Cheap Canoe Plans Tested

by JRSloan (Spokanoemaker)

I build a lot of small boats, so I thought I'd try a plan given out for free on the net.  Take a look at bateau.com for their "Cheap Canoe" plan. 

 

This is a very easy plan to follow, and easy to finish.  This one will be bright red with a dark grey interior, and bright wood trim.  Think I'll call her "Firecracker".

 

It's a basic, two-sheet plywood stitch-and-glue flat-bottomed 14.5-foot canoe.  As planned, it's gunnels are 12.5" above the bottom, but I raised them to the maximum the sheets of ply would allow (another 1-3/8"), and laminated a double rubrail for firmness. 

The plans call for no strongback for construction, but uses duct tape to hold the pieces together, instead (The "Red Green" approach).  I used aluminum wire to be sure, but next time I think I'll use fish line so it won't matter to my tools if I leave the fasteners in place.  

Today I added the second coat of epoxy to the hull, finished the red oak breasthook/decks, added some mountain ash carrying handles and peened a section of 1/2" copper pipe through her bow for a towrope. Everything is locked in place with epoxy or epoxy-and-wood flour, of course.

 

 

Well, I got Firecracker finished and in the water with no hassles--weighs about 28-30 pounds, bright red with a dark brown interior.  The kids loved it, no problem holding three of them in a frantic attempt to learn to paddle in three different directions at the same time.   I think the next one will be bigger.  This little boat lends new meaning to the phrase, "Tippecanoe and ..."

Firecracker was made of ordinary 1/4" shop grade Douglas fir ply, A/C grade.  I epoxied all the joints, using aluminum wires to hold them first (rather than using duct tape recommended in the plan). 

Then I put 'glass over all the exterior joints, primed it like crazy and sprayed on a red coat of enamel (five or six thinned coats, actually).  I coated the interior with a glossy olive drab to cut down on glare, and trimmed it with  some alder molding for gunnels and some oak scraps for yokes.  I put "spray rails" at each end for decoration and added handles for carrying; they're made of ash. 

My biggest departure from the plans was to put in stems (just straight douglas fir) instead of counting on the stitch and epoxy at the key joints.  This allowed me to drill half-inch holes and insert pieces of 1/2" O.D. copper pipe with epoxy anchors.  Then I tapped the copper over like a rivet on each side, and threaded a blue poly rope through.  I braided an eye to fasten it, and another around an ash handle to make really dressy mooring lines.

Problem?  Light boat tends to get tossed around in the shallows, so the paint job has to be dressed up a lot.  Right now it's in topnotch shape, and hanging in the garage awaiting its spring buyer, 'cause I have to finance my next boat

Stability of "Cheap Canoe"

Test ride was a little exciting, because I had never ridden in as small and narrow a canoe before.  I was sure I was going to capsize it, but within half an hour or so I was looking like an "old pro."  Had several power boats come up, look me over and stop for a chat--they liked its looks.  I paddled it around the lake to get a feel for it, then went up a little river to the first rapids, no problems at all.  It's very easy to maneuver with no keel required.  Pretty important to get balanced fore and aft in a breeze, though, because even a little imbalance gets the bow out of the water and it wants to weathervane.

The following weekend I took it to another lake with a raft of grandkids around.  Two of the girls got in it with a lot of squealing, but after ten minutes set off on an adventure and didn't come back for a couple of hours, against the wind and all a-giggle.  The thing stayed dry for everyone who used it.  It feels tippy at first, but as soon as you start to tilt, the reserve flotation kicks in and will only go either way just so far. 

I wouldn't want to get in a wave-throwing contest with a speedboat, but otherwise, it's a pretty cool little boat.  One thing: with no thwarts in it, I found one of those folding canvas stadium seats a really handy accessory.  The back support was just what the doctor ordered.

 

Photos by JRSloan (Spokanoemaker)

JR Sloan (Spokanoemaker) is a member of Wooden Boat Builder and resides in Spokane, Washington.