seat caning material

[Pernicious Atavist]

i began building my indian river skiff yesterday and just remembered that i don't have a source for seat caning material like that used on canoes.

any ideas?

[Bob Smalser]

Constantines.com, Highland Hardware in Atlanta....all the woodworker supply companies big enuf to cater to chairmakers.

[Paul Scheuer]

It's probably not considered "boat stuff" so the normal sources won't be of much use. I got mine at a chain woodworker's store. You might have some luck in the phone book under furniture repair services. The Wooden Canoe Historical people at WCHA.org have some sources (and advice on outdoor use of cane).

[Pernicious Atavist]

thanks!

[MJC]

I use the plastic caning (as recommended by "Mac" McCarthy) from...

H. H. Perkins
10 S Bradley Rd
Woodbridge, CT 06525

203 - 389 - 9501

www.hhperkins.com (http://www.hhperkins.com)

BTW - "Mac"'s book Featherweight Boatbuilding has a detailed chapter on caning a canoe seat.

[Mark Van]

I got my caning supplies from Rockler Woodworking, they have lots of tools and supplies, mainly for cabinitmaking. They have great service, and a good online catalog.

http://www.rockler.com/

[L.W. Baxter]

I've done canoe seats with natural and vinyl cane, and strongly recommend the synthetic.
It looks fine, and won't mold or sag. I got my natural cane from Rockler, and the plastic stuff from the local leather working shop. It's actually eighth inch lacing, not specifically for caning seats, but it works great and doesn't cost much, comes in a variety of colors, some of them fairly natural looking, and is sold in rolls of 100 feet. I found that one roll does two small canoe seats... A saddle shop might be another source...

[Paul Scheuer]

Synthetic, plastic cane ? I think we fell down a rabbit hole, Dorothy !
It is cheaper, easier, lasts longer - but what will your grandchildren do for fun.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid49/pe2e05bc9f6a287c26a9f50753fcc49de/fcb3da36.jpg

[ahp]

Out where some of my folks lived they used binder twine. Cheap

[Bruce Hooke]

My recollection is that H.H. Perkins, as recommended by MJC, will have just about every variety of caning supply you might need, in a wide variety of sizes and types...

[L.W. Baxter]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Paul Scheuer:
[QB]Synthetic, plastic cane ? I think we fell down a rabbit hole, Dorothy !
It is cheaper, easier, lasts longer - but what will your grandchildren do for fun.

Paul, I think you mean Alice, and I think natural cane is lovely, especially so in traditionally built wooden "leisure" boats. But the Indian River is a stitch and glue outboard skiff, a kind of rough-and -ready design, not a Sunday afternoon pull on the Thames sort. Natural cane would look good, but I would be concerned not so much about what the grandkids will do for fun, (they'll think of something, I'm sure) but will they keep their muddy feet off my seats after a drizzly morning of clamming, or something like that... of course, the joy of building your own is deciding for yourself what is best, right Ed?! :D

[Pernicious Atavist]

RIGHT! l.w.! but, as i have muddied the waters a bit, MY indian river skiff is my own design, outboards be !@#%$!!!! okay, the name's not original, but at least i don't stink under-way!
i began building it this weekend. 16' x 3', 2' at the chine. sharpie bow and transom. heck, it's a sharpie, only narrower and w/o the centerboard. i just feel bad it's plywood.
maybe i should change the name, since this is for thems who don't need en-gines.....and i NOW feel self-conscious that you (l.w.) thought i was making a stinkboat.....

[L.W. Baxter]

Okay, the caned seats make a lot more sense to me now! Brainstorming names, how about "Indian River Flatty" or something like that?

While I, too, prefer a tranquil waterfront, I wouldn't judge anyone too harshly for building a "stink boat." Lots of decent folks have built them, and most everybody I know owns one of them "stink cars"! :D

P.S., when on a canoe trip, and eating camp food, any boat that I'm in, motorized or not, is a "stink boat."

[Pernicious Atavist]

;)

[Pernicious Atavist]

l.w.: you familiar with florida? we have here a cormorant called an 'anhinga.' also known as a snake bird for its long neck. it was one of the first birds i learned to recognize as a kid and it's also the perfect namesake for what i'm building. so, instead of an 'i.r. skiff,' i'l call it an 'anhinga skiff,' just to confuse others....which has value in itself. :cool: