Making a new Canoe

KenM · 06-25-2023, 09:05 AM

In May, K & C took a trip to SE Connecticut to a meetup of some custom van builders. It was an excuse to go to the ocean as the meetup was at Rocky Neck State Park, CT which is right on Long Island Sound. The trip was 10 days as we stopped to hike at Rickets Glen, PA and also swung by Philadelphia to visit some friends. We had 4½ days to explore the CT area around New London.

There are two Native Indian tribes in the area... Mohegan and Mashantucket Pequot. Both operate casino's here. On our way to Rocky Neck we stopped at the Mohegan tribe's Tantaquideon Museum. This a small museum that was built in 1931. It also has an outdoor area with displays and gardens. With our good luck we arrived at the museum just after a bus of 60 school kids had left! We had the museum to ourselves. There were three tribe members which gave us an in-depth tour of the Tribe's artifacts and history.

Of particular interest was the fellow actively working on a traditional dugout canoe. He had a short pine log to work on. Originals were up to 30 foot long. The log was burnt and scraped to hollow out and then flattened on the bottom. These dugout canoes were submerged in the winter to help preserve them for years of use. We had lots of questions for the worker. We asked how long it took to make a canoe. He laughed. HE would be working piece-meal for maybe three months! The Tribe would have managed to make the large canoe in a week or so.

So here's how to make yourself a new canoe... -----KenM

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06-25-2023, 09:05 AM	#1
KenM Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Louisville Oh Posts: 389 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTW/F/M Award(s): 0	Making a new Canoe In May, K & C took a trip to SE Connecticut to a meetup of some custom van builders. It was an excuse to go to the ocean as the meetup was at Rocky Neck State Park, CT which is right on Long Island Sound. The trip was 10 days as we stopped to hike at Rickets Glen, PA and also swung by Philadelphia to visit some friends. We had 4½ days to explore the CT area around New London. There are two Native Indian tribes in the area... Mohegan and Mashantucket Pequot. Both operate casino's here. On our way to Rocky Neck we stopped at the Mohegan tribe's Tantaquideon Museum. This a small museum that was built in 1931. It also has an outdoor area with displays and gardens. With our good luck we arrived at the museum just after a bus of 60 school kids had left! We had the museum to ourselves. There were three tribe members which gave us an in-depth tour of the Tribe's artifacts and history. Of particular interest was the fellow actively working on a traditional dugout canoe. He had a short pine log to work on. Originals were up to 30 foot long. The log was burnt and scraped to hollow out and then flattened on the bottom. These dugout canoes were submerged in the winter to help preserve them for years of use. We had lots of questions for the worker. We asked how long it took to make a canoe. He laughed. HE would be working piece-meal for maybe three months! The Tribe would have managed to make the large canoe in a week or so. So here's how to make yourself a new canoe... -----KenM canoe-1.jpg canoe-2.jpg canoe-3.jpg Last edited by KenM; 06-25-2023 at 09:08 AM.