Reinforcing

Two types of reinforcement were used. The primary reinforcing mesh is a 1/2" by 1/2" galvanized hardware cloth. This mesh was used throughout the entire hull. The other reinforcing is a ceiling grid wire that was used as lateral reinforcing every two feet. It was also used as longitudinal reinforcing in the gunwale and the thwart. A cross section of the hull is shown in the figure. The wire mesh used for the primary reinforcement was not wide enough to completely cover the inside of the female mold. Three pieces of the mesh were used to fabricate the primary reinforcement; one piece extending down the middle of the canoe from the bow to the stern and two shorter pieces approximately two thirds the length of the canoe. The two shorter pieces overlapped the middle piece by approximately one foot and were secured to the middle piece by temporary "sewing" the pieces together with 20 gage wire. This method of sewing allowed us to carefully fit the primary reinforcement to the female mold.

Click here to see a diagram of the canoe in cross section.

Please direct all comments, suggestions, and queries about this page to CE-Webmaster

Civil Engineering History Homepage