Several years ago I attended the Wilderness Canoe Symposium in Toronto….at lunch I got into a conversation with Rob Stevens and another American WCHA member (I forget his name….sorry must be old age LOL LOL)….they were discussing paper canoes….specifically around possibly building one at the next WCHA Assembly as an activity for the kids….but the discussion also got around to the history of paper canoes….which I’m sure many are not aware of (I certainly wasn’t)….but it got me doing some research (as usual mostly online)….here’s what I found:
First I was interested to find out what I could about paper canoes….even paper boats….so I found this link, Papier-mâché, which contained the following piece:
Paper boats
One common item made in the 19th century in America was the paper canoe, most famously made by Waters & Sons of Troy, New York. The invention of the continuous sheet paper machine allows paper sheets to be made of any length, and this made an ideal material for building a seamless boat hull. The paper of the time was significantly stretchier than modern paper, especially when damp, and this was used to good effect in the manufacture of paper boats. A layer of thick, dampened paper was placed over a hull mold and tacked down at the edges. A layer of glue was added, allowed to dry, and sanded down. Additional layers of paper and glue could be added to achieve the desired thickness, and cloth could be added as well to provide additional strength and stiffness. The final product was trimmed, reinforced with wooden strips at the keel and gunwales to provide stiffness, and waterproofed. Paper racing shells were highly competitive during the late 19th century. Few examples of paper boats survived. One of the best known paper boats was the canoe, the “Maria Theresa,” used by Nathaniel Holmes Bishop to travel from New York to Florida in 1874–1875. An account of his travels was published in the book “Voyage of the Paper Canoe.”
Next I wanted to find out more about the story of Nathaniel H. Bihop and this incredible journey by paper canoe he took….it was described in his book Voyage of the Paper Canoe: A Geographical Journey of 2500 Miles, From Quebec to the Gulf of Mexico, During the Years 1874-5.
Another online resource about this amazing journey was Path and Paddle: Paper Canoe, which describes the part of his trip through Florida….as well as a bit about the journey itself….I thought it would be great to reproduce that article here:
Voyage of the Paper Canoe; a geographical journey of 2500 miles, from Quebec to the Gulf of Mexico, during the years 1874-5
In the summer of 1874 Nathaniel Holmes Bishop and an assistant set out on a 2,500 mile paddle from Quebec to Florida’s Cedar Keys on the Gulf of Mexico. Some 400 miles into the trip, he swapped his 18-foot wooden canoe for an innovative and much lighter weight paper canoe, designed and constructed by Elisha Waters & Sons of Troy, New York.
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The 37-year old outdoorsman, who had already authored a previous trekking tale entitled One Thousand Miles Walk Across South America, dismissed his helper and resumed a solo canoe journey, dedicating his narrative of the trip to the employees of the U.S. Coast Survey Bureau.
The final chapter of the Voyage of the Paper Canoe begins at Lower Mineral Springs on the Suwanee River after a 35-mile portage. Bishop is joined by a party of friends, including Major John Purviance, Commissioner of Suwanee County, who offered to escort the paper canoe down “the river of song.”
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This is an excerpt from N.H. Bishop’s fascinating journal:
It was nearly ten o’clock A. M. on Friday, March 26th, when our merry party left Old Town hammock. This day was to see the end of the voyage of the paper canoe, for my tiny craft was to arrive at the waters of the great southern sea before midnight. The wife and daughters of our host, like true women of the forest, offered no forebodings at the departure of the head of their household, but wished him, with cheerful looks, a pleasant voyage to the Gulf. The gulf port of Cedar Keys is but a few miles from the mouth of the Suwanee River. The railroad which terminates at Cedar Keys would, with its connection with other routes, carry the members of our party to their several homes.
The bright day animated our spirits, as we swept swiftly down the river. The party in the shad-rowed merrily on with song and laughter, while I made an attempt to examine more closely the character of the water-moccasin — the Trigono cephaluspiscivorus of Lacepede, — which I had more cause to fear than the alligators of the river. The water moccasin is about two feet in length, and has a circumference of five or six inches. The tail possesses a horny point about half an inch in length, which is harmless, though the Crackers and Negroes stoutly affirm that when it strikes a tree the tree withers and dies, and when it enters the flesh of a man he is poisoned unto death.
The color of the reptile is a dirty brown. Never found far from water, it is common in the swamps, and is the terror of the rice-field Negroes. The bite of the water moccasin is exceedingly venomous, and is considered more poisonous than that of the rattlesnake, which warns man of his approach by sounding his rattle.
The moccasin does not, like the rattlesnake, wait to be attacked, but assumes the offensive whenever opportunity offers, striking with its fangs at every animated object in its vicinity. All other species of snakes flee from its presence. It is found as far north as the Peedee River of South Carolina, and is abundant in all low districts of the southern states. As the Suwanee had overflowed its banks below Old Town Hammock, the snakes had taken to the low limbs of the trees and to the tops of bushes, where they seemed to be sleeping in the warmth of the bright sunlight; but as I glided along the shore a few feet from their aerial beds, they discovered my presence, and dropped sluggishly into the water. It would not be an exaggeration to say that we passed thousands of these dangerous reptiles while descending the Suwanee. Raftsmen told me that when traversing lagoons in their log canoes, if a moccasin is met some distance from land he will frequently enter the canoe for refuge or for rest, and instances have been known where the occupant has been so alarmed as to jump overboard and swim ashore in order to escape from this malignant reptile.
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Maria Theresa specifications
length: 14 ft
beam: 28 ft 8 in.
amidships depth: 9 in.
bow height: 23 in.
stern height: 21 in.
weight: 58 lbs.
The canoe’s paper skin was about one eighth of an inch thick. The craft was fitted with a pair of removable steel outriggers, two seven foot spruce oars and a double paddle of similar length. The mast and sail—which proved useless and were soon discarded—weighed six pounds.
Bishop provides other details:
“When I took on board at Philadelphia the canvas deck-cover and the rubber strap which secured it in position, and the outfit—the cushion, sponge, provision-basket, and a fifteen-pound case of charts—I found that, with my own weight included (130 lbs.), the boat and her cargo, all told, provisioned for a long cruise, fell considerably short of the weight of three Saratoga trunks containing a very modest wardrobe for a lady’s four weeks’ visit at a fashionable watering-place.”
“She’s the dog-gonedest thing I ever seed, and jist as putty as a new coffin!” – A river raftsman admiring the Maria Teresa’s beautiful finish.
So what about the company that built Nathaniel Bridge’s paper canoe….check out this article, American Heritage: When Paper Boats Were King, by Ken Cupery, which outlines the history of Waters & Sons Co.
There is a whole website dedicated to paper boats, appropriately named Ken’s Paper Boat Page, which was compiled by Ken Cupery, a paper boat historian and advocate (Ken was the author of the article previously noted).
There is a short article on the history of paper boats on this, A Short History of Paper Boats….and more, also written by Mr. Cupery which expands on the story of the Waters Paper Boat Factory in Troy, New York. This and other articles on Ken’s Paper Boat Page covers most of the history (as well as the design and the science involved) of paper boats, including paper canoes….a story that seems overlooked by many….but obviously unique. There are other online resources specifically on paper canoes, including:
The Tinnes/Cupery High-Tech Epoxy/Paper Paper Canoe….an article by Ken Cupery on a paper canoe he helped build
A Paper Canoe….a blog that looks at ‘studies in adhesives, wood butchery, and stinginess’
Kayak and Canoe Design Bulletin Board: Paper Canoe Design
Minnesota Canoe Association: Building a Paper Canoe by Dale Hedtke
Paper Boat/Paper Canoe/Paper Coracle
As far as I know the Canadian Canoe Museum doesn’t have a paper canoe in their collection….
Then I found about one made out of sheep poo paper (I’m definitely sure that the Canoe Museum doesn’t have one of these LOL LOL)….check out these links for more:
From Canoe & Kayak UK: News:
The Poo Canoe
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LawrenceToms Posted on08 Jul 2009
Bit a strange one this morning… A canoe made of Poo! Well kind of, it’s made of paper that’s made of poo. We wonder if they come with a free nose-clip? The poo FLOATS! For the past 3 months Lez Paylor, partner in quirky paper business www.SheepPooPaper.com has been tucked away in a slate shed in Snowdonia building what must surely be the most unusual water craft ever dreamt up . . . At 5.5 metres long ‘The Poo Canoe’ is built on the frame of a two man ‘Folbot’ as used by the Special Boat Service during World War II for covert ship to shore operations. However, dispensing with the standard Folbot canvas sleeve Lez has used Sheep Poo PaperTM and a flour and water paste to cover the frame with a thin but resilient skin of paper. Finishing the canoe with beeswax in the cockpit (donated by www.BritishWax.com) and a new soya bean extract resin Envirez, which (whilst untested) promises to waterproof the paper skin. The Poo Canoe is being taken for its first in-water test on Sunday 19th July and is scheduled to be paddled out from the jetty at Bala Water Sports (www.BalaWaterSports.com) at midday. If the first water trial doesn’t end in a soggy, spluttering swim for shore Lez and his business partner Lawrence (Toms) are planning to paddle The Poo Canoe all the way to France to raise money for the Wales Air Ambulance, who are always available to help people when they are proverbially ‘up poo creek without a paddle’ . . . When the sponsorship appeal is launched people will be able to pledge and sponsor the attempt at www.SheepPooPaper.com Crossing the channel is a serious business, it is the second busiest commercial shipping lane in the world, and it is unlikely that any major freight or ferry will be able to stop before riding clean over The Poo Canoe, the boys will therefore be training hard to make sure that they not only have the endurance muscle to get across, but also the power to accelerate out of the way of ships. When this project was first suggested Lawrence joined the Channel Swimmers Association and has been training in the swimming pool in the firm belief that being able to swim 15 miles in cold water might become suddenly necessary . . . Contacts: Lawrence Toms: 07870 418745 Lawrence@CreativePaperWales.co.uk Lez Paylor: 01654 761401 Lez@CreativePaperWales.co.uk
From Treehugger.com: Canoe Made From Sheep Poo To Cross English Channel:
Canoe Made From Sheep Poo To Cross English Channel
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto (July 27, 2009)
Lawrence Toms and Lez Paylor make paper from sheep poo in Wales, which is a story in itself. They are so confident of their product that they have covered a kayak frame with it using a flour and water glue, treated the interior with beeswax and the exterior with “Envirez™, a nautical grade resin made from soya beans”, and are planning to cross the English Channel in it. Their maiden voyage did not inspire confidence.
They call their boat the “Poo Canoe”, I suppose because the more accurate “Poo Kayak” doesn’t rhyme. It barely survived the first attempt:As the boat beneath the resin relies completely on being bone dry for its strength, where the water has seeped in the skin was as strong as, er, well, as strong as three sheets of soggy paper, and on the point of catastrophic failure . . . The Poo Canoe has been returned to the workshop for a thorough dry-out and some more Envirez.They will make their attempt to cross the channel when they have received pledges in support of Wales Air Ambulance for one penny for every ten sheep in Wales. They estimate the sheep population to be 11,978,590 and the sponsorship target is set at £11,978.59.
From BBC News: Channel Challenge In A Poo Canoe (July 15, 2009):
Channel challenge in a poo canoe
Lez Paylor and Lawrence Toms had teething problems on their first outing
A pair of entrepreneurs are planning to paddle to France in a special canoe consisting largely of paper made from sheep poo.
Snowdonia-based Lez Paylor and Lawrence Toms tested their craft in Bala, Gwynedd, and now plan a more ambitious trip across the English Channel.
The canoe frame is covered with a waterproofed skin made from sheep poo paper and a flour and water paste.
The pair’s Creative Paper Wales firm makes products from sheep poo paper.
Mr Toms said they hoped to paddle their canoe to France to raise money for the Wales Air Ambulance.
“Rural Wales really depends on the air ambulance and if we can do something entirely preposterous and raise them a few quid, it would be a nice way to give something back,” he said.
Mr Toms and Mr Paylor said the poo canoe was built using the frame of a two-man vessel once used by the Special Boat Service during World War II for covert operations.
It is waterproofed using beeswax and a soya bean extract resin but Mr Toms is not entirely convinced their vessel is totally seaworthy.
“I’m not even confident it will operate in a bath!” he said.
“It was my business partner [Lez Paylor] who built it. I’ve been training in a swimming pool so I can swim 15 miles in cold water!”
The Bala maiden voyage supported some of Mr Toms’ concerns. Despite managing about five miles (8km), a small leak had caused a soggy patch about the size and shape of a sheep, he said.
From Sheep Poo Paper News:
April 2009 – The Poo Canoe is headed for France, er, when its been covered . . .
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We have a plan – as everyone knows, one of the key features of poo is that it floats. Well, we’re counting on it because we are intending to cover the frame you see above with Sheep Poo Paper™ and paddle it to France – you, the viewing public will reward this patently lunatic ambition with meaningful sponsorship come the time, which monies will be diverted to the Wales Air Ambulance, who as everyone knows are the first to help you when you’re up poo creek without a paddle . . .
So what’s holding us up? Well, we’re on the hunt for a really good waterproof resin to coat the paper skin – and we want it to be as natural and environmentally friendly as possible. Oh, and we’re still training up to the point where we can swim 11 miles in cold water in case we sink at the half way point.
July 2009 – The Poo Floats! But can we float a 5.5 metre poo all the way to France? Sacre Bleu!!
The long search for an environmentally friendly resin complete, Lez has spent the last few months applying three layers of Sheep Poo Paper™ to the frame of The Poo Canoe using a flour and water glue, before finishing off the interior of the cockpit with a layer if beeswax (kindly donated by www.BritishWax.com) and then a finishing coat of Envirez™, a nautical grade resin made from soya beans . . . as yet untested in the UK . . . As Lawrence and Lez gingerly stepped into The Poo Canoe for its first water test at Bala Water Sports on Llyn Tegid on Tuesday this month, it occurred to them both that they might have been wiser to have assembled a deep water rescue team rather than a cameraman from Reuters. Paddling the world’s first craft made from poo out into the deep water in a couple of sweeping loops to test its speed, balance and manoeuvrability they were delighted on all three counts, and spirits were high.
However, on inspecting the hull for any leaks they were dismayed to find a large wet patch underneath the resin coating – it seems a small constellation of pinholes in this layer had allowed water in – and as the boat beneath the resin relies completely on being bone dry for its strength, where the water has seeped in the skin was as strong as, er, well, as strong as three sheets of soggy paper, and on the point of catastrophic failure . . . The Poo Canoe has been returned to the workshop for a thorough dry-out and some more Envirez™.
Confident that The Poo Canoe can be rapidly returned to full seaworthiness in short order however, the boys are today announcing their intention to attempt a channel crossing in aid of the Wales Air Ambulance. They will set the date for this intrepid channel crossing as soon as the sponsorship target is met – this target is to raise 1 penny for every ten sheep inWales, and with the current estimate at 11,978,590 the sponsorship target is set at £11,978.59 . . .
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From Sheep Poo Paper: How Its Made:
how its made:
As every craftsperson will tell you, it all begins by using only the very finest materials. We take great care to collect super-fresh sheep poo from the beautiful (and rainy) mountains of ruralWalesand take it back to the mill, situated in southern Snowdonia. We don’t just make Sheep Poo Paper™ and for our other papers we use waste paper, rag and textile off-cuts and just about anything else we can think of that has good length cellulose fibers in it. Of course, we don’t use tree – we like trees.
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The sheep poo we have collected is completely sterilized by boiling it in a specially designed pressure cooker at over 120 degrees centigrade (using only the purest Welsh mountain water, of course) and then washed repeatedly over a period of days until it has lost approximately half its original weight (Sheep Fact: a sheep only digests 50% of the cellulose fibers it eats).
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The washing process produces a big pile of usable fibers and, as a by-product it also produces a clean, sterile, rich, liquid fertilizer which we store in a tank at the mill and pass on to local growers.
It takes many hours to beat the cellulose fiber and blend it with other recycled pulps until it reduces to a pulp suitable for making paper. This is a difficult process to get right and the exact method is a closely guarded secret.
Using only traditional papermaking techniques we then form the pulp into sheets using special sieves (called a “mould and deckle”) and lay them out in stacks using felt in between each sheet to keep them from sticking together.
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The stacked and felted sheets are then pressed under huge pressure to remove most of the remaining water and encourage the cellulose fibers to bond at a molecular scale – this is what gives the paper its strength. Hanging the paper up in the roof rafters of the mill to season them finishes off the drying process.
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We also make some of our paper using a very old working example of a ‘Fourdrinier’ continuous papermaking machine which we periodically hire from a UK papermaking museum – this machine sprays the liquid pulp onto a continuous moving mesh and the water is squeezed out between heated rollers – this gives a stunningly smooth finish, although you can still see the flecks in the paper that come from the sheep poo.
All photos from the respective online sites noted.
There are a couple of YouTube videos on the poo canoe:
So that’s the story of the poo canoe….or is that poo kayak (it really doesn’t rhyme though)….double paddles are used….but then think about the old saying: ‘getting the blank end of the stick….so with a double paddle which end would that be LOL LOL. (NOTE: Actually that’s all of the story I could find on the poo canoe – or kayak – there was nothing about any actual attempt across the English Channel….certainly nothing about a completion of such a trip.)
Talk about being up a creek without a paddle….a poo creek (that is) without a paddle!!!!
So that is a quick overview of the amazing story of paper canoes (and other paper watercraft)….
Paddles up until later then….and remember there’s more to a paper canoe than just one made out of folded newspaper. Much more.
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In the evening there will be a special dinner to celebrate Ted Moores’ and Bear Mountain Boats 40th anniversary. The dinner will be hosted by Nick Offerman an accomplished woodworker, Bear Mountain canoe builder and actor.
He has a wicked sense of humour and currently stars on NBC’s Parks and Recreation in the role of Ron Swanson. Nick will have you laughing with his thought provoking insights into the world of wood working and boat building. Proceeds from the dinner will go to the Canoe Museum. SOLD OUT
