I've been working on two power boats for the last year and wanted to show them to you. I'm also making a 17 foot cypress dugout pirogue at this time. I have about 10 pirogues, all different styles and will start another when I finish these two boats. Go to the web site and click on the date (1-10), thank you, Keith http://www.wafb.com/Global/category.asp?C=20267
chossing the right Wood
- Thread starter keith
- Start date
REALLY NICE! Good going, Keith. And, you sly dog, you hired that handsome movie star fella to double for you.
I'd be very interested in more story and pictures of your dugout. Those guys who invented that set of techniques had real imagination, tenacity, and gumption. We stand on the shoulders of giants.
I'd be very interested in more story and pictures of your dugout. Those guys who invented that set of techniques had real imagination, tenacity, and gumption. We stand on the shoulders of giants.
A
Anonymous
Guest
boats
That be some fine lookin boats ya got there.
Your craftsmanship makes me want to put a canvas over my boats
That be some fine lookin boats ya got there.
Your craftsmanship makes me want to put a canvas over my boats
Hello Kyak Jack,
My friend Keith asked that I post a few pictures on building a dugout. Here goes.........
First find a suitable log, for us this means pulling up an old sinker cypress
Get it cut into a cant, be careful to avoid the very center and any shakes
Outline the top of the dugout based on the shape of the cant and cut to that shape
Turn the cant over and outline the bottom
Now trim away anything between the top outline and bottom outline that doesn't look like a dugout
Do whatever additional shaping to get the lines you want. Remember this is all by hand and by eye.
With the outside shaped, hog out the middle
This hole is key to making a dugout from a wet log as it allows moisture to leave the log without splitting the ends
Continue to remove any wood that you think doesn't belong and you'll eventually have something that'll let you run your traplines
My friend Keith asked that I post a few pictures on building a dugout. Here goes.........
First find a suitable log, for us this means pulling up an old sinker cypress
Get it cut into a cant, be careful to avoid the very center and any shakes
Outline the top of the dugout based on the shape of the cant and cut to that shape
Turn the cant over and outline the bottom
Now trim away anything between the top outline and bottom outline that doesn't look like a dugout
Do whatever additional shaping to get the lines you want. Remember this is all by hand and by eye.
With the outside shaped, hog out the middle
This hole is key to making a dugout from a wet log as it allows moisture to leave the log without splitting the ends
Continue to remove any wood that you think doesn't belong and you'll eventually have something that'll let you run your traplines
Now THAT is a wooden boat. Back channel Old Sparkey & ask him to tell you the story of how we got started - and building wooden boats. You won't believe it.
You make boats like Michelangelo made statues. He took a big piece of marble, and hacked away anything that didn't look like Venus De Milo.
May I suggest to you, that you hie thyself to your local library, and ask them to get shipped in a copy of the book Voyage of the Ant.. You will understand the guy. When you get done, email me & let me know. I'll put you in contact with the author.
You make boats like Michelangelo made statues. He took a big piece of marble, and hacked away anything that didn't look like Venus De Milo.
May I suggest to you, that you hie thyself to your local library, and ask them to get shipped in a copy of the book Voyage of the Ant.. You will understand the guy. When you get done, email me & let me know. I'll put you in contact with the author.
Bloody hell Seedtick, you are a legend mate!
You have just impressed the hell out of me. bloody brilliant job. Thank you for sharing.
You have just impressed the hell out of me. bloody brilliant job. Thank you for sharing.
Hey Seedtick,
You are indeed a mastercraftsman. How thick do the sides end up?
'Tis a beautiful thing
You are indeed a mastercraftsman. How thick do the sides end up?
'Tis a beautiful thing
New Friend Keith,
That iz some mitey fine work. I always figgered a pirogue wuz the big hollowed out log, but I dont recall what Nevada Smith called it. The second pichur of the log set me off on my Beowulf table dream. Last nite I spent a while tryin' ta tell ya'll, but dreams aint eazy ta type.
I got $5 sez ya got a fine table that ya kin put yer feet up on....'n all yer pals kin set a spell 'n tell tall tales.
respectfully
bearridge
Woodrow Call: What do you want legs for anyway? You don't like to do nothing but sit on the porch and drink whiskey!
Gus McCrae: I like to kick a pig every once in a while. How would I do that?
That iz some mitey fine work. I always figgered a pirogue wuz the big hollowed out log, but I dont recall what Nevada Smith called it. The second pichur of the log set me off on my Beowulf table dream. Last nite I spent a while tryin' ta tell ya'll, but dreams aint eazy ta type.
I got $5 sez ya got a fine table that ya kin put yer feet up on....'n all yer pals kin set a spell 'n tell tall tales.
respectfully
bearridge
Woodrow Call: What do you want legs for anyway? You don't like to do nothing but sit on the porch and drink whiskey!
Gus McCrae: I like to kick a pig every once in a while. How would I do that?
Don't give me too much credit, Keith is the one with all the smarts.
Thickness on the dugout depends mainly on your skill level and the way the grain is running, it's easier to leave it a bit thick than to repair a hole in the side. If it's too thin then it's subject to splitting. Having said all that, 3/4" to1" on the sides and 1 to 1 1/2" for the bottom is good. Trying to get to 1/2" may cause problems.
Thickness on the dugout depends mainly on your skill level and the way the grain is running, it's easier to leave it a bit thick than to repair a hole in the side. If it's too thin then it's subject to splitting. Having said all that, 3/4" to1" on the sides and 1 to 1 1/2" for the bottom is good. Trying to get to 1/2" may cause problems.
Keith and seedtick,
You guys make some mighty fine lookin' boats. Wish I had your skills.
I'll be vacationing at Chicot Lake in March. I just might find time to drive down your way.
Mike
You guys make some mighty fine lookin' boats. Wish I had your skills.
I'll be vacationing at Chicot Lake in March. I just might find time to drive down your way.
Mike
Don't let our resident Eye-tal-yun Jimmie Dorazio (Oldyakker) get around that boat. He'll rub it down with olive oil and garlic, and fill it with salad, thinking, "WOW! Am I lucky! Looka the size of this salad bowl!"
thanks everyone for the kind comments
To Bilgerat and others===========
We welcome visitors and would like to have you come by. Chicot state park is a couple of hours from us. We're just east of Baton Rouge. Let us know before you head this way, 'cause we're easily distracted and may not be around.
contact thru the website www.keithspirogues.com
To Bilgerat and others===========
We welcome visitors and would like to have you come by. Chicot state park is a couple of hours from us. We're just east of Baton Rouge. Let us know before you head this way, 'cause we're easily distracted and may not be around.
contact thru the website www.keithspirogues.com
Boy Scouts would have a good time but if this ole fart got there I would be like a kid in a candy store , not knowing which way to go or what to drool over.
I am kicking myself , I have driven thru that area several times and had no idea all of those goodies were there , especially the real , dug out , pirogues. :evil:
Chuck.
I am kicking myself , I have driven thru that area several times and had no idea all of those goodies were there , especially the real , dug out , pirogues. :evil:
Chuck.
They probably had radio patrol cars out and took down the signs, Chuck. Not all crackers are slow.
cypress
Hi Chuck, come on by,everybody is welcome. We make all kinds of boats and tables and stuff. Seedtick and I are retired and we have the same interest.We would make boats all the time but our better halfs want bird houses, tables and ect. We like the logging part as well. You never know what you are pulling up, it a surprise each time. A 30 inch log is 800+ years old, all the sap wood is gone when you pull them up ( the largest we have gotten was 6 ft. and they have been underwater for 100 to 500 years ). Thanks and later Keith
Hi Chuck, come on by,everybody is welcome. We make all kinds of boats and tables and stuff. Seedtick and I are retired and we have the same interest.We would make boats all the time but our better halfs want bird houses, tables and ect. We like the logging part as well. You never know what you are pulling up, it a surprise each time. A 30 inch log is 800+ years old, all the sap wood is gone when you pull them up ( the largest we have gotten was 6 ft. and they have been underwater for 100 to 500 years ). Thanks and later Keith
Keith
Some of the canoes that Phillip A. Green makes http://www.woodsongcanoes.com/ he uses the old wood like you bring up off the river bottom.
It is my understanding this is one of the reasons his canoes are so expensive , because that old wood is very expensive and hard to get your hand's on for boat building. http://www.neilbank.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=1745
Chuck.
Some of the canoes that Phillip A. Green makes http://www.woodsongcanoes.com/ he uses the old wood like you bring up off the river bottom.
It is my understanding this is one of the reasons his canoes are so expensive , because that old wood is very expensive and hard to get your hand's on for boat building. http://www.neilbank.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=1745
Chuck.
Keith,
I'm curious; since the log was a sinker, would the dugout sink if you were to capsize it? Sure would be a shame to lose it for another 500 years.
I'm curious; since the log was a sinker, would the dugout sink if you were to capsize it? Sure would be a shame to lose it for another 500 years.
I'll tell you guys a trip I'd dream about. Going to see Keith and Seedtick make these boats. Then, go to the Philippines and see the boats over there too! I just always get this feeling that the simpler and less complicated a boat is, the better it is.
"Moving parts don't, and leak proof tanks do."
"Moving parts don't, and leak proof tanks do."