Tom starts to split the last long piece of cedar for the gunwale cap.
This piece contains a knot so we have to make a decision whether we try to split through it or... play it safe and take a saw. Well, we took the saw, its a really long piece of cedar and we didn't have any backup pieces lying around.
Wim is drilling holes in the gunwale with a hand drill.
With dowels the top gunwale is fixed on the canoe. The dowels are pounded in place and the excess length is cut off with a saw or crooked knife.
Tom and Wim are putting the last hand to the bow.
Finally the canoe is brought outside for the finishing touch and pitching gum!
Pictures below:
Tom cuts off the excess bark with a crooked knife. The gum is heated in a pot and mixed with bear-fat. You gather a bit of gum on the end of a stick and blob it over a seam, then lick you finger and press the gum into the seam.
