Canvassing the Canoe

Before stretching the #10 Standard Mildew Resistant Canvas onto the canoe, it was turned over and lightly sanded. After the exterior of the hull planking was cleaned up, a generous coat of boiled linseed oil was applied to limit its ability to absorb water. Over the years, the hull planks developed many highs and lows and aren't as fair as they once were. The multitude of clench nails prohibited me from doing much fairing of the hull. The highs and lows of the hull will be another part of the canoe's patina.

Before stretching the canvas, we had to build two clamps that would hold each end of the folded canvas. These clamps were hung from the ceiling about 17 feet from each other. One of the clamps was connected to a stud in the wall with a chain. The opposite end was connected to a wall with a come-a-long.

Once the canvas was folded in half and suspended by the homemade clamps, the canoe was nestled down into it. Sand bags were placed into the canoe to weigh it down and prevent the canoe from popping back out when the canvas was drawn tight by the come-a-long. Once everything was in place, the canvas was stretched tightly around the canoe longitudinally. Another set of brackets resembling large clothes pins were built to pull the canvas halves together at both stems.

Special canvas pliers were then used to stretch the canvas up to the gunwales where two copper tacks were used to hold the canvas taught. When the proper tension is achieved, a small fold of fabric forms above each tack.

At each end of the canoe, the canvas was cut so that each side could be folded over the stems. A small amount of bedding compound was applied to the stems before tacking one side of the canvas to it. A second light layer of bedding compound was applied before stretching and tacking the second side of the canvas over the first.

After the canvas was stretched and tacked in place, the traditional alkyd oil and silica-base filler was applied. Filler protects and waterproofs the canvas. It is applied by hand rubbing several coats into the canvas. The filler can take four to six weeks to completely dry.