Offshore worker from Culduthel makes impressive Canadian Canoe for use on Highland lochs to help him cope with excruciating bank pain
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An offshore worker from Culduthel has made an impressive Canadian Canoe to help him cope with excruciating bank pain.
After being signed off work with sciatica in January 2021, oil rig manager, Donnie Bruce (48) picked up a book on building a canoe that his wife, Tara, had given him 25 years before.
And the result is a hand-crafted canoe that has space for two people and enough space to carry enough supplies for a month-long trip.
She has made her maiden voyage after a naming ceremony at Dochgarroch - to the family's delight. She was named Tara B after Mr Bruce's wife.
Mr Bruce now plans to explore the lochs and waterways of the Highlands with both Taras.
Mr Bruce, originally from Shetland, said: "In January I developed sciatica and my doctor told me that it could last a long time.
"I found myself needing something to do, to keep me busy.
"If I rewind 25 years, my wife Tara gave me a book, 'Build Your Own Canadian Canoe', so I thought I would give it a go.
"It became a lifeline and a focal point. I was maybe only able to work on it for half an hour at time, but I got there in the end.
"I have never done anything like this before. I thought that I might not be able to build it, but I felt it was worth giving it a try.
"I don't have any formal training and the last time I did any wood work was probably in school.
"I found myself spending a lot of time on YouTube learning how to do things and it is incredible what I was able to do."
Mr Bruce said that in spite of growing up in Shetland with a father who was a joiner and boat builder, he had never shown any interest in building boats, until now.
He left Shetland in 1989 to join the Merchant Navy, before going offshore 15 years ago.
He continued: "I have managed to build a traditional 15ft Canadian Canoe which is in the ranger design. It would have been used in North America for those people who were prospectors.
"It can be used for paddling across lochs and it is robust enough to travel into white waters."
The boat is made of Western Red Cedar and trimmed with hardwood Ash."
Mr Bruce added: "I know I could send away and buy paddles but I am now making my own with Ash wood that I got from an estate in Conon Bridge.
"I think my wife is delighted that I named the canoe after her, but really she gave me the inspiration in the first place."
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