![An old strip planked canoe is a good restoration project](https://i0.wp.com/ashleyriverboatworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/IMG_20160514_102453-interior-cleaning.jpg?resize=336%2C448&ssl=1)
Over the next few weeks, I’ll be writing about a recent project–restoring a strip planked canoe. These canoes are built by nailing thin wooden strips to a set of forms, and glueing the edges of the strips together. Once all the strips are in place, a layer of fiberglass is glued to the outside of the built up canoe. Then the forms are removed and fiberglass is glued to the inside of the boat. This creates a rigid, light structure that one person can easily carry by themselves. And they’re beautiful too!
![You can see how the breasthook is rotted away.](https://i0.wp.com/ashleyriverboatworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/IMG_20160518_130611-bow-breasthook-rot.jpg?resize=300%2C225&ssl=1)
This boat needs new gunwales–both inwales and outwales, as well as breasthooks and new keel sections too. In the coming weeks, we’ll be making and fitting these new parts. Stay tuned for more.