I love reading about home built paddling vessels, but where do the majority of builders get their materials? What is the best material to use? Does wood selection really matter if the entire vessel is going to be glassed? Thanks for any help anyone can give!! :4:
Canoe Material Availability
- Thread starter hughhaff
- Start date
There a wood shop in town here that serves woodcrafters and specialty cabinet makers, that will cut, bead, and cove strips of whatever (cedar). REALLY helps with the labor time and limits waste. Also allows people with limited shop tools to build a bangup wood strip.
If you're going the easy way, stitch and glue with thin plywood/epoxy is quick. The differences in the ply's are wood type, glue type, and gaps between the layers that will trap air and rot in the cheap stuff. Having said that, there are boats still being paddled built with cheapo ply that are almost 15 years old that I know of.
I would decide where you will paddle the most. Then what design you like that'll fit the app. Then what construction method will build the boat the best within your budget. Once you have those parameters, you'll get much more specific answers to any questions. Or start with design questions for where you want to paddle.
Hope I didn't assume too much and got too basic.
If you're going the easy way, stitch and glue with thin plywood/epoxy is quick. The differences in the ply's are wood type, glue type, and gaps between the layers that will trap air and rot in the cheap stuff. Having said that, there are boats still being paddled built with cheapo ply that are almost 15 years old that I know of.
I would decide where you will paddle the most. Then what design you like that'll fit the app. Then what construction method will build the boat the best within your budget. Once you have those parameters, you'll get much more specific answers to any questions. Or start with design questions for where you want to paddle.
Hope I didn't assume too much and got too basic.
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wood selection has a huge impact on weight as well. my homemade stitch and glue is 1/4" luann plywood (cheap!) and 3oz fiberglass inside and out, with 6oz fiberglass tape on the seams. i used pine for the inside and outside gunwhales. it only has 2 thwarts and no seats. it's 14.5' long, and weighs 50lbs.
my next boat will be a cedar stripper. i will use 3oz glass inside and out, with an Ash gunwhale, outside only. it should weigh about 30lbs at 14'.
there are several suppliers. i get my epoxy at West Marine. About $140 for a gallon of resin and a quart of hardener.
i get my fiberglass through fiberglasssite.com.
i will get my cedar strips from http://www.shop.northwestcanoe.com/Cedar-Strips-869663.htm
bead and cove vs planed flat edges is a debate. it's easier to fit a round joint tightly. it's very hard to get two flat edges exactly parallel for 15'... strength-wise, once it's behind fiberglass, there's little difference.
oh. plans. i'm getting mine here. the bob's is an old design by chestnut canoes.
http://www.bearmountainboats.com/onlinestore/product_info.php?cPath=21&products_id=30
my next boat will be a cedar stripper. i will use 3oz glass inside and out, with an Ash gunwhale, outside only. it should weigh about 30lbs at 14'.
there are several suppliers. i get my epoxy at West Marine. About $140 for a gallon of resin and a quart of hardener.
i get my fiberglass through fiberglasssite.com.
i will get my cedar strips from http://www.shop.northwestcanoe.com/Cedar-Strips-869663.htm
bead and cove vs planed flat edges is a debate. it's easier to fit a round joint tightly. it's very hard to get two flat edges exactly parallel for 15'... strength-wise, once it's behind fiberglass, there's little difference.
oh. plans. i'm getting mine here. the bob's is an old design by chestnut canoes.
http://www.bearmountainboats.com/onlinestore/product_info.php?cPath=21&products_id=30
Dennis
Scout
I built this canoe with cedar that I bought at a local lumber yard. I also purchased bead and cove bits for a router. I ripped the strips on my table saw then made a set up for the router next to the table saw and bead and coved all the strips. Took some PVC pipe and filled it with water put my Douglas fir that I used for the gunnels and put them in the pipe with water and let it set in the hot sun all day. Softened them up so I could bend them around.
The only part I did not make my self was the seats. It's not that hard to do but be prepared for a long build. A labor of love I should say.
The only part I did not make my self was the seats. It's not that hard to do but be prepared for a long build. A labor of love I should say.
Last edited:
Ahnkochee
Bushmaster
I built all my boats on the cheap using exterior AC, and AB grade Douglas Fir plywood, and covering with Polyester resin and fiberglass. Much cheaper than Epoxy resin though not as durable but good enough for me on a blue collar budget.
Looker
Guide
My brother builds wood strip kayaks. He buys his cedar from a local Amish sawmill and cuts, beads and coves his own strips. He makes decorative strips by planing down some old redwood siding that was removed from my mom and dad's house after about 30 years of use (the redwood is darker than the cedar). There are a lot of options for wood, but if you are looking for a simpler project, stitch and tape is the way to go.
Looker
Looker
Thanks everyone for your responses a great help! I'm looking to build a strip 14'-15' canoe paddling small lakes and rivers here in my neck of the woods. I'm a carpenter and woodworker so I have tools and know how to use them so I am looking to do a labor of love, not a wham bam job. I'm going to check out the links that have been posted and again thanks for the input!