Ocean-Going Canoe Want to know how a canoe is made? First, the carver chooses a cedar tree and thanks it for giving its life to become a canoe. Next, the artist cuts down the tree and carves it with an axe-like tool, called an adze. Finally, the wood is steamed, hardened, and painted.  Look closely at the inside of the canoe and you’ll see the adze marks. But you won’t see these marks on the outside of the canoe. In the old days, carvers used the dried skin of dogfish as sandpaper to create a smooth outside surface. Today, a canoe maker might use an electric sander.
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