock
  Tamal Vista Publications
  222 Madrone Ave.
  Larkspur, CA 94939
  (ISBN: 0-917436-02-4)
  

  While not a canoe-building guide, it's a good description of the strip-building technique as applied to other boats. In this case, a fast rowing boat. Includes full-scale patterns.

• Building Your Kevlar Canoe
  - James Moran
  McGraw-Hill, Inc.
  Customer Service Dept.
  Box 547
  Blacklick, OH 43004
  (ISBN: 0-07-043036-5)
  

  Not a book on strip construction, but has some interesting points on handling of fiberglass/epoxy that would be of use to a strip-builder. Includes offsets for 3 canoe designs.

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