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Canoes: A Natural History in North America

Mark Neuzil and Norman Sims

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This is the story of the canoe, that singular American artifact so little changed over time. Featured here are canoes old and new, from birch bark to dugout to carbon fiber; the people who made them; and the adventures they shared. With features of technology, industry, art, and survival, the canoe carries us deep into the natural and cultural history of North America.

Follow author Mark Neuzil on Twitter: @mrneuzil

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Published: 2016

Publisher: University of Minnesota Press

ISBN(s)

9780816681174 (hardcover)

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A color photograph of a birch-bark canoe on the grass.

Penobscot Canoe

From Sidebar: The Oldest Birch-Bark Canoe

This Penobscot canoe, held by the Peabody Essex Museum, is one of the oldest birch barks in existence and the oldest canoe in one piece.

A restored William English canoe, model 21, which was listed as 16-feet long, 31 inches beam, and 12 inches deep.

Restored William English Canoe

From Chapter 4: All-Wood Canoes

A restored William English canoe, model 21, which was listed as 16-feet long, 31 inches beam, and 12 inches deep.

A cedar strip all-wood canoe (right) at the Canadian Canoe Museum. A “double-cedar” canoe, with a layer of canvas between the planking, is at the left.

Cedar-Strip Canoe at the Canadian Canoe Museum

From Chapter 4: All-Wood Canoes

A cedar strip all-wood canoe (right) at the Canadian Canoe Museum. A “double-cedar” canoe, with a layer of canvas between the planking, is at the left.

Wood-and-canvas canoes built by the B. N. Morris Company of Veazie, Maine, among other builders, were made to order for paddlers overseas. This highly prized Morris canoe is owned by Tim Rowe in Great Britain, where several clubs collect the Canadian style canoes built in North America.

B. N. Morris Canoe

From Chapter 5: Wood-and-Canvas Canoes

Wood-and-canvas canoes built by the B. N. Morris Company of Veazie, Maine, among other builders, were made to order for paddlers overseas. This highly prized Morris canoe is owned by Tim Rowe in Great Britain, where several clubs collect the Canadian style canoes built in North America.

A Gerrish canoe, ca. 1900, serial number 1772, restored by Zachary Smith. Note the reed wrapping at the end of the gunwales, which was a Gerrish feature.

Restored Gerrish Canoe

From Chapter 5: Wood-and-Canvas Canoes

A Gerrish canoe, ca. 1900, serial number 1772, restored by Zachary Smith. Note the reed wrapping at the end of the gunwales, which was a Gerrish feature.

This 17-foot B. N. Morris canoe was originally built ca. 1912 and has been carefully restored by Rollin Thurlow of the Northwoods Canoe Company in Atkinson, Maine.

Restored B. N. Morris Canoe

From Chapter 5: Wood-and-Canvas Canoes

This 17-foot B. N. Morris canoe was originally built ca. 1912 and has been carefully restored by Rollin Thurlow of the Northwoods Canoe Company in Atkinson, Maine.

A diagram depicting the parts of an open gunwale wood-and-canvas canoe.

Parts of a Wood-and-Canvas Canoe

From Chapter 5: Wood-and-Canvas Canoes

The parts of an open gunwale wood-and-canvas canoe.

Canvas being stretched over a 1905 Morris Veazie model canoe. Note the tacks at the gunwale that hold the canvas to the boat.

Stretching Canvas

From Chapter 5: Wood-and-Canvas Canoes

Canvas being stretched over a 1905 Morris Veazie model canoe. Note the tacks at the gunwale that hold the canvas to the boat.

A color photograph of a wood and canvas canoe in the process of restoration.

Restoring a Canoe

From Chapter 5: Wood-and-Canvas Canoes

The side gunwales and planking of a canoe await restoration at Dylan and Emily Schoelzel’s Salmon Falls Canoe workshop in Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts.

A before-and-after restoration of a 1927 Carleton canoe, which was built in the Old Town Canoe Company factory. Using the Old Town “build record,” the canoe was restored to the same colors and condition as the original. Restoration by Tom Seavey.

Carleton Canoe Restoration - Before

From Chapter 5: Wood-and-Canvas Canoes

A before-and-after restoration of a 1927 Carleton canoe, which was built in the Old Town Canoe Company factory. Using the Old Town “build record,” the canoe was restored to the same colors and condition as the original. Restoration by Tom Seavey.

A before-and-after restoration of a 1927 Carleton canoe, which was built in the Old Town Canoe Company factory. Using the Old Town “build record,” the canoe was restored to the same colors and condition as the original. Restoration by Tom Seavey.

Carleton Canoe Restoration - After

From Chapter 5: Wood-and-Canvas Canoes

A before-and-after restoration of a 1927 Carleton canoe, which was built in the Old Town Canoe Company factory. Using the Old Town “build record,” the canoe was restored to the same colors and condition as the original. Restoration by Tom Seavey.

A photograph of a restored Chestnut Canoe in the water.

Restored Chestnut Canoe

From Chapter 5: Wood-and-Canvas Canoes

Chestnut canoes continue to be one of the most popular styles among paddlers. Mike Elliot of Kettle River Canoes in British Columbia restored this Chestnut Bob’s Special model.

Pam Wedd, owner of Bearwood Canoe Company near Parry Sound, Ontario, paddles a restored Gerrish canoe.

Pam Wedd

From Chapter 5: Wood-and-Canvas Canoes

Pam Wedd, owner of Bearwood Canoe Company near Parry Sound, Ontario, paddles a restored Gerrish canoe.

Emily Schoelzel restoring a 1964 Old Town OTCA canoe in the Salmon Falls Canoe shop.

Emily Schoelzel

From Chapter 5: Wood-and-Canvas Canoes

Emily Schoelzel restoring a 1964 Old Town OTCA canoe in the Salmon Falls Canoe shop.

Rollin Thurlow working in his shop at Northwoods Canoe Company in Atkinson, Maine. Thurlow restores old wood-and-canvas canoes and builds his own Atkinson Traveler canoes along with new Morris, Rushton, and E. M. White boats.

Rollin Thurlow

From Chapter 5: Wood-and-Canvas Canoes

Rollin Thurlow working in his shop at Northwoods Canoe Company in Atkinson, Maine. Thurlow restores old wood-and-canvas canoes and builds his own Atkinson Traveler canoes along with new Morris, Rushton, and E. M. White boats.

Tom Seavey with a 1905 Morris Veazie canoe that he restored.

Tom Seavey

From Sidebar: Tom Seavey

Tom Seavey with a 1905 Morris Veazie canoe that he restored.

The tangled business of restoring a rotted canoe stem.

Restoring a Rotten Canoe Stem

From Sidebar: Tom Seavey

The tangled business of restoring a rotted canoe stem.

The 1905 Morris Veazie halfway home in Tom Seavey’s shop.

1905 Morris Veazie

From Sidebar: Tom Seavey

The 1905 Morris Veazie halfway home in Tom Seavey’s shop.

Tom Seavey attaching the extended outwale to the canvassed Veazie canoe.

Restoration of 1905 Morris Veazie

From Sidebar: Tom Seavey

Tom Seavey attaching the extended outwale to the canvassed Veazie canoe.