Reddit reviews The Survival of the Bark Canoe

Well, it all depends on your definition of impressive.

Birchbark canoes are very versatile and well suited to their primary environment, the rivers of eastern North America. The frame and skin construction of a birchbark canoe is superior to the dugout canoes found in other cultures, and there really wasn't a non-native equivalent elsewhere in the world.

Their construction might be described as simple but a skilled canoe maker could make a versatile and long lasting craft with natural materials. The craft could even be repaired in the field with commonly available natural materials (pine pitch and/or additional birch).

Sources: John McPhee wote an excellent work on canoe making by interviewing practitioners, The Survival of the Birch Bark Canoe. http://www.amazon.com/Survival-Bark-Canoe-John-McPhee/dp/0374516936

The first comprehensive western summary of the Native art of canoe making is Edwin Tappan Abbey, Bank Canoes and Skin Boats of North America. http://books.google.com/books?id=1adokGCe08oC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

The Survival of the Bark Canoe by John McPhee.