No matter how cheap you make it, you can't make a slow canoe
go fast.
Custom Wood Boat Plans for Home Builders
Evaluating Canoe Plans
Many of my stitch and glue canoe designs are intended for solo canoeists. There are tandem plans available and I can customize all available plans to suit your needs. I am in the process of "porting over" many of the more popular stitch and glue boat plans to software which will create lines for wood strip construction.
Why so many solo designs?
If you own a tandem and a solo, ask yourself when you last used the tandem. If you have two paddlers in mind, trust me, build two solos and buy two kayak paddles, you will thank me!
After a certain length, the stitch and glue canoe becomes more time consuming to build. One has to scarf added material to get lengths exceeding about 15 feet 6 inches. The resulting boat in excess of 16 feet may not be much lighter than a comparable plastic, aluminum canoe from the store. The added time and weight penalty often disuade folks from larger wood models.
While wood has the aesthetic advantage, by the time it exceeds 16 feet, and the added width of a tandem there is minimal weight advantage compared to hefting an aluminum or Royalex canoe over a portage.
If you don't plan on portaging, or you are one of the big strong people, no problem! I estimate a 16 - 17 foot tandem to weight about 59 to 69 pounds depending on trim and lay up. Weight and strength are relative terms, so 65 pounds to someone larger and stronger may not be much at all.
Tandem plans are available for those looking for them but are not currently available here, call for those. Consider building two solo boats for you and your partner. You'll thank me in time.
For an explaination of design elements for wooden canoe plans click here.
A few of the plans below are described on their respective links.
Campion
Cattail Classic
Coneflower
Harebell
Meadow Rue
Pasque Flower
Sweet Rocket
Turtlehead
Wood Sorrel
