Wood Canvas

Wood canvas construction was used in building canoes, duck boats and other small craft. The construction method is a cedar frame covered with thin cedar planks which are in turn covered with canvas and then the canvas has an impermeable filler rubbed into it. After smoothing the filler the boat is painted. Many of these boats can be restored by replacing the canvas and repairing broken planks and ribs.

Canvas being stretched and attached to the canoe.

Cedar ribs have been bent over the duck skiff form and cedar planking is being installed with clinch nails.

Canvas has been filled and paainted. The canvas will be trimmed and new gunwales installed.

Cedar decking has been installed. The duck skiff is now ready to be covered with canvas.

The completed duck skiff. This boat is a replica of duck skiffs made until the 1950's by the Shell Lake Boat Company, Shell Lake, WI.