[Illustration:  Completed Sailing Canoe]

The materials necessary for the construction of a sailing canoe, as illustrated in the engraving, are as follows: 

1 keelson, 1 in. by 8 in. by 15 ft., selected pine. 14 rib bands, 1 in. square by 16 ft., clear pine. 2 gunwales, 1 in. by 2 in. by 16 ft. 1 piece for forms and bow pieces, 1 in. by 12 in. by 10 ft. 4 outwales, 1/4 in. by 2 in. by 16 ft. 1 piece, 3 in. wide and 12 ft. long, for cockpit frame. 1 piece, 2 in. wide and 12 ft. long, for center deck braces. 11 yd. of 1-1/2-yd. wide 12-oz. ducking. 8 yd. of 1-yd. wide unbleached muslin. 50 ft. of rope. 1 mast, 9 ft. long.  Paint, screws and cleats.

The keelson, Fig. 1, is 14 ft. long, 8 in. wide in the center and tapered down from a point 4 ft. from each end to 1 in. at the ends.  Both ends are mortised, one 6 in. for the stern piece, and the other 12 in. for the bow.  Be sure to get the bow and stern pieces directly in the middle of the keelson and at right angles with the top edge.  The stern and bow pieces are cut as shown in Fig. 2 and braced with an iron band, 1/8 in. thick and 3/4 in. wide, drilled and fastened with screws.

Study the sketches showing the details well before starting to cut out the pieces.  Then there will be no trouble experienced later in putting the parts together.  See that all the pieces fit their places as the work proceeds and apply the canvas with care.

Two forms are made as shown in Figs. 3 and 4; the smaller is placed 3 ft. from the bow and the large one, 7 ft. 3 in. from the stern.  The larger mould is used temporarily while making the boat, and is removed after the ribs are in place.  The gunwales are now placed over the forms and in the notches shown, and fastened with screws, and, after cutting the ends to fit the bow and stern pieces, they are fastened with bolts put through the three pieces.  The sharp edges on one side of each rib-band are removed and seven of them fastened with screws to each side of the moulds, spacing them on the large mould 4 in. apart.  The ribs are made of 28 good barrel hoops

[Illustration:  Details of a Home-Made Sailing Canoe]

which should be well soaked in water for several hours before bending them in shape.  These are put in 6 in. apart and are fastened to the rib-bands with 7/8-in. wood screws.  The ribs should be put in straight and true to keep them from pulling the rib-bands out of shape.  After the ribs are in place and fastened to the rib-bands, gunwales and keelson, put on the outwale strips and fasten them to the gunwales between every rib with 1-1/2-in. screws.

Before making the deck, a block for the mast to rest in must be made and fastened to the keelson.  This block, Fig. 5, is a cube having sides 6 in. square and is kept from splitting by an iron band tightly fitted around the outside.  The block is fastened to the keelson, 3-1/2 ft. from the bow, with bolts through countersunk holes from the under side.