And I Built A Cedar Strip Canoe
Way back in the 80’s Robrandi and lived in a mobile home in Middletown, Pennsylvania. We had two beautiful girls named Jessica and Megan. Yes, we were once Trailer Park Trash, and yes I built a cedar strip canoe.
I have always had a great love for the outdoors and all the associated activities. This includes rock climbing, backpacking, canoeing, and more recently kayaking. Well, back in the day, I used to read Canoe Magazine. One day I sent away for a set of plans for a 10 ft. Cedar Strip Canoe that was advertised in the back of the magazine next to the X-Ray Glasses. When the plans arrived I explained to Robrandi my wonderful idea of constructing this magnificent Cedar Strip Canoe along side our trailer in our little Trailer Park Yard. Of course she thought I was cray.
The next day I went down to Middletown Lumber and bought out their stock of cedar planks. I explained to the clerk at the lumberyar that I was builfing a cedar stip canoe as a look of bewilderment crossed his face.
Over the next several weekends I ripped 1/4″ thick by 12ft. long cedar strips with a skill saw. I burned out the first skill saw after about 2 days. The second saw however finished the strips and I set to work building the boat. The canoe is basically built upside down, on a form called a strong back, one strip at a time alternating from side to side. Here are some photos.
Now the story that Robrandi swears by is that she came home one day in a rain storm and found me, the strong back and a pile of cedar strips inside the living room of the trailer. I can neither confirm or deny this story on the grounds of self-incrimination. Apparently, the blue tarps showed up sometime after this alleged event.
