:O!!, man, this is massive!, thanks for sharing this!

Grégory Hertel it's ok as long as you value and don't forget these things

You first

Smoke will not do it. Tar will extend the life of it a lot. They probably used "homemade " birch tar. But even petroleum based tar will do it. Or Animal fat, preferably tallow, thinner oils, like fish,chicken or pork lard will not last long. All of these , and synthetic waterproofers will help a lot, but they will not fix the bigger cracks. Smoke was not really used here. It is the heat that makes the raw wood plyable, so they can bend it. After its shape was secured (sticks across) ,then it was dried to hold the "new " shape. Same as the steam bending of wood to make furniture, or snowshoes,etc.

Smoke used in fur tanning as waterproofing that's why I thought it can help. Oil will be fine it's good. I am not interested in syntetic waterproofers - only naturals. Thanks, Áron

The last remaining expert boat builder's assistant.

apprentice

Это осина. Мягкая древесина

Thank you. Big Aspen!

skippy dullwynne рад быть полезным...

вот вы где тусуетесь )). Можно Вам посоветовать видео ?

AcnupuH4uk конечно

looks like birch or maple, both local. Just a guess.

catumandos it's aspen (populus tremula). many boat builders across russia consider it the best choice for dugout canoes, because it's lightweight, easily cut and rot resistant.

традиционно используют осину

In those parts this boat is called "botnick"

In Finland they used aspen for that purpose.