Course syllabus:
Building the Fiddlehead Canoe
Learning outcomes:
- You will gain the basic skills needed to build a beautiful, wooden boat
- You will be guided through the actual process of building a Fiddlehead canoe.
Prerequisites:
- Access to a suitable boatbuilding workshop including the relevant tools.
- A willingness to learn and a willingness to spend 250-500 hours on the project.
- Previous woodworking experience is an advantage.
- You will need to purchase the wood and other building materials separately.
Course format:
- The course is taught via pre-recorded video lessons.
- Personal support will be given through the forum on the Small Boat School web site.
Part 1: Mastering basic boatbuilding skills
- Fiddlehead Canoe building process overview
- How to read boat plans
- Good boat wood - and how to find it
- How to set up a boatbuilding workshop
- How to sharpen your edge tools
- How to shape wood with a hand plane
- How to use hand saws
- How to do precise measuring and marking
- How to fasten wood, using screws, nails, rivets and glues
- How to use machinery for rough wood milling
Part 2: Building the Fiddlehead canoe
- The stems
- The midship frame
- The watertight bulkheads
- The bottom panel
- The building base
- Setting up the midship frame and the bulkheads
- Installing the bottom and the stems
- The sheer clamps
- Beveling the bottom panel, the bulkheads and the stems
- Spiling - making a pattern for the garboard plank
- Hanging the garboard planks
- Hanging the middle planks
- Hanging the sheer planks
- Turning the boat right side up
- Building the deck framing
- Covering boards
- Decking
- Coaming sides
- Coaming ends
- False stems
- Guards
- Hatch covers
- Backrest
- Foot brace
- Seats
- Protective brass strips
- The double paddle
- Finishing
- Final details
Note: The course syllabus may be subject to change.
