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Summary: S T U N N I N G!!!
Review: 1. If you are required to go to work every day, rather than spend the day in the garage, DO NOT BUY this book.2. If your spouse does not have "saint-like" qualities, and likes to see you on weekends, DO NOT BUY this book. I built the 16' Laker and took it to the Boundary Waters Canoe Wilderness, where I was stopeed at every portage by people who had questions and really nice comments. I am 50% done with my second canoe. Mr. Gilpatrick did a STUNNING job, everything is very clear, and it's surprising how easy it is to do a great job on your first shot. I hope to meet Mr. Gilpatrick sometime and have him autograph my book. My wife hopes to meet him someday and tell him what he's done to our marriage! JUST KIDDING! Cedar canoe website to be published 2/99
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Summary: Gilpatrick's "Building a Strip Canoe"
Review: A complete guide to strip canoe building with several different canoe forms, complete diagrams, and excellent practical advice. His technique of building epoxy layers quickly without sanding was similar to techniques I've used to create thick layers of marine varnish to seal furniture, and convinced me to purchase the book to start with. It doesn't have the prettiest pictures, but is an excellent foundation to work from.
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Summary: Gilpatrick's book
Review: About 12 years ago my dad and I built the wabnaki canoe using Mr Gilpatrick's book, and this year I built a Prospector design using Canoecraft, at least in part. I would like to add my opinion abut the relative merits of these books.
Gilpatrick's book is designed, in my opinion, to tell you how to build what used to be referred to in the wood/canvas days as "guide canoes". These were workhorse canoes, without unnecessary decorations, a plain paint job and no frills. Mr Gilpatrick uses his own designs in guiding parties down whitewater rivers in Maine. His book describes how to use 2 layers of fiberglass to strengthen the bottom for whitewater, has complete instructions for caning very comfortable seats, has a good pattern for a portage-comfortable yoke, and has complete plans for all his designs, which only need to be enlarged. He does NOT spend time discussing stems (which are pretty but not necessary and add a lot of work to the construction), scuppered gunwales, accent strips, patterned decks, etc. It is impossible to build a cedar strip canoe which is not pretty, but function takes precedence in this book. His designs are practical and functional and he has proven that his construction methods produce a tough, durable boat. I think a canoe can sometimes be too pretty. If you're afraid to get it scratched up a bit you're not going to be taking it in places you should.
Canoecraft goes into more detail about appearances and has a section on accent strips, shows finely crafted decks with coamings, and uses a construction utilizing stems. The canoe which is illustrated being constructed is the Redbird, and the canoe is absolutely beautiful. The book has very good trouble shooting sections in the chapters. The designs require either a knowledge of lofting or purchasing plans and there is not a lot of discussion on seat construction. A chapter on lofting and on caning seats would add immensely to this book. (Believe me, if you get used to caned seats you'll never have another kind). Also, the canoes are described as being built with a single layer of glass on the outside and inside. I know a fellow who banged such a canoe into a rock on the Madison river and his $3000 investment ended up needing major repair work. My double layered wabnaki has bounced off numerous rocks and ledges in the Big Blackfoot river and has its share of scratches but is structurally intact. I would definitely add a layer of glass if you do any whitewater stuff. You can certainly built a very beautiful canoe with the advice in this book, but I think the two books compliment one another and I used both in building the prospector.
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Summary: An important source for wood strip canoe builders
Review: As a new stripper, I have read ever source I could find. This book offered safety instructions, patterns, and an excellant outline of wood strip canoe construction. The techniques in this book differ from others, but all canoe building books authors seem to agree on the point that there is no perfect system. I intend to use many parts of this excellent guide in the building of my canoes. Experience is the best teacher, and Mr Gilpatrick certainly has the experience. I feel the best use of this classic book would be to combine it with your experience and ability, and what you can learn from all other scources, and build your dream boat. I will. Happy paddling.
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Summary: If you want to build a strip canoe, you need this book!
Review: Clear, and to the point. Gilpatrick made it very simple and realistic. Tells you what you need to know without getting too crazy with information. The book shows how much experience Gilpatrick has with what he does. The plans were fantastic. Great job!
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Summary: Awesome Book!
Review: Gil Gilpatrick's book on building wood strip canoes is the best I've seen. I liked it so much that I recently ordered a second copy to give to a friend. Several months ago I built an 18 foot wood strip canoe using information found in a different book. I wish I had had Gil's book when I started that project! His book provides a number of effort saving techniques that would have been really handy to know while I was building my first canoe. Now, I'm going to use this book to build a second canoe!
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Summary: Well illustrated, but it left me with several questions
Review: Having never made a strip canoe, this book is great for the first timer. The photos are excellent, and answer many questions. However it did leave me with a few questions that were not well covered. 1) When producing the seat frames with Mortise and Tenon joints, it's not shown how to make a M&T joint on the angled frame sides. All the references I checked, show the M&T joint used on perpendicular pieces of wood. 2) I am not really sure how you transfer the forms details to the sheets of plywood. I am gussing that you cut them out, tape them to the plywood and cut along the lines. Someone suggested using spay adhesive to adhere the details to the plywood, then cut alon the lines. A picture or a few sentences would be helpful. 3) When glassing, it 's not clear how you trim the excess glass along the gunwale edges. Do you overlap the edge with glass from the inside or the outside. I realize these are pretty picky items, and I am sure that I will learn to solve them all. Overall, the book is very informative and I can't wait to start the 16' Wabnaki.
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Summary: Great instruction:
Review: Having seen cedar strip canoes while vacationing in Maine the book interested me. Using Gil's instructions I recently completed a 14' canoe, the "puddle duck." It's a nice little boat. I recommend it to anyone interested in building their own canoe. Gil is also a Master Maine Guide and very well known throughout Maine. Signed
Mainer want to be
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Summary: it helped a lot
Review: I am building one and it is easy if you have a little wood working experience. The book helps you get through all the details and answers all the questions you have
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Summary: Not foolproof by any means
Review: I am still in the middle of builing my canoe, but at times I think I'm working backward. Granted, I don't claim to be a master woodcrafter, but I've had to back up several times to correct problems that were not even hinted at in the book. I do have confidence that my canoe will float, but before I build another I will definitly check out some other books on the subject.
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