![](https://penland.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Canoes-9-1024x677.jpg)
This past session, Gerald Weckesser came to Penland to teach a skin-on-frame canoe building workshop. Over the course of 2.5 weeks, the boats took shape in the wood studio, first as steam-bent ribs, then as fully lashed frames, and finally as Dacron-skinned vessels ready to hit the water. On the final morning of the session, the class strapped their new creations onto their vehicles and headed to the lake for a maiden voyage. The water was calm, dappled sunlight lit up the boats like lanterns, and nobody capsized—a fitting end-of-session celebration, indeed.
Happy paddling, canoe builders!
![](https://penland.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Canoes-1-2-1024x683.jpg)
![](https://penland.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Canoes-5-1024x682.jpg)
![](https://penland.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Canoes-8-1024x683.jpg)
![Gerald poses with one of the canoes by the shore of the lake.](https://penland.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Canoes-2-1024x741.jpg)