Odie’s Bark Canoe

[beaver]

Thus once again the building season has come and gone leaving me with the 82nd bark canoe of my career.
Really happy with this one; a 15 foot Wabenaki-style featuring curly cherry thwarts, multiple winter bark etchings, a porcupine quill embroidered feather on the bark deck and of course natural pitch of spruce, bear grease and bees wax. Yahoo! ENJOY,

 

[Dave Osborn]

Well done, Ferd! I’m awestruck.

 

[beaver]

Thank you Dave!

 

[Dave Wermuth]

A masterpiece Ferd!

 

[ALCEDO ATTHIS]

marvelous , bring back on the top of a De Lorean from the past ...
the first picture is wonderfull , the paddle movement is wrote in the water , we can imagine it...
(no google to tranlate , it's good for my brain , maybe not for yours , sorry)

 

[beaver]

That sounds like an incredible canoe, and #82 is no small milestone! The details—curly cherry thwarts, quill embroidery, etched winter bark, and the natural spruce/bear grease/beeswax pitch—make it both art and tradition in one. A true masterpiece, Ferd.

Thank you very much for your fine comentary! You’re right; these canoes don’t come easy! There is a monumental amount of work that goes into creating one of these birch bark canoes! As the late Algonquin builder Basil Smith quoted, “Lots of work for that Indian way”.
I’m very surprised that not more people from this huge organization have made a comment. At this point only 4 out of how many members?

I am very sorry to say and has become clear to me that birchbark canoes are very under appreciated.

 

[samb]

Or maybe we are all overwhelmed. I know I am.

 

[beaver]

Or maybe we are all overwhelmed. I know I am.

I think not. Just read the other posts about birchbark canoes.The average comments are around 0-2!

 

[samb]

My awe of birchbark canoes and people who make them is great. I have paddled a Vallancourt canoe and it was magic. I would love to attempt to make one but here in the UK, the materials are not available and there is no way I could afford to import them. The best I could do was a 1:8 model using card instead of bark, cedar veneer and thread for roots.

 

[patrick corry]

Pardon my failure to register my admiration and wonder at the canoe(s) you have made! While I'm hooked on paddling and restoring wood/canvas canoes, I can't even imagine the effort and artistry required for yours. Well done, and I hope there are more in your future.

P.S. Even your tools are a marvel!

 

[MGC]

Hey Ferdie, don't lose sight of the 9 responses that were done with the "like" feature on the post.
Many of us have admired the canoe and chosen to comment using that feature.
I even went as far as to use the goofy googly eyed "love" doodad. That is the very first time I have ever done that for any canoe.
Love actually comes up a bit short. I experienced something bit stronger than that. I admit that I covet that boat. There, I said it. Now I'm going to have to say a few dozen rosaries to get myself back into order.

 

[Andre Cloutier]

I’m very surprised that not more people from this huge organization have made a comment. At this point only 4 out of how many members?

Couple of thoughts, besides your work is stunning. In fact, the tools are as impressive as the boat, really glad you share more items in the photos as your craftsmanship is incredible, and extends so far beyond the boats.
As of this writing, this thread has over 961 views, and it could be that your work would not only intimidate most, but there are not many questions left and one is left to just appreciate it. I have no criticism, still learning about the craft, and quietly enjoy your work. I would wager thats why views are high and comments low.
The 'fans of' page will no doubt yield lots of comments, but on here i think you have quiet admiration and those that are moved to offer positive remarks, rather than what passes for comments elsewhere on the web. In any event, spectacular work and i cant allow myself to imagine how many miles of spruce root have to be dug and split for 82 canoes! congrats on a huge achievement.

 

[beaver]

I’m very surprised that not more people from this huge organization have made a comment. At this point only 4 out of how many members?

Couple of thoughts, besides your work is stunning. In fact, the tools are as impressive as the boat, really glad you share more items in the photos as your craftsmanship is incredible, and extends so far beyond the boats.
As of this writing, this thread has over 961 views, and it could be that your work would not only intimidate most, but there are not many questions left and one is left to just appreciate it. I have no criticism, still learning about the craft, and quietly enjoy your work. I would wager thats why views are high and comments low.
The 'fans of' page will no doubt yield lots of comments, but on here i think you have quiet admiration and those that are moved to offer positive remarks, rather than what passes for comments elsewhere on the web. In any event, spectacular work and i cant allow myself to imagine how many miles of spruce root have to be dug and split for 82 canoes! congrats on a huge achievement.

Thank you for your kind words.

 

[Dave Wermuth]

birch bark canoes are much under appreciated. I regret that I no longer have a bark canoe by Ferd. And I think that mostly they are regarded with awe. The skills that are required to work in the Indian way may become lost to history if not for Ferdy and a few others. Ferdy is the GOAT when it comes to preserving these traditions. The language, the tools, the basket making. On trips to Quetico with Ferdy and others I was fortunate to paddle stern with Ferd. He made utensils that we needed. He made a smoker to smoke a trout and it was the best tasting fish ever. He made baskets. I was the closest to guessing how many moose turds were in a basket he made on the spot for the collection of moose turds. And I won the basket. There were 69 turds. The basket holds a place of honor in my home. The moose turd basket. We fly fished and Ferdy caught fish on flies he made from birch bark and other flies made from.....moose turds. I have the video. Ferdy is a student of the Indian way and he is also the Professor. We literally have a DaVinci among us in our time. When Ralph Freese of Chicago land canoe base had an old bark canoe he specified that it would be restored and Ferdy was the only one he would have do it. On one particularly windy day, the left handed Ferdinator drove a bass popper thought his left ear on a powerful forward cast. After I had him pose for pictures I removed the hook and can tell you he is mortal and bleeds like the rest of us. Thanks Ferdy for keeping the skills alive.

 

[MGC]

Andre captured it perfectly. In the presence of a master, we stand in awe. No.amount of fawning blathering can express the respect we have for your skills and work. Goodness.
I was not kidding. I covet that canoe.

 

[beaver]

Thank you so much!
“I live the life I love and I love the life I live”

 

[Todd F]

Meant to give a huge thumbs up vs a haha!

Ferdie, you are in another, and inspiring, league. What intrigues me as much as the result is your process.

With much respect, Todd

 

[lowangle al]

Awesome boat Ferdie. Your skills and artistry go way beyond just building a boat. Even your tools are beautiful.

I would love to own one but that probably won't happen. A more realistic goal would be to paddle one, if the opportunity comes my way.

 

[beaver]

birch bark canoes are much under appreciated. I regret that I no longer have a bark canoe by Ferd. And I think that mostly they are regarded with awe. The skills that are required to work in the Indian way may become lost to history if not for Ferdy and a few others. Ferdy is the GOAT when it comes to preserving these traditions. The language, the tools, the basket making. On trips to Quetico with Ferdy and others I was fortunate to paddle stern with Ferd. He made utensils that we needed. He made a smoker to smoke a trout and it was the best tasting fish ever. He made baskets. I was the closest to guessing how many moose turds were in a basket he made on the spot for the collection of moose turds. And I won the basket. There were 69 turds. The basket holds a place of honor in my home. The moose turd basket. We fly fished and Ferdy caught fish on flies he made from birch bark and other flies made from.....moose turds. I have the video. Ferdy is a student of the Indian way and he is also the Professor. We literally have a DaVinci among us in our time. When Ralph Freese of Chicago land canoe base had an old bark canoe he specified that it would be restored and Ferdy was the only one he would have do it. On one particularly windy day, the left handed Ferdinator drove a bass popper thought his left ear on a powerful forward cast. After I had him pose for pictures I removed the hook and can tell you he is mortal and bleeds like the rest of us. Thanks Ferdy for keeping the skills alive.

Thank you “General”

 

[beaver]

These were the Glory Days of paddling birchbark canoes in the Canadian Wilderness!