Keuka Lake NY, July 2009, doing what I enjoy most, sailing a canoe.
Indian River near Peterborough, Summer 2011, paddling an early 20th century Walter Dean metallic-joint Sunnyside Torpedo.
Here’s me at a glance:
Lifelong sailor, especially of canoes. Boatbuilder. Teacher of boatbuilding. Writer about boats. Occasional designer of small boats. Designer and fabricator of museum exhibits. Baker of whole-grain bread. Ardent vegan. Golden Retriever Owner. Afficionado of puns, satire, parodies and other forms of word-play. Drinker of strong coffee.
And here’s Cookie, the afore-mentioned Golden Retriever, to whom we said a sad farewell in December of 2014 after 12 wonderful years.
Near Peterborough, on the Indian River, summer 2010.
Cookie was a great help in the shop. It’s much quicker to simply position her paw to hold a batten when you’re lofting than to keep driving finishing nails.
In July of 2015 we welcomed Dover to our family, from Erie Bay Kennels near Port Dover, Ontario. Haven’t had a chance to get him out in the canoe yet (mainly because someone hasn’t finished recanvassing it!), but he’s turned out to be pretty helpful in the workshop too. Here he is at my friend Peter’s, destroying the first of a number of sticks that he finished off that day.
Playing With Boats 
Great blog John. All the best. Jim
Just discovered your blog from your signature on the the sailing canoe discussion group. I’m looking forward to the next post.
Dave
I have a 1930’s Peterborough sailing canoe without mast in the garage. It needs to find a home where someone will either use it or hang it as decoration in a huge cottage. Can you give me some direction as to whom to contact?
Ines
Did you find a home for your Peterborough?
I was restoring one a few years ago, but a careless janitor knocked it off it’s stands and the hull was destroyed.
I currently sail a Peterborough Champlain, would love to havea go at retoring your boat.
Hello. Just a note to say well done for an excellent site. I represent the Historic Canoe and Hayak Ass’n., in UK. I will be including a link to this site in our Links section.
You might have also heard of the Open Canoe Sailing Group (OCSG) which again has lots of info. about sailing canoes and gives news about what we are getting up to in the UK.
All the best and regards to Cookie,
Rod.
Hi Dr. John,
This is a killer blog! Thank you for doing this: we love it, and the photos are excellent. (BTW, your choice of t-shirts makes us proud.)
Just fyi, we will crosslink your blog with the Authentic Yacht Group blog: http://authenticyachtgroup.blogspot.com/
Best regards and fair winds to you, from Annapolis, Maryland.
Doug Coupar
I am a descendant of Fletcher Joyner could you please contact me regarding his designs and contributions to boat building my email is pthames1976@gmail.com
Thank You
I believe I have a ‘Jersey Blue’ built from the plans of WP Stephens, could you please contact me
John, Wow, great to find you on LinkedIn. You may have a fuzzy recollection of my family’s boat donation to the ABM, the ’58 Century lapstrake runabout, “Rosa Maria”. It’s great to learn about your ongoing saling and canoe passion. Sometimes I’m in the Orton-Hillsburgh area visiting my cabin/hobby farm. Do you have so-called regular business hours at the Halton Museum??
Kind regards, Frank Bogensic Jr.
John,
Could you please shoot me an email or give me a call sometime? I have a few questions about the work you did pulling Tern’s lines while you were at the Canadian Canoe Museum.
Thanks,
Josh
dearmer@mail.com
508-292-2917
Oh dear, I’m terribly sorry. I just saw your comment now, two years after you made it! Still happy to talk about lines-taking if you would like.
J
Hi John, thanks for your very interesting Blog. It is so amazing that I have bookmarked at immediately. I am heavily involved in refurbishing my old little sailing yacht – but since years it is a strong wish for me to get into this theme. Maybe now with new motivation comming from your blog.
Best wishes from Flensburg, Germany
Roland Fiebig
Hi, Roland. I’m glad you like the blog. Please tell me more, and send a photo, of your “old little sailing yacht.”
Regards,
JS
Great blog ! Interesting photo of your IC “Tigger” with the U.S. sail in top.
Is that IC still in your fleet, love to know more about it.
Thank you ,
HT
Hi there. I’ve just sold the IC to a good home so that I can concentrate on a restoration project. It’s a great boat, a really unique sailing experience. The blog has been quiet while I renovate the basement and build a new workshop, but I’ almost done with that so I should be posting again soon.
Hi there, I have inherited (in the UK) a lovely old Canadian canoe with no ID plates, and would love help trying to identify it. Can I email you photos, if so what is your email? Thanks, Anna
Hi, Anna. I’d be happy to have a look: authenticboats@gmail.com
I have a 1929 Old Town HW that I want to re-canvas. Never done this before. Two questions:
Do you know of a guide available anywhere for this?
And:
I was thinking if I attempt to do this I would use Monel staples. Do you think this will work?
Andy
Hi, Andy:
The Wood and Canvas Canoe by Jerry Stelmok and Rollin Thurlow has all the info you need: https://www.amazon.com/Wood-Canvas-Canoe-Construction-Restoration/dp/0884480461/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2KOQ9F3J0D64K&keywords=the+wood+and+canvas+canoe&qid=1637358562&sprefix=the+wood+and+c%2Caps%2C168&sr=8-1.
You’ll need a space that’s at least 15′ longer than the canoe in order to stretch the canvas (I’ve done it outside between two trees but that’s not recommended!)
Monel/stainless staples will work. There aren’t that many, just along the gunwales and on each stem. Brass canoe tacks are traditional and I find them easier to use (1/2″ long): https://www.wooden-canoes.com/canoes/materials/hardware/