Sources I Recommend

Just to reiterate, this blog is personal, and showcases my journey through boat restoration. I am nowhere near the level of the creators I consulted through this process. Throughout my blog I have made reference to several sources of great information; I will use this page to link them and provide a brief introduction to allow you to determine if you want to see what they have to offer (I recommend checking them all out, each of them create content with the intent to educate their viewers, and that is exactly what I wanted as a beginner to these processes).

    (These photos were taken during the clear Western Red Cedar pick-up at The Woodshed, Smithville Ontario, Canada)

Tips from a Shipwright 

This channel is all about Lou. Lou is a boat maker/restorer from Rhode Island, U.S. and has been perfecting his for over 30 years. Lou's content ranges from step by step instruction on how to construct your very own boat from scratch, to tips and tricks on how to restore your boats in various ways. His content is full of useful information delivered in a way that is easy to follow along and replicate on your own which was essential for my process. I have attached a link to a sample video below for your enjoyment.

 

 

Boatworks Today

Andy is friendly and informative as he guides you through various techniques regarding wooden boat building and repair. The reason this resource is so great is because if (when) I make mistakes during my restoration, I can consult with Andy on the best course of action to take in order to make sure I fix the mistake the right way. I may see an alternative that may seem to save me a lot of time, but if Andy advises to take a different approach for a better result, I am going with Andy's recommendation!

 

 

 Xyla Foxlin

An engineer by trade, Xyla has published a step-by-step guide on how to build a cedar strip canoe by hand! But Cpt. John (not a real captain), you are restoring an old Lakefield Dakota boat, a canoe is way different! This is true, however, the skills and techniques Xyla uses are all applicable to my restoration project! Although her final product takes a different shape, we are both using wood to restore/build something that is going to float on the water! In addition, Xyla's video is so well organized, with titled time stamps that are divided in the various steps and processes, I am able to go exactly to the particular part of the video that I need to review for my project. Thank you Xyla!

 

 Steve Ramsey - Woodworking for Mere Mortals

Steve was an essential source regarding learning about the versatility of a tool known as a jigsaw. If I didn't acquire a jigsaw, I would not have been able to cut curved angled cuts in the pieces I was adding to the boat. Another reassuring aspect of the jigsaw is that you have a lot more control when using it, unlike a table saw or Skil saw.

 

 

The Woodshed

This is the place I ordered the wood from. The staff demonstrated that they knew their stuff when I asked what kind of wood would be best for my project. After asking me what I needed the wood for and what my budget was, they gave excellent recommendations not only for what kind of wood I should use, but also what grade of quality I would need. It was not until I consulted with The Woodshed that I realized I needed clear cedar for my project. I learned that the more knots a piece of wood has, the weaker it is structurally, and the more it is likely to experience rot over time as it is placed in and out of the water (given it being a boat).