The Modern Canoe: A Practical Guide to Woodstrip/Resin Construction

Geoff Cragg is a tenured instructor in the Faculty of General Studies at
the University of Calgary.

Canoes are so much a part of Canadian identity and history that one
welcomes additions to the literature. This reasonably thorough guide to
the construction of cedar-strip canoes for the novice builder covers
essential design features and includes plans for six canoes. More than
just a set of instructions, however, it also provides a brief historical
context for the Canadian canoe and its method of construction.

The authors (Pellerin is a commercial boat-builder and educator,
Bissland is an enthusiastic amateur who has built his own canoe
following Pellerin’s instructions) present the task of woodstrip
construction in a coherent and accessible manner. The accompanying
photos and illustrations are of good quality, helpful, and usually
well-placed for reference. Checklists of materials and tools are
included, and there is a short, worthwhile section on maintenance and
repair.

The Modern Canoe deserves a place in the boatbuilder’s library, but
prospective canoe-makers may wish to use it in conjunction with other
manuals that feature more varied plans and detailed construction
techniques.