Bruce Whittington
Curious about Wooden Canoes
After a guitar-making hiatus, this summer I returned to the restoration of my old 17' Chestnut cruiser. I am pushing to get ready for canvas before the bad weather sets in in earnest (with no warm dry place to work.) I have been replacing planks, renailed rib tops etc. and was planning to replace the top tier all around. I would like to use planks up to 7" in width at widest point for the top tier at either end. In the photo, I would replace the existing top plank on the near side that tapers to a point, and the one below it, from the filler compound forward with one wide plank to go all the way to the stem. (Two planks below at the stem would be infilled.) Maximum width is near 7", less most of the way. I have some excellent fine edge grain redcedar for the purpose. Is there any reason not to do this? There are no serious curves in this area. (Don't know what the black bar is below the scarf joint in new inwale tips . . . )