The Architects Birchbark Canoe

[Nick Dennis]

Some of you would have seen the piece I wrote for the Spring 2026 edition of Wooden Canoe Journal titled "The Aristocrat, An Architect & The Birchbark Canoe". This is a follow on to that article.

Over the first weekend of June we had a UK Chapter meet on the Thames in Oxfordshire. For many years since the passing of the Architect, his birchbark canoe has been hanging in the boathouse suspended in slings over the water. The intention was for it to be restored but family stuff and other commitments resulted in the project falling further down the "Todoit" list. Having restored one of Henri's canoes recently (a sister canoe to the Architects) I offered to take it on and get the canoe usable again. I met the Architects son on Saturday night and he was unaware that the canoe still existed and naturally when I explained what I proposed he was both emotional and delighted as are the current custodians.

We got the birchbark out of the slings and replaced it with my Peterborough Cedar rib; that frees up space for me to work in my garage but also keeps a canoe hanging in what would have been a vacant space full of nice memories.

Above the birchbark, below my 1900 Peterborough Cedar Rib squatting for a while.

Henri uses barks of different shades and hues. Mine is quite pale whilst the Architects is quite dark

Here are my pair nestling up together on the Thames at the weekend.

Strapping on ready for the journey to Norfolk.

Once home I gave the Architects canoe a wash and scrub down with a soft brush and some mild soapy water to remove years of grime and a fair bit of Robin poop. It was soon looking better.

I have yet to do a full assessment but clearly some tape and gum repairs and renewals will be needed along with sorting out loose lashings. I will immediately treat the worm infestation then do a greater assessment.

You are welcome to come along for the ride to see how I get on. My intention is to have the canoe done for a Thames Regatta in early August at which I know the Architects son and family will be present so it may be a pleasant surprise for them to see the canoe in a usable condition again.

Now where's my gum pot?

Nick

 

[Worth Gretter]

I would say August is optimistic, but you have done one already, so that may make it possible!

 

[Nick Dennis]

Having cleaned it I have been able to assess the good, the bad and the ugly!

The Architect loved this canoe clearly used the canoe a lot. What I have found is:-

• A couple of punctures on the bark at stem and stern ~ I will bridge these with some fabric and glue to add a backing to the bark ease the bark out and then seal with gum
• Woodworm~ I have today treated this by saturating the whole canoe with worm treatment.
• Broken and missing lashings~ I will tidy up, replace where needed and glue down any loose ones as Henri has suggested.
• Stems~ I need to add some fabric tape and re-gum as these have worn away in areas with use.
• Gores~ Have lost most of the gum. I will do a repair. I will clean these out, seal and regum.
• I will oil inside and out with some Tung oil to add life back to the wood and bark. I will finish with some Danish oil which will soak in to give flexibility and protection.
• Henri's decoration has faded so I will repaint them in a subtle manner so you can see them but they wont look too “fresh”

Gore

Gore

Binding

Stem

Bark

Lashings for thwart

Bow

The above is the bad as expected.

The ugly: The stitching has come loose where the extra piece of bark was added for the tumblehome. You cannot easily restitch this area as it’s planked internally. I will have to inject some flexible waterproof glue behind the lifted section of bark and stick it to the planking. I will then tidy up glue the stitching to prevent it unraveling and to secure it and then cover with gum. It should sit above the waterline so shouldn’t leak

You can see here where the stitching has broken and lifted with the tumblehome bark separating slightly.

The good: Keeping the canoe suspended above the water in the boathouse has kept it tight. The bark is drum tight in most places. I have put buckets of water beneath the canoe in my garage to maintain some humidity.

This is mostly as I found on my canoe but it looks like there has been some impact damage which I will need to deal with too. The gores on the Architects canoe have opened up much more significantly than mine had.

Onwards!

Nick