Choose a softwood log that is straight, free of major branches and rot, at least 50-60 cm across for a one-person dugout, and 3-4 m long (5-6 m for two people and cargo): cedar is the best choice, being light and rot-resistant, with pine, poplar or cottonwood, and linden as alternatives, while very hard woods such as oak and hickory should be avoided unless you have metal tools and a great deal of time. A 0.6 m log 4 m long weighs 509 kg seasoned but 905 to 1,131 kg green, so plan the move before the felling.
Part of Coracle & Small Watercraft
Log selection is choosing and felling the tree that will become a dugout canoe, balancing workability, durability, size and weight.
Soft Enough To Hollow, Sound Enough To Last
The carrier lists the species. Poplar or cottonwood: light and easy to work, but soft. Pine: a good balance of weight and durability. Cedar: light and rot-resistant, the best if available. Linden or basswood: very easy to carve. Avoid very hard woods (oak, hickory) unless you have metal tools and lots of time. The dimensions: 50-60 cm diameter minimum for a one-person canoe, 3-4 m long for a solo boat, 5-6 m for two people plus cargo, straight, with no major branches or rot.
Measure the diameter at the small end, because a log tapers, and the narrowest section sets the width of the hull. Check straightness by sighting along it. Check soundness by tapping along the bole: a dull sound and a punky patch of bark often mean rot.
What You Need
- A candidate tree, examined from the ground and walked around
- A felling plan and a clear fall line (see Felling Technique)
- Saw, axe, wedges
- Rollers, levers and rope to move the log (see Lever Systems)
- A crew, sized to the mass computed below
Method: Select, Fell, Check
Step 1: Choose by species and shape. Walk the stand and mark straight, branch-free trees of 50-60 cm or more.
Step 2: Test for rot by tapping and probing the base; reject a tree with a hollow base.
Step 3: Fell with the three-cut system, planning for the fall line.
Step 4: Cut to length with a margin, since the ends will be shaped and may check.
Step 5: Seal the cut ends with pitch or wax to slow end cracking, and move the log to the work site.
Worked Example: How Heavy Is The Log?
For a log 0.6 m across, volume = π × 0.3² × L. Seasoned softwood is 400-500 kg/m³ and green wood 800-1,000 kg/m³ in Logistics & Load Planning; the table uses 450 kg/m³ for seasoned.
| Length | Volume | Seasoned (450) | Green (800-1,000) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 m | 0.85 m³ | 382 kg | 679-848 kg |
| 4 m | 1.13 m³ | 509 kg | 905-1,131 kg |
| 5 m | 1.41 m³ | 636 kg | 1,131-1,414 kg |
| 6 m | 1.70 m³ | 763 kg | 1,357-1,696 kg |
A solo log of 3-4 m is therefore 382-1,131 kg, and a two-person log of 5-6 m up to 1,696 kg. This is a mass in kilograms, and the force to lift it is 9.81 times that in newtons; so moving it means levers, rollers and a crew, not lifting.
Common Mistakes
- Choosing a log by diameter alone — a straight 50 cm log beats a crooked 70 cm one.
- Ignoring the green weight — a 4 m green log can top a tonne.
- Felling without a plan for hauling — a log dropped in a ravine is lost.
- Leaving the ends unsealed — they check as the wood dries.
Safety
Felling kills
A tree of this size can kick back, split, or fall onto the feller. Use the felling system in Felling Technique, clear the area, never work alone, and never stand where a rolling log can reach you.
What’s Next
- Learn next: Hollowing Technique — removing the wood
- Combine with: Shaping for Stability — the shape that follows from the log