Beech Tree News Network

Butler County native and builder of handcrafted wooden canoes David West of Cherry Bend Canoes hasn’t officially been given his Cherokee name by a Chief, so we will call him David

Adageliyotsedi, which means “passion” in the Cherokee language that his forefathers spoke. We had met at the crack of dawn at his house and shop where it became quickly apparent to me that I was drinking coffee with a soft spoken, but an intense person that works with Western Cedar, Ash, Walnut, and fiberglass cloth in almost a spiritual way.

      I asked a few questions, and then listened to David talk about how he goes about building his custom canoes and the occasional kayak, possibly some discussion about life in general, then we took the fifteen footer that sits in his front yard down to the river for a pleasurable photo opportunity. I’m not much of a boat guy, but right away I appreciated the looks of the warm wood against the cool river water, and it also became clear that this canoe was meant for use, and not just for admiration.

      On the way home at least three thoughts hit me: One thought was that I had just spent some time with a craftsman, thought two was that I had learned a couple of words in a different language, and thirdly, that doggone turkey feather inlay by the brass accented lunch locker meant that I really need one of these canoes.

What made you start doing this?
First off, I have always had a passion for woodworking doing something with my hands; it could be something about my ancestry, my father built john boats from plywood when I was growing up on Bull Creek, that he used around Cherry Bend for trotline fishing on the Green River.
Secondly, the industrialized age has about made actual hand craftsman a thing of the past, and like many other products anything made of wood including the hand-built canoe market has taken a hit if this method of building is not carried on by a few the art will be lost forever.
Third, I wanted to leave something of myself behind that people could use, enjoy, and be proud to own.  What better legacy than a hand built canoe or kayak.

How many different designs do you build?
Well, I make the 15 foot Bob’s Special, Ranger, Redbird, and have made a Pirogue camouflaged for duck hunting. The kayaks are the 15-foot Voyager model.
What wood do you use?
I use mainly ash, cherry, walnut, oak, red mahogany, hard maple, for trim out items such as the seats, gunwales, thwart, yoke and decks. The hull is built of western quarter-sawn vertical grain red cedar with a mix of white cedar or bass wood for accent strips. Sometimes I create a southwest Native American feature out of wood if that’s what the client wants.
If I am building a pirogue, I use ¼ inch marine plywood and ash chine logs on the interior at the base of the sides. 
How long does it take and how many man hours go into building a canoe?
The time varies depending on how you obtain the wood if you mill your own every piece it takes around 400 man hours to complete a watercraft 15 foot in length like the one in the photograph.If I buy the lumber already milled, the time usually takes around 300 man hours.

What are the main uses of your canoes?
Recreational use,fly fishing, white water on rivers, streams, or trips to a camp site, they are great load carriers.

Where does your inspiration come from?
A da nv do (Great Spirit ) in Cherokee, we are the author of our own destiny no one else. You bring about what you are thinking daily, and I have a skill that no one could take from me, it’s called the law of attraction, and I have been that way my entire life.
What line of work were you in before?
I went to technical college and became an electrician then I certified to become a state electrical inspector/Deputy State Fire Marshal in Kentucky. I also became a certified fire and explosion investigator; later I went through the police academy to become a police officer for the Kentucky State Police.

To reach David at Cherry Bend Canoes contact him at: (270) 282-5069 or visit his facebook page at Cherry Bend Canoes.