Building the "Huron Cruiser"

This week I began preparations for the construction of a cedar strip canoe. I'm building this for Paterson Habitat for Humanity to auction off at our Spring Fundraising Dinner to help us continue to build homes in the city of Paterson and around the world. The Huron Cruiser is 15ft 9" and designed by Bear Mountain Boats. It is described in this way.
"The lines for this canoe were taken from an original 'Huron' built in cedar/canvas by the Peterborough Canoe Company. It was a second grade model in a series of Cruiser canoes that measured from 16'x33" to 18'x37". "They have good carrying capacity while retaining a light draft, and are an easy paddling craft that can be handled well in rough or swift waters. The gunwale line is straighter in these models and is lowered at bow and stem, thus offering less wind resistance." The rounded bottom shape may reduce carrying capacity but the paddler may expect a quick and responsive craft." ...from the 1929 Peterborough Canoe Co. catalogue.

Bear Mountain Boats is operated by Ted Moores who has written the above book which is basically your guide to construction. He has also written a similar book called the Kayakcraft which I used building the "Spring Run". I purchased the Huron Cruiser as a kit from Noah's Marine Supply in Ontario. The cedar strips come in a 20 ft. tube providing full length western red cedar along with some Alaskian white cedar strips I'm looking forward to creating a beautiful design that will be seen from inside and outside the canoe.

The preparation work begins in the construction of the strongback. In this case I widened and strengthed the one I used for the Sping Run. The renovated strongback provides and 11" area on top to attach the stations to. The challenged part is getting in level both ways on a very unlevel basement floor. The station blocks provide an attachment point every 12" for the 13 stations that will make the form of the canoe. In addition the stems go on the bow and stern.

Here is the strongback ready to go with most of the blocks attached. The next step will be to transfer the exact station mold shapes from the plan to 5/8" in plywood, cut them all out with a jigsaw and sand them all down to the perfect shape. Any mistakes at this staged will lead to a misshapen canoe. For any potential boatbuilders interested in seeing the entire process actor Nick Offerman recently built a Bear Mountain Canoe and did a video of the entire process. This is

For any potential boatbuilders interested in seeing the entire process actor Nick Offerman recently built a Bear Mountain Canoe and did a video of the entire process. This is available for purchase but he also did a 300 page journal of the construction that is available for free by clicking HERE.