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The Wee Lassie

by Sue Keroes
From the Feb. 1998 WrapAround

Click on the photo to see a larger image

I love the look of wood strip canoes and have always wanted to own one, but felt the cost prohibitive. A friend, Gardner Moulton, who has built several canoes encouraged me to attempt the project. I have no wood working experience, but read two books: Building a Strip Canoe by Gil Gilpatrick and Canoecraft by Ted Moore.

weelassie.jpg (30978 bytes)The boat I built is a solo flat water canoe called the Wee Lassie. This model dates back to about the 1880's, is 10 feet, 6 inches and weighs 31 pounds. It is constructed of white cedar, redwood, ash and cherry. It was built in my home pottery studio, starting Christmas 1996 and I launched her in June of 1997 at the Concord River public boat ramp in Bedford. It probably took me about 400 hours to build, but then I have no wood working experience. I did most of the work and loved every minute of it. I am debating what my next boat project will be. It may be a tandem flat water "Red Bird" or a sea kayak. Mike Jacobs help me fiberglass and resin the hull's outside. Bill Lowman was my expert help for inwales, outwales and deck.

This is a fun little boat to paddle. I have had it frequently on the Concord River and am in many home videos of strangers taken as I paddled under the Old North Bridge. It has been to Maine (Saco River) and New Hampshire (Spicket). This summer I will paddle at August Camp near Flagstaff Lake in Maine for two weeks leading canoe trips. The Wee Lassie is definitely going with me.

Copyright 2000, Sue Keroes. All rights reserved.

 

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