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Ever wanted to carve a boat from a tree like Native Americans did in the olden days?

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EditSteps

  1. Carve a Boat from a Tree Step 1.jpg
    1
    Find yourself a proper tree. A good kind is a seasoned hardwood log. Make sure that it is not rotten. The log needs to be from 6 to 12 inches (15.2 to 30.5 cm) wider than your tush; otherwise you'll have a very tight narrow seat. Also, wider is more stable. As for length, 2–3 feet (0.6–0.9 m) longer than you are tall is useful if you want to lie down and/or stow gear.
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  2. Carve a Boat from a Tree Step 2.jpg
    2
    Shape it. Use a hatchet or saw to carve the ends into something more streamlined. Don't get too carried away since you can always finish it later. Carve the bottom of the wood flat so that the craft won't roll into the water.
  3. Carve a Boat from a Tree Step 3.jpg
    3
    Hack the wood with your hatchet a trench or trough a few inches deep and about a foot wide down the center of the top of the craft. This is where you will lay your coals.
  4. Carve a Boat from a Tree Step 4.jpg
    4
    Get your log into a semi-sheltered and safe place. Semi-sheltered meaning out of the wind but with a very light breeze to fan the coals, and safe meaning where no unauthorized persons can mess with it and where there is nothing burnable nearby.
  5. Carve a Boat from a Tree Step 5.jpg
    5
    Make a fire or find an existing one and spread the coals in the trench.
  6. Carve a Boat from a Tree Step 6.jpg
    6
    Take time for the coals to char and soften the wood. This step may take a few hours to a few days. Check the log often; don't let the whole log catch on fire or you will have to start all over. Every so often, scrap the coals out of the way and hack out the blackened and softened wood. Using coals saves you a lot of work in the long run.
  7. Carve a Boat from a Tree Step 7.jpg
    7
    Use wet clay to control where you want the coals to burn away wood.
  8. Carve a Boat from a Tree Step 8.jpg
    8
    Remove the coals once you judge the trench deep and wide enough. Finish shaping the inside so the log is splinter-free.
  9. Carve a Boat from a Tree Step 9.jpg
    9
    Lacquer the finished log with something to waterproof it. The Native Americans often used tree sap smeared over the outside. Lacquering the log is optional.
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EditWarnings

  • Always be careful with sharp objects. Sharp edges and sweaty hands are not a good combination.
  • If you're felling the tree, make sure it doesn't fall on anyone or anything valuable.
  • Absolutely do NOT use flammable liquids like kerosene, gasoline, etc to speed up the process. The resulting smoke and flame will bring out the fire department.

EditThings You'll Need

  • Tools - hatchet, saw
  • Enough hot coals from a campfire to evenly cover an area roughly 7 x 2 feet square
  • A seasoned hardwood log
  • Time and patience

EditRelated wikiHows

How to
Build a Mini City in Your Backyard

How to
Build a Boat

How to
Fell a Tree

EditSources and Citations

  • Dakota Dream by James Bennett

Article Info

Categories: Boats | Woodworking

Recent edits by: TTGA, Waffles, Mountain Dew

Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 16,811 times.

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