Try 2- cold soak - no go.  A bit of internet searching (incl dept of agriculture article) indicates that heat is a key to getting 'plasticity'.    So, needs to be hot.  More reading - a bit simpler than a steam box - pouring hot water over wet towels.  So, here's try 3:

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Seems to work on test piece.  But not as well as hoped, and I'm worried it will cool off too quickly to get a full length piece into the boat.  A candy thermometer shows I only got to about 160 degrees - we'll treat that as a minimum.  Seems worth a try.

Also need some nails.  Island Falls Canoe has some.  Of course they have no internet ordering, so I'll need to call.  According to the old xerox article, need 3/4 or 11/16 inch tacks.  Island Falls has copper.  Round and flat head - I'll try round - hopefully easier to sink flat into the planking.  $18 for half a pound...

On vacation next week, may be a while before posting...