Category: Canoes

Canoes, kayaks, sailin canoes, open canoes, paddles, skin on frame canoes, canoe plans

Alan Stancombe builds his second Cinderella – and does a super job

Alan Stancombe's Cinderella canoe

Alan Stancombe's Cinderella canoe Alan Stancombe's Cinderella canoe Alan Stancombe's Cinderella canoe

Alan Stancombe's Cinderella canoe

As usual, click on the thumbnails for much bigger images that in this case reveal just how smooth and sweet Alan’s seams really are!

Most first-time boatbuilders find themselves saying how much better the boat would be if they could do it all again, both because of the different choices they would make but also because of the techniques they have learned and improved. Many then go on to build different boats, but Alan Stancombe has built a second Cinderella to the free plans I drew up – and a great job he has done.

The difference lies in his use of tongue depressers as spacers between the strakes, which he says enabled him to produce smooth taped seams on the inside of the boat.

However he did it, I’m thinking he could give lessons in building Cinderellas!

For free plans for this easy to build 12ft stitch and glue open canoe made from plywood and epoxy, click here: Cinderella download

For more examples of the Cinderella, see the free plans page link at the top of this page.

PS I was also chuffed today to hear from Dave Stone, who sent me a Sketchup model of the sailing version of the Ella skiff that he’s been working on. Well done Dave! Plans for the Ella skiff are available from the Free plans page – see the link at the top of this page.

Ella skiff sketchup model

 

Digitised traditional canoe plans for cedar strip construction

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1883 Southwest Greenland canoe digitised plans

Computer model of 1883 Southwestern Greenland kayak

Paddlinglight.com website guru Bryan Hansel is publishing plans for traditional canoes digitised from material included in a classic book by Howard Chappelle and based on the work of Edwin Tappan Adney.

Here’s what Bryan has to say:

‘Each week this winter, I’m digitising a plan from the book Bark Canoes and Skin Boats of North America and releasing a set of station and stem plans for cedar strip builders on my website.

‘The plans that are currently finished are found here: http://www.paddlinglight.com/category/articles/free-kayak-and-canoe-plans I’m doing this hoping that these old designs, some not built in 100 years, get built, so we can compare the old designs to modern and see how kayaks and canoeing have changed.’

Plans examples already on the website from include a 1921 Southwest Greenland kayak dating from 1921 and 1883, and a Passamaquoddy ocean canoe of 1898.

Thanks Bryan! These are such elegant boat forms.

Two editions of the original Chappelle and Tappan Adney book are available from Amazon, here and here.

A raid in paradise: Tawe Nunnagh

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It’s chilly, raining and grey here in Kent as cruel winter descends, but on the other side of the world folks in Tasmania are planning what they’re calling a raid in paradise: Tawe Nunnagh.

The photos above suggest the  description may be correct. I want to go – I’d love at least one more boating holiday – but of course I don’t deserve it and it wouldn’t be exactly practical…

The local Aboriginal words mean ‘going by canoe’, but the boats can be of any design despite the name – however, boats taking part must be of predominantly wooden construction. Participants may bring their own craft, or hire or crew  small craft owned by the Living Boat Trust.

The raid itself is a nine-day expedition involving sailing and rowing boats through the D’Entrecasteaux Channel between Bruny Island and the mainland of southern Tasmania.

The route stretches from Recherche Bay, the most southerly inhabited settlement in Australia, to the Tasmanian capital of Hobart, and is timed to finish on the first day of the biennial Australian Wooden Boat Festival to be held on the 11-14 February 2011.

Ports of call are Southport (for the local regatta on the5th February 5th), Mickey’s Bay on Bruny Island, the Far South Adventure Camp near Strathblane, Cygnet, Alonnah on Bruny Island, and Oyster Cove, before sailing the last leg to Hobart for the opening of the Wooden Boat Festival on 11th February. Each day will involve a sail or row between sheltered campsites, with radio support and safety craft, and a meal will be provided each evening, followed by local speakers and fun activities.

For more information, see the Living Boat Trust website.