THE CRAFT

 

I choose the 15' Prospector Ranger from Bear Mtn Boats. I spent approximately 300 hours building this craft. As you may note, the wood used was nothing "spectacular", I'd like to point out 99% of the wood for this canoe came out of my town of residence, Charleston, Maine. So it's not the prettiest craft, but it's all the more special to me. After construction was complete the canoe weighed only 49lbs. I've since added bulkheads to both ends and the weight is closer to 51lbs now. It's a two seater and only makes use of the yoke as it's only thwart.

 

My brother built a cedar strip canoe when I was in elementary school and it's something that I've wanted to do ever since then. It's taken "years" to put this project together. I started with buying cedar in 2000 and storing it in my basement to "dry'. It stayed there until 2003 when I took it to a local guy to mill the bead and cove for me. He had it for 14 months and by late 2003 I had it back but didn't have enough time/temp to finish the hull. By May of 2004 I was starting the project "for real" and after 4 months of contruction had it completed.

 

I had a old friend that I looked up to and regarded as "the authority" on canoeing. I had the opportunity to paddle and to go canoe camping with him some before I started my project and learned some interesting things from him. Before I could complete my canoe Paul Lane passed away while cross-country skiing but he had influenced me enough that I would name my canoe in memory of him. So on September 26, 2004 I christened my newly crafted canoe...

 

"Memory Lane".

 

Paul Lane and Olaf.