Building a Lightweight Canoe - Start to Finish

[@ericrichter7933]

I love that method you used to bring the two gunnels together by repeatedly cutting them apart until the pieces came together

[@ben-kilner]

Really effective for angle matching- similar method used when trimming the stringers to match the stems👌

[@lesterblankenship4442]

Was that a bahco laplander you were using there?

[@TrapShooter68]

It's a method called kerfing the joint. Often used in hand woodworking.

[@nateharder2286]

​@ben-kilner Could you build up a klinker built boat for us?

[@vaulttwoface3846]

I saw the timelapse of this build on TikTok and just had to come see the full build here. What an absolutely beautiful result. Well done on the build.

[@beemoocooks4969]

Same ❤

[@gabrielneves6602]

Mine was on insta. Bro has the sauce on how to do this shit

[@ben-kilner]

Thank you and welcome 😄!

[@davewatchedthat]

Lol. Same/same: KZbin Shorts.

[@liquidsofa]

There is an old saying in the marine world, "Build your first ship, second." It's a tongue in cheek saying that points out how much better you are as a ship builder after screwing up so many times on your previous project. Your first ship, teaches you sooooo many valuable lessons.

[@ShinyAnvil]

There is something deeply therapeutic about watching this tedious, meticulous process with almost Japanese spiritual approach to this build. Every now and then I do have projects during which I totally forget about the sound of power hammer, anvil, angle grinder and only the meditative state, the deep calming thoughts are present, almost like the hands just know what they’re doing, the work just develops by the miracle of craftsmanship.

[@recaitandogan]

Great job bro. I finished your video without fast forwarding at all, even rewinding it a few times and watching it from the beginning. You are an artist.

[@ben-kilner]

Thank you ❤️🙏 glad you enjoyed the build!

[@1974UTuber]

I love your hot knife solution. Even though you found it a bit hot and unpredictable, I thought it was quite ingenious

[@ben-kilner]

😄🙏 It was soo effective for such a cheap and easy solution. I’ll definitely be using it again!

[@FuhrChris]

That glue reacts to water. Next project wet the wood with a spray bottle, let the water soak in. the glue will inject itself into the wood as it gains the water.

[@nathanbeck7069]

I was thinking the same thing

[@nathanbeck7069]

I believe it says it in the instructions on the bottle. I have made the same mistake.

[@yunghiga7699]

Amazing built ,Cape Falcon Kayaks mus be very proud if watch this.Awesome .

[@ben-kilner]

🙏🙏❤️

[@brubeker12]

I use Cascamite glue for boat building never fails. If I recall when I last did some steam bending for ribs I used American Oak. Very impressed with your wood working skills. How the kit has moved on. About 40 years ago I built a 16 Foot boat with a saw,hammer 2 chisels 4 g cramps , screwdriver ,4ft ruler a ball of strong string and a spirit level and a black and decker power drill.

[@jerrywaite8929]

Excellent craftsmanship and creativity! Kudos on your skills!

[@jerrywaite8929]

Really enjoyed hearing the birds 🐦 in the audio, too!

[@antonoat]

What a fabulous creation, art and transport combined! Worth a subscribe I thought!

[@ben-kilner]

Welcome to the channel 🤩🤩

[@divyajnana]

The Confluence of Art and Engineering, a thing of beauty, thank you.

[@ben-kilner]

🙏❤️

[@tonywright8294]

Not art not engineering just a simple boat. Was building them at the age of ten .

[@rolandharrison5651]

It was a joy to follow you through the build. Your videography was sharp and clear, as was the narrative. The end example was a beautiful piece of nautical art. I can’t wait to see how She performs. A hearty well done. Thank you for sharing your endeavor with us.

[@ben-kilner]

Thank you for the lovely comment 🙏🙏 glad you enjoyed it! More episodes on the way soon 🚴‍♂️🛶🚀🚀

[@pyramidsinegypt]

Thanks for sharing your build! FYI, hardeners in general tend to crystalize over time. Putting the container with the hardener in some warm water will usually reverse the crystallisation process, making it all nice and liquid again.

[@ben-kilner]

Will give it a go next time 🙏🙏

[@Seek_Grass]

Fantastic build and absolutely beautiful boat, especially the oiled lattice against the matte white from the inside.

[@ben-kilner]

😍🙏

[@davemark3727]

Beautiful work. You make it seem so effortless to build. I can only imagine the blood sweat and tears that have been spilled to get you to this point.

[@ben-kilner]

Thank you 😄🙏 a fair bit of patience needed when sourcing the materials for sure 😅

[@girottos]

What an incredible video!! so satisfying to see so much skills you got and knowledge to build stuff. Thank you for sharing this and congrats on your efforts

[@ben-kilner]

🙏❤️

[@Handirifle]

Wow the patience of doing it right. Well done.

[@ben-kilner]

Thank you 🙏🙏

[@nikolapanchev498]

This world needs more people like you Administrations

[@codelicious6590]

"The Ambitious" is probably the most perfect name Ive ever heard for..anything! I wish you all the best luck and strength.

[@ben-kilner]

🙏😄 thank you!

[@Gankiao]

Very high set of mind to accomplish this project! Approved!

[@henrycartwright7124]

Phenomenal craftsmanship! Thoroughly enjoyed that

[@ben-kilner]

Thank you Henry :)

[@tonywright8294]

Simple wood work , nothing phenomenal at all moron .

[@mariokinnear1813]

Absolutely love the vibe bru 👌🏼woodworking and fabrications is above average for sure 👍🏼

[@ben-kilner]

Thank you 😄🙏

[@Juan-Pedro6612]

This is indeed an awesome handcrafted work you did, bravo 👏! Very well communicated and important steps explained, just incredible done. Congratulaions 😊. Good luck for your amazing adventures ahead.

[@ben-kilner]

Thank you 🙏🙏

[@nickd698]

Wicked! Great project and well made video!

[@ben-kilner]

Thank you 🙏🙏

[@olrenison]

That is so cool and beautiful. 👏 Captivating video. Well done 🙂🙏

[@ben-kilner]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it 🤩

[@smith.jacob701]

So the bubbles are the resin outgassing. You can always pop them with a heat gun very lightly used. Don't wanna get too aggressive or it'll bubble more, so just the lightest touch. And the tape left a mark because it wasn't fully set up. No big deal there tho. It came out great!

[@ben-kilner]

Top tip thank you 🙏🙏

[@Jimmy-f4o]

ENGLISH PEOPLE ALWAYS MAKE EXCELLENT THINGS STRONG DURABLE ARTISTIC ENGLAND STILL HAVE ITS PRIDE GRACE AND EXCELLENCE MY FAMILY HAVE SENT ME MANY THINGS FROM ENGLAND AND I STILL HAVE THEM JAMAICAN PEOPLE RESPECT ALL OF YOU GOD BLESS

[@ben-kilner]

😄🙏

[@TristanEast-l8r]

My student's loved this. We are learning about sustainability.

[@ben-kilner]

Fantastic!! Very pleased they enjoyed it ❤️

[@Sailing_SY_Melody]

Excellent work, big background and knowledge... The nature around is also amazing :) Thank You for the share...

[@ben-kilner]

🙏Glad you enjoyed it!

[@caseykelso1]

I shared it with everyone!

[@leslyjeanfrancois1196]

I watched this video over and over. Well done

[@ben-kilner]

🥳❤️

[@Frank.B.Crafts]

As my grandad would have said were he still alive... "if that Douglas Fir is knot free, how much was it?" He taught me to be the best dad i could. The sheer number of instant unscripted dad jokes he told was amazing. And yes, he was a Brit. Showed me all the greatest British humour. And taught me wood craft as well. Gods I miss him. Love your Pedal canoe. Looks like a lot of fun.

[@ben-kilner]

❤️ your Pa had it right!

[@plenum6448]

Gorgeous. Sculpture...

[@ebptube]

Very enjoyable to watch and I loved listening to thje blackbirds. Looking fwd to next part!

[@ben-kilner]

Glad you enjoyed it 🤩 episode 2&3 are up! Episode 4 is out this Saturday 🚴‍♂️🛶🚀🚀

[@ericjohnson9468]

NICELY DONE‼️… both ‘the build’ & the video❗️

[@ben-kilner]

Thank you 🙏🙏

[@noyopacific]

Thanks for the video ! It was interesting to see that you chose Douglas Fir (DF) for most of the frame. This is the most common construction lumber in the western US where I grew up. I recently have been helping build a cabin in Minnesota where Spruce, Pine and White Fir (SPF) are more commonly used for construction lumber. While structural tables show that DF is uniquely strong, working with SPF has helped me to appreciate the superior qualities of DF. I've wondered how Douglas Fir might perform in boat building. Thanks again.

[@ben-kilner]

An absolute pleasure! Lovely working with DF (I think first time for me). The wood was particularly straight grained so slightly biased. Sitka spruce would have been first choice but supremely expensive for the grade I was after 😅

[@danel3792]

It's really one beautiful boat!

[@ben-kilner]

😍😍🙏

[@tamoroso]

As you began, I thought "That's a Cape Falcon canoe!". I built one recently using Brian's plans; it came out pretty good also!

[@ben-kilner]

🤩🤩 such a lovely process! Glad yours turned out well 👌

[@OLDMANTEA]

Sweet build. That would be the envy for any canoeist

[@ben-kilner]

🤩🙏

[@caseykelso1]

​@@ben-kilner what's up ,

[@soilnrock1979]

Love the birds! Must have been a great time building!

[@ben-kilner]

Glad you enjoyed it 🤩 such a fun build, about ready to make another one 😄

[@virginieleclerc9585]

Thank you very much for sharing this very interesting work and result

[@douglasgault5458]

Having made many wood stripped Sea Kayaks and canoes. You did a fine job .

[@robertberger8642]

Incredible work, very nicely done! I’m looking forward to watching your next video in this series!

[@ben-kilner]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it. Next episode is just out 🚴‍♂️🛶🚀🚀

[@kevinelmore4626]

Well done. Skin on frame is very satisfying to make.

[@ben-kilner]

🙏🙏

[@davedownunder8057]

Wow, that's beautiful

[@caseykelso1]

00:01 to 00:25 seconds into your Video/Adventure ... Diana and I knew we where going to enjoy this tonight ! Thanks for sharing 🍸. Liked and subscribed in Record Time!🎉

[@ben-kilner]

Thank you for the lovely message! Glad you both enjoyed it 😍

[@stiniusdahl9789]

Great Job!! Recently finished Brian's course and getting things ready to build also

[@ben-kilner]

😍 best of luck with your build! Such a lovely process 👌

[@ShineLine3]

Beautiful.

[@lukearts2954]

Awesome project. A suggestion in case you ever need to bend another metal strip like that: first bend, then drill. The awkward shape that won't fit under your drill press can never be an argument. It broke because the holes deformed (and obviously because there is less material in those spots). The holes will therefore not retain the shape you want them to have _unless_ you drill them after bending...

[@bartjohnson8139]

Such a beautiful build!

[@ben-kilner]

🤓🙏🙏

[@Chroniquesdemaker]

Juste magnifique ! 👋 bravo ce chef d’œuvre est spectaculaire

[@ben-kilner]

Thank you 🙏🙏

[@CopyCatGarage]

Niiiiiice! new Channel to keep my eye on and copy in one of my future projects. Thank you for sharing.

[@ben-kilner]

🤩🚀🚀🚀

[@Andysfishing]

Great build and adventure. My style exactly.

[@ben-kilner]

Thank you 😄, glad you enjoyed it!!

[@xuxamelo]

It looks like it came from a comic book; I never thought someone could develop such an idea! Awesome!

[@ben-kilner]

😄🙏

[@stevetinajewell8385]

Some people are just so talented,amazing.

[@Tim1967-o7j]

Beautiful work. And its yours. No man's dreams should be governed by another. Congratulations.

[@ben-kilner]

🙏❤️

[@jimw6659]

Massively impressive, sir!

[@bubblesculptor]

I've seen a bajillion build videos - never seen a hot knife setup like that!

[@ben-kilner]

😄🔥🔪

[@brendanwhite3731]

That was a joy to watch. Watch others build boats is amazing. That the best hi from IRL.

[@ben-kilner]

Glad you enjoyed it! More episodes on the way 🚴‍♂️🛶🚀🚀

[@LostButMakingGoodTime]

Very unique, and a tremendous amount of work. The wooden frame is magnificent. Wonderful craftsmanship. And I’m a big fan of fiberglass over wood for boat builds. But I have to say I don’t find the milky natural fiberglass and resin to be the least bit attractive as a finished product. It is impressive from the inside because of the woodwork, but the outside… not so much. Perhaps it shows better in person. Hey, to each their own! Thanks for sharing!

[@DarioushAryan]

Great job man Beautiful & inspirational!

[@ben-kilner]

🙏❤️

[@manfredatee]

That's amazing. Beautiful boat, looks stunning, and very well shot/edited too. I am looking forward to Part 2 as well to see the amphibious mechanism come together. Thanks for sharing!

[@ben-kilner]

Thank you 🙏🙏 next episode out on the 12th 🚴‍♂️🛶🚀🚀

[@JeneeshKrishnan]

What i loved is the OCD precition of his work And perfection

[@ben-kilner]

😄🙏

[@gperking61]

I liked your knife heater.

[@ben-kilner]

😄🙏 five minute fabrication worked out a treat for cutting.

[@tomaslindqvist2923]

If the resin parts get cristallized, you can warm them up to get rid of cristalls. Let it cool down beofre use, otherwise it will affect pot life. Getting cristalls is normal for epoxies, but it doesn’t affect it. Usually the manufacturer has some guidelines on temp and duration for de-cristalizing the different parts.

[@ben-kilner]

I’ll definitely check it out but I think it may be different for polyurethane?!

[@caseykelso1]

​@@ben-kilner you're one of the few that actually write back to their subscribers and commenters🎉 other KZbinrs should take note!

[@nigelbeaumont1109]

It would certainly made a stunning wall piece but it has a purpose. Beautiful work Sir.

[@ben-kilner]

Thank you!! Very tempted to make a 30% scale version for my office 😄

[@caseykelso1]

​@@ben-kilner is your phone blowing up with notifications? 🎉🍸algorithm reads these likes and replies 🎉🎉🎉

[@DickvanZanten]

Ben , next time steaming, use a leather belt on the outside of the strip as a backing. That strongly reduces the riks of breaking. (Experience after building 8 greenland qajaqs) ps any crystals discoloration or other change in two-part coatings warrants doi g a testpiece first, before using on the whole boat (don't ask how I know. 😢)

[@alcampbell5831]

That would have been a very satisfying build. Very nice.

[@merlinch4256]

Beautiful work, I love this canoe. Brass is a strange metal: when tempered, it becomes softer and more ductile. Try heating it to red-hot, then plunging it into a basin of cold water. To avoid breakage when bending, I would have first bent the piece and then drilled the holes, as bending also deforms the screw holes.

[@ben-kilner]

👌👌

[@sligeach]

Absolute craftsman. Beautiful job.👍

[@ben-kilner]

Thank you 🙏🙏

[@Jellisaveta]

Nice to see someone uses brains to do and make things. I enjoyed so much!

[@ben-kilner]

Glad you enjoyed it 🥳🙏

[@Curbudog01]

I so very much want to thank you for using the correct name for Douglas Fir, not Oregon Pine, which is a tree that doesn't exist except to Europeans. As I spent the morning raking fir needles and do not have a pine tree and have spent much of my life hiking the forests of the Pacific Northwest and have yet to see an Oregon Pine. Other than that I admire your creative madness. Brilliant!

[@YoMamashouse770]

Your skills are amazing ❤

[@peterfarmer1592]

No music, just the birdsong. Lovely.

[@ben-kilner]

Definitely my preference especially when there are nice workshop noises going on. Episode 2 has more music due to some rather intrusive fan noises in the background 😄.

[@pedalinpete]

Nice work. Particularly impressed with how you seemed to bend the ribs by eye and yet ended up with such fair lines. Epoxy might have glued better, where you didn't have an exact fit.

[@crogers3783]

We are very impressed with your work/ workmanship thus far. Also, a warm Hello from Northern Ontario Canada.

[@ben-kilner]

Thank you 🙏 greetings from 🇬🇧

[@koningbolo4700]

25:45 I find it quite brave of you you arrived at using pur/foaming glue in a marine and vehicular application... I always have been told (by highly experienced carpenter types that pur/foaming glues seem to be great at closing gaps or glue very small gaps but in fact the glue is highly over rated and actually only very good if the joint is hardly (if at all) exposed to sunlight. I would have used regular (or possibly water resistant) pva glue for these applications. Mainly because your carpentry skills result in very tight and well fitting joints and glue surfaces... Using foaming glue seems like a let down of the fine work you are putting in... Even better would have been to use old fashioned bone glue for this type of work. Especially in combination with artificial sinew style fastenings and connections... Overall I am very impressed by this build... well done sir...

[@ben-kilner]

👌🙏

[@billpengelly7048]

Beautiful work 😀

[@ben-kilner]

Thank you 🙏🙏

[@RonaldReed-ul9du]

I can tell you what happened with the dowels going into the stem, you partially filled the holes with glue, when you drove them in a Hydraulic action opened the grain, you're lucky it didn't split it. I've seen the same happen. You need to have grooves running the length of the dowel so the glue has someplace to go, also, don't use as much glue, you used quite a lot, but you must have grooves the length of the dowels. If you look at a commercially available download, you'll see not only grooves the length of the dowels, but rings around them as well, all of these are for glue to go so it doesn't cause a hydraulic reaction (hydro lock). I love your work, you're an exceptional craftsman.

[@ben-kilner]

👌🙏🙏

[@faridakoi]

Absolutely amazing!!

[@ben-kilner]

Thank you 🥳🥳

[@tinkeringinthailand8147]

Great stuff Ben, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Off to look at your next video. Subbed 🙏

[@ben-kilner]

Thank you 🙏🙏 Welcome to the channel 🤩

[@thebearded4427]

Super well done video and great canoe! I saw a video a few years ago of a canoe builder who was saying good bye. He'd been working in his workshop with thinners, lacquers and such and inhaled alot of particles and chemicals over the years. That mask you use might allow you many more years. Don't underestimate the dangers of airborne substances.

[@ben-kilner]

🙏🙏

[@clayz1]

Nicely done.

[@caseykelso1]

Really nice, with I had them skills for sure 🎉 I make shit out of Metal😂 thanks for sharing 🍸. Have a drink on me

[@Insanety1955]

Heel erg mooi ,,,, very beautiful,,,👍👍👍

[@ben-kilner]

Thank you 🙏🙏

[@chucklewis4456]

You gotta put grooves in your dowels. If the air can’t get out in front of them they will blow out and break the bond on your front keel like that

[@Ak-hh]

Great Work 💪

[@virginieleclerc9585]

Your tools are perfect and communicate the good work spirit as good partners for you ;)

[@jfm120750]

- could watch that all day

[@AtlasReburdened]

Excellent work.

[@sunflowerdeath]

This type of glue is definitely an unusual stuff. Back in the day people had to get by by without it. 😅😅

[@ben-kilner]

The old canoes are superb things! I believed they use leather rope, sinew and spruce roots for lashings and hides/bark for the skins 😍😍

[@tapsavaan1671]

Quite a nice implementation. I would almost have started to make a catamaran-style solution that would leave more transport space and the boats could be narrower, kayak-style.

[@ben-kilner]

👍👍 side pontoons / catamaran style could work well

[@dazjb7691]

When you are coating the skin on your canoe. Use a blowtorch flame briskly to remove all bubbles.

[@NSResponder]

Beautiful work. Bravo!

[@ben-kilner]

Thank you 🙏🙏

[@STEVEN-STEELE]

Wow that is a very nice canoe. I'd name it The Shoji,because it kind of reminds me of the Japanese folding Shoji screens I'm not saying this being a smart butt or Cheeky as yall across the pond might say. But when I saw the bicycle canoe combo something made me think. This guy and James May should collaborate on a project on KZbin. I think you guys might get along well. I always enjoyed Captain Slow on Top Gear and still prefer watching the reruns. I don't really care for the T.G. made here in the U.S. Other than the cars being different. If it ain't broke don't fix it. Me and two Buds of mine used to use a canoe to get up into all the slews and channels that only a smaller craft can get into. We would catch 4 or 5 of these fish we call Stripes or Hybreds. These were large fish. We would put them on a stringer tie it off to the bow and we never had to paddle the rest of the time. Like a horse drawn carriage those big ol fish would pull us along as they swam. They never seemed to get tired and pulled us without much effort. We would then cast our lines for the Large Mouth Bass to catch and release or Crappie to fry up later back at camp. We would leave the stripes on the stringer to keep them hemmed up so we could feed them something for all their help. Then release them. They loved potted meat rolled up with bread. Heck we didn't mind preparing it for them to repay them. They of course had no idea why the three humans were treating them to such a huge meal but loved it none the less Forgive my getting way off topic, just seeing a canoe brings back some wonderful memories of my younger days. Thanks for the vidoe Sir.

[@ben-kilner]

Those sound like some excellent times 🤩🎣

[@willisgemutlich2608]

dig the birds talking more than you. happy trails and happy sails! dude you know at some point you've gotta combine... how do you steer a sail kayakbike? i wanna see this.

[@mattslater4605]

Beautiful work on that canoe

[@ben-kilner]

Thank you 🙏 🙏

[@wolfbushcraft3369]

Cool im thinking about making Coracle from hazel from my yard and bend ribs than dry them over time i think about using fiberglass tho.

[@ben-kilner]

Coracles are beautiful things! Worth experimenting with fibreglass. Let me know how you get on!

[@TheCleric42]

Those imperfections at 39:38 are almost certainly bubbles, which are very common in epoxy coatings. You should have popped them with a blowtorch while the epoxy was still tacky. They would disappear completely.

[@ben-kilner]

One for the next build 👌🙏

[@wolfgangurbanski9498]

Ich finde es gut, dass Du Kritik und Verbesserungsvorschläge zulässt und vielleicht annimmst. Bei 18:58 (Stringers) nimmst Du Dir die Kielkrümmung vor. Das Holzstück wird Dir, so wie Du es gefertigt hast auseinanderbrechen. Weil die Holzfasern sich spalten werden bei Belastung. Zumal Du es an der Haupt-Belastungsstelle noch schmaler schneidest. Wenn es einstweilig hält, dann ist das dem Material zu verdanken. Aber nicht lange. Zusätzlich schraubst Du anschließen noch Schrauben in die Hirnholzseize hinein. Das Holz wird sich genau dort spalten. Mein Verbesserungsvorschlag: Mache die Kielkrümmung ebenfalls aus gedämpften / gekochten Holz. Aber lass es in Längsrichtung verlaufen. Nehme dafür mehrere Lagen Leisten und verleime sie übereinander. I think it's good that you allow criticism and suggestions for improvement and maybe accept them. At 18:58 (stringers) you take on the keel curvature. The piece of wood will break apart as you made it. Because the wood fibers will split under load. Especially since you cut it even narrower at the main load point. If it holds for a while, then that's thanks to the material. But not for long. Then you also screw screws into the end grain. The wood will split right there. My suggestion for improvement: Make the keel curvature out of steamed/cooked wood as well. But let it run lengthways. To do this, take several layers of strips and glue them together.

[@ben-kilner]

Always love to hear all thoughts and feedback 🤓

[@Kenniii3]

I know it has its place, but I'm not a fan of poly urethane glue where strength is needed. Tight bond 3 will give you strength as well as subversive resistant protection. That said.... Wow! Exquisite build. You are a Craftsman.