Instructor Geoff Burke in his Chocorua shop
Geoff Burke of Chocorua Boatbulders is offering once again a two-week course this summer on lapstrake canoe building, from Monday, July 19 through Friday, July 30. He has also offered this course through the prestigious Woodenboat School.
“Lapstrake construction is widely recognized as being one of the oldest and best ways to build a small boat. And yet the technique of planking a traditional lapstrake boat seems to be one of the least understood and documented procedures in the entire boatbuilding process. This…course, led by professional boatbuilder Geoff Burke, is designed to address this need. It will provide the student, whether an enthusiastic beginner or a seasoned boatbuilder, with a complete immersion in the art, science, theory, and practice of traditional lapstrake planking.
“Students will start with backbone and molds pre-made and ready to set up. This will allow the planking process to start almost immediately. As the days slide by, students will be encouraged to rotate through the various procedures including lining off, spiling, getting out planks, cutting gains and laps with a chisel and block plane, steam-bending ribs, and riveting. An emphasis will be placed on developing fine hand skills, use of local materials, and developing a boatbuilder’s eye for what not only works well but looks right.
“This course promises to be a very full, challenging, and exciting [time] for the student who wants to learn the art of lapstrake ‘through and through.’ [It] will allow the student to gain experience in almost all the skills in a traditional boatbuilder’s repertoire. ” (Woodenboat Magazine)
Some previous woodworking experience is desired for this course.
$1,200 course fee
Click for 2010 Scherzo brochure & registration
