Winner-Kayaks: Sturgeon-nosed canoe

Sturgeon-nosed canoe - Part 1

Sturgeon-nosed canoes were originally made with a hull out of bark. A possible description of the construction might be 'frame in bark'. When I first saw a skin on frame version of this intriguing shape I said to myself: I have to build this beauty. It looks like somehow built upside down if you compare it to "normal" open canoe. And thats for a reason: a long keelson makes a boat track well and determines the hull speed. And small above-waterline surface reduces drift caused by wind.

If you want to learn more about the Sturgeon nosed/Kootenay canoe please check the following links:

http://indigenousboats.blogspot.co.at/2011/09/sturgeon-nose-canoes.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sturgeon-nosed_canoe

http://paddleandoar.com/notebook/snc/buildingSNC/index.html

http://www.traditionalkayaks.com/kutenai.html

The pine inwales and the thwart lashed and pegged together. On the left my sons 305 cm greenland-style kayak. On the right the matching paddle for the canoe to be built.

I bent the ash-ribs in the bathroom (note to every copyist: do have an understanding wife;-). Now they are ready to be lashed to the inwales with artificial sinew.

All ribs are in! Outwales and keelson ready to be attached.

To faciliate the process of tying in the sheeting, the ribs are pegged in place through the outwales in addition to the lashings. Note the stop on the drill assuring proper stud holes.