Feb10
How to build a canvas canoe
Here’s another terrible temptation for all you winter-time boat dreamers.
I imagine you’d have to be pretty hardy to build a canvas canoe using real canvas these days, but people use Dacron painted over with a seal. I’m pretty sure there will be something on the techniques involved at Duckworks at www.duckworksmagazine.com, as the Duckmeister is himself a canvas canoe fan.
I think also you might have to think a bit about this author’s suggestions about the kinds of wood you might use for various components – ‘thin oak’, for example, might now be replaced with ply of some kind.
Still, I there’s enough information here to build a fun and very retro little boat, and it would be great to hear that someone has decided to take up the challenge of these FREE BOAT PLANS…
Want to comment or add something? Email intheboatshed.net: gmatkin@gmail.com
5 Comments »Boat plans and books of plans, Canoes
Chuck Leinweber Feb 12th 2007 at 03:48 pm 1
Hey, Gav. if links work here, you can see some my own SOF work here: http://www.duckworksmagazine.com/03/r/projects/sof2/update1.htm – we used “real” canvas on this boat. I think the total cost was fifty bucks or so. I say real because it might have been part polyester – it’s hard to tell these days. Anyway, the little boats are huge fun. We had them at Lake Powell last fall paddling in and out of deep red-rock canyons – fantastic! – Chuck
Sean Hartman Oct 27th 2008 at 01:48 am 2
Mr. Atkin,
I know it’s been a while since these plans were posted and I’m not sure if anyone has taken up the challenge yet, but I am starting construction on this canvas canoe today and if you are intereted, I’ll keep you posted. By the way, I found this site while looking up your Cinderella canoe. A friend recently bought me your book with her included plans. A fantastic present indeed!
All the best,
-Sean Hartman
Gavin Atkin Oct 27th 2008 at 07:13 am 3
Sean -
Absolutely – please do keep us posted! I’d very much like to see this project going together.
And I’m delighted you liked the Ultrasimple Boatbuilding book. The Cinderella canoe is a great little boat and deserves to be built much more often.
Gav
Dustin Oct 27th 2009 at 12:43 am 4
Hey i was just wanting to let everyone know that ive taken the challenge. I’m fifteen but love to work with my hands and love canoes so the other day i decided to make one. I didnt know about this site at the time so i didnt build it to specs. but it is a very sturdy little craft. It is more of a flatboat and if anyone can tell me how to post pics on here i would be much obliged.
Gavin Atkin Oct 27th 2009 at 07:51 am 5
Dustin:
Congratulations Dustin!
Send me some photos and something about the story of how you built the boat, and we’ll see what we can do.
I should say that we try to focus on old boats and boats that include the features of old boats here and yours might not meet those criteria – but don’t give up hope as there are other places that are probably more suitable. The best place is the wonderful Duckworksmagazine. So do also write to Chuck Leinweber at duckworksmagazine.com – his email address is on the Duckworks site.
Gav