I have been working on this canoe forever it seems. I made some decisions that ended up requiring an extended time period to finish this project. Clearly building with hardwood was one of them. Had I only used a small amount for accent strips it would not have been so demanding. I also chose to finish the interior with a smooth surface and then paint. Took a lot of time to sand those concave surfaces.
I do love the beautiful lines and curves of a canoe but would rather build a kayak any day or maybe every day.

I am taking the boat to the lake this weekend for a test paddle and then I will bring it back home for a couple more coats of varnish. I am showing this boat and a kayak at the Coeur d'Alene boat show this summer as well as doing a live building demonstration for visitors. You can see a calendar of events at heirloomkayak.com and see the progress of my kayak build if interested.

Yes that is my living room but I am kind of a stickler for cleanliness so it is a low dust environment.

Robert, visionary