are often attached with some type of metal or copper fasteners, while wooden trusses are outfitted inside the boat for support. Meanwhile, the Austronesian people — native to the islands along the Australian coast, Southeast Asia, and off the coast of South America — use a technique called lashed-lug. In this method, wood is carved and sewn together. Boats are also often sealed with tapa bark, which is a caulk-like material that expands when it’s wet. Regardless of what style is used in the process, the basis of any good wooden boat starts with the right wood type. This was a lesson one of our craftsmen, David Yoder, learned while helping build dozens of canoes on a mission. We’re appreciative to have his expertise in the shop.
have to be long and even. The experts at O’Shea identify hardwoods as some of the best materials for boats; however, some softwoods will do just
The most common ideas people have for wood-crafted items include chairs, tables, cabinetry, and other pieces of furniture, but for centuries, humankind has relied on wooden boats to carry them from small streams to mighty oceans. As useful as a wooden boat
fine! The best types include mahogany, cypress, white oak, and cedar. As history has progressed, many civilizations have found the right combination of wood types for boats, and over time, cultures have created their own style with these wood types.
can be — it’s buoyant enough to float and strong enough to withstand damage — building
one can be precarious.
As our friends at O’Shea Lumber Company point
out, wood for a boat has to fall within the Goldilocks principle. It has to be soft but not breakable. It has to be airy, but not brittle. It has to avoid decay with regular use, but its boards also
For example, the Scandinavians and North Sea Germanic people are first credited with the
clinker method. In this style, builders affix wooden planks together with a slight overlap for a tighter fit. These
INGREDIENTS Cake • 3 eggs • 2 cups sugar • 3/4 cup oil • 3/4 cup applesauce
• 1 tsp baking soda • 3 cups peeled, chopped apples • 1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts Icing • 1/4 cup butter • 2 tbsp milk • 1/2 cup brown sugar • Pinch salt
• 2 tsp vanilla • 3 cups flour • 1 tsp salt
DIRECTIONS
For cake batter, preheat oven to 350 F. Beat eggs until foamy. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix well. Pour into a greased 10-inch tube pan. Bake for 75 minutes. Cool 10 minutes. Remove from pan. For the icing, combine ingredients in a saucepan and boil for 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Pour over warm cake immediately.
PICTURE BY HEATHER AND MEGAN ZIMMERMAN
302-653-2411 • 3
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