- 1). Find a softwood tree or log of the proper dimensions. The size of your canoe remains a personal choice, with an average size generally in the neighborhood of 20 to 30 feet long and 8 feet in circumference. Good soft woods would include redwood, spruce, pine, cedar or cottonwood. A clean and defect-free log works best. Be especially careful of rot in the wood. It cannot have any of that.
- 2). Design the appearance of your canoe on paper. Whether you want an intricately carved masterpiece or a very simple and functional look, make a large and detailed drawing that has the proper dimensions numbered. This will make working on your project easier since you'll always have something to refer to as you cut and carve.
- 3). Use your adze and axe to completely strip away all the bark from your log. Having done this, mark the middle of the log's width in a vertical line on each end of the log. From this middle width mark, use a chalk line to mark out perpendicular lines running out to either side of the log. Do this on both ends, top and bottom. This marks out the basic shape of your canoe's tapering ends. Now mark out the top and bottom of the canoe with chalk lines running along the length of both sides and across both ends.
- 4). Rev up the chain saw and cut out the basic shape of your canoe along the lines you've marked. Saw off the two end corners and cut out the top by making a downward cut to your lengthwise line every 6 inches to a foot, and then sawing along the lengthwise line. Knock off each section as you cut under it. Turn the log over and do the same for the bottom. If your log still looks wider than you like, chalk out lengthwise lines along each side of the top and bottom, to the appropriate depths and cut off the excess on the sides in the same way as you did the top and bottom. Make sure all cuts are evenly spaced and level by using a level and tape measure.
- 5). Continue blocking out the slightly finer details of your canoe. Cut out the bottom corners of each end so that your canoe now has a classical boat shape. Then, draw out the area of your canoe's interior and carve out its rough shape by making downward incisions lengthwise and widthwise with your chainsaw so they form multiple squares. Use a wedge and sledge hammer to pry them out one at a time. Work in layers on the interior. Never cut deeper than 4 to 5 inches for each successive layer while carving out the hull interior.
- 6). Work with your adze and axe to finely carve out the final shape of the canoe. Refer frequently to your drawings and their measurements to avoid mistakes. Use the adze to smooth out the interior of the canoe, and use the axe to do the same for the outside. Remove all remaining excess material with both tools until your final shape and size take form.
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