Projects on the go > Peterborough Canoe
Home > Boatbuilding > Restoring a canvas covered Peterborough Canoe

The canoe at one time was covered with fiberglass that luckily didn’t cause too many problems and was easy to remove.

She is sitting in my shop ready to be work on.

The breasthook’s at both ends needed to be replaced, as well as a few areas of the planking.

The inner gunnel also needed to be replaced as it lost its strength and any shape. Making new gunnel for the inside, laminating the shape into the last 20in at both ends.

The new inner gunnels installed.

Fitting the new white oak breasthook

The breasthook’s installed were thicker than needed and then after installed they were shaped to have a slight camber on top.

Sarah, the canoe owner, is filling the hull seems with a redlead putty.

Laying out the canvas getting ready to make a hammock to set the canoe into.

The canvas hammock is stretched using a come-along at one end

Inside view of the canoe

Stapled the canvas onto the hull using stainless staples, after nailing it on with 1in silicon bronze ring nail.

Canvas on; now just have to finish the ends.

Onside stretched and nailed to stem first.

Then the other side

Canvas installed and the weave was filled with a traditional matrix of linseed oils and fillers and left to dry for a month, now ready for paint and some more woodworking.

Any questions contact Tony at tonygrove@live.com