A retired military pilot takes on one of the most ambitious survival builds ever attempted. In this full start-to-finish journey, Outback Mike transforms a massive 50-year-old tree trunk into a fully functional hand-carved dugout canoe, blending ancient craftsmanship with modern precision.
From the first cut of the chainsaw to the final glide across open water, every stage of the process showcases remarkable patience, endurance, and skill. What begins as raw timber from Newcastle, Australia, slowly becomes a vessel capable of facing the untamed waters of the Great Barrier Reef.
00:00 – Intro & Meet Outback Mike
01:11 – Stripping the Bark & Preparing the Log for Transformation
01:25 – Hollowing the Interior to Form the Canoe’s Core
02:22 – Controlled Burning to Remove Woodworms Safely
02:45 – Refining the Shape & Perfecting the Curves
04:11 – The Inspiration: Shipwreck Survivor James Morrill’s Story
06:30 – The Great Barrier Reef Expedition Plan (1,500 km Journey)
08:16 – Challenges of Building a Dugout Canoe by Hand
11:11 – Adding Outriggers for Stability in Rough Seas
12:31 – Essential Safety Tips for Canoe Building
Outback Mike
https://outbackmike.com
https://www.youtube.com/@OutbackMike
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPOEFH-64_8
https://www.instagram.com/outback_mike
https://www.facebook.com/Outbackmike/
https://www.tiktok.com/@outbackmike
https://x.com/Outback_Mike
Music: Epidemic Sound
https://www.epidemicsound.com/referral/h44sdw/
