| Cedar Strip Canoes | | | | Another reason people build cedar canoes is simple - |
| If you want a canoe - especially a cedar canoe - it is | | | | pride. I love walking into my garage and seeing my |
| possible to just go purchase one. Numerous | | | | canoe there - with all it's flaws - and knowing I built it. I |
| woodworkers sell them and these are beautiful | | | | cut the wood, glued it, sanded it, and fiber-glassed it |
| examples of their work. | | | | (with some help from friends of course). |
| Many people choose to build their own however. | | | | It is a great conversation piece and I have a lot of |
| There are several reasons for this. | | | | good memories from the project itself. |
| A cedar strip canoe is much more expensive than a | | | | Finally people build these boats to have full control of |
| regular canoe. A plastic or composite canoe can be | | | | the process and the finished boat. They may want a |
| purchased new for less than $1000 (USD). Some of | | | | specific pattern built into the accent strips. The accent |
| the basic models can be had for under $500. | | | | strips are easily the most creative part of building a |
| Cedar canoes are much more expensive. Purchasing | | | | canoe and the design possibilities are endless. |
| a hand made canoe (they are all hand-made) can cost | | | | Other parts of the canoe give the builder a way of |
| anywhere from $3000 to $5000 or more. The | | | | personalizing everything as well. The decks, gunwales, |
| professionals who create these canoes are true | | | | thwarts, and seats have many possibilities as well. The |
| artists and the market demand supports this price. At | | | | one thing you can guarantee is that no two cedar |
| the same time the price puts the canoes out of the | | | | canoes will be alike even if they are built from the |
| hands of many people. | | | | same plans. |
| Building one is a reasonable alternative. If a hobbyist | | | | People might have different reasons for choosing to |
| has average woodworking skills and access to a | | | | build a canoe. But no matter what their reason is the |
| workshop with fairly normal tools the only real cost is | | | | hard work is worth it - the final product is the ultimate |
| the materials. The total cost can be between $700 | | | | combination of skill, art, and utility. The boats last a very |
| and $1100, depending on what materials are purchased | | | | long time and need only slight routine maintenance. |
| and the size of the canoe. | | | | |