capt jake Posted March 4, 2004 Posted March 4, 2004 I am trying to buy a tractor. In talking to the fellow, he would like a trade for a canoe. Any 'easy' canoe plans out there? I have the feeling that a canoe is going to take much more time than my strip kayak; correct?? Easy and cheap sa he can only negotiate on his prices marginally. Though I get the feeling if the canoe were right, it might be an even trade. Having never built a canoe, I don't know all of the ins and outs. A canoe has always been on my 'must build' list! Thoughts?? Quote
Barry Pyeatt Posted March 4, 2004 Posted March 4, 2004 Colman! There are some pretty spiffy strip canoes out there and I don't think they would be nearly as difficult as the strip kayak you built. You probably wouldn't need to put quite as nice a finish on it as you did on the kayak either. But what does he expect, Colman or Eddie Bauer? Check out what B&B has, I'm kinda fond of their Mocassin http://www.bandbyachtdesigns.com/mocci.htm Quote
capt jake Posted March 4, 2004 Author Posted March 4, 2004 Cool man! So what do you think a moccasin 2 would be truly worth in the trading game??? In hadn't thought about a S&G canoe for this venture, as he asked about bending the ribs and such. Quote
Simon Posted March 4, 2004 Posted March 4, 2004 Did he specify a strip canoe? There are plenty of multichine plywood designs which you could whip up in a week or two. Did he specify wood? Wooden canoes, whilst fun to make and nice to look at don't have anything like the durability of plastic ones. A plastic canoe is a more useable beast in my opinion, the chief drawbacks over wood being weight and asthetics. But what about the tractor? I mean you normally get what you pay for .. will making or finding him a canoe to trade really result in a better deal for you? Oops a cross posting ... Quote
capt jake Posted March 4, 2004 Author Posted March 4, 2004 No crossing the post. This guy lived aboard a sailboat for many years. He has a Nutshell pram also. He is not totally nieve, I appoached him with my kayak as partial trade and he said it was too nice for what he wanted to do with it; thus I am exploring other avenues to make the deal (at a lesser cost to me!!). Quote
Barry Pyeatt Posted March 4, 2004 Posted March 4, 2004 One of the layup men that worked for us has built a number of strip canoes, the one he likes the most and one that I was particularly struck with was The Classic Canoe from http://www.compumarine.com/classic_canoe.htm It would probably cost about 2-3 times as much as the B&B Mocassin and take about 2/3 as long to build as the kayak. But with a couple nice cane seats it will be mighty purty. Personally I don't think you could get a Mocassin built and finished from anyone that would do as good a job as you for less than maybe $900-$1200 depending upon trim out. I wouldn't even think about providing paddles for him though. Just maybe a source to get them. Build it out of nice ply and do the interior bright and the exterior in a nice color with a good finish on it and WOW! But drop Grahame a note and ask what they might be worth well built. Quote
Barry Pyeatt Posted March 4, 2004 Posted March 4, 2004 My son just pointed out to me that his buddy at work built his third canoe from strips and he said of the three this is the one that stood out in his mind. It is light weight and was easy to form up from strips. Brian thought he said it cost him about $500 in materials including epoxy and glass. Took him about 2 monts to get it done in his spare time. http://www.bearmountainboats.com/15-0BobsSpecial.asp Quote
capt jake Posted March 4, 2004 Author Posted March 4, 2004 Ooooooh, ahhh! I like that one. I am thinking this will be worth about $1500-$2000 upon completion???? It might work, though I want the tractor NOW. Would this be a 2 person craft?? His criteria. Quote
Barry Pyeatt Posted March 4, 2004 Posted March 4, 2004 This is the one that my brother and I were considering building because it is a blast to paddle and fast. It is also really light for a canoe that is 17' 9" long. The hull design is asymetrical with a slim bow. It turns with ease and we were both impressed with it. We tried one out that was built in Vancouver and was on the water when we were heading North to Desolation Sound a couple years back. It is still the one that I would like to build from strips. The kit though is about $1300. So getting more than $2,000 would be easy for a well built and finished one. But I think you can get the plans alone for about $70 from Bear Mountain. http://www.bearmountainboats.com/17-9Freedom.asp Quote
capt jake Posted March 4, 2004 Author Posted March 4, 2004 Thanks all! I am emotionally spent, with the grandson and such, I am going to bed. I will go and talk to him tomorrow as I am immensly more informed than before. Thank you very much!!!! Quote
Barry Pyeatt Posted March 4, 2004 Posted March 4, 2004 If you get a chance, here is a site with the construction of the Freedom 17 laid out in detail. It will give you a good idea of what is involved in finishing out a strip canoe. http://www.aracnet.com/~ncglad/canoeentry.htm Quote
Wild_Dingo Posted March 4, 2004 Posted March 4, 2004 Hey there Jake Theres the wee lassie of Mac McCarthy of course although small at wee lasie at 12ft and 14ft for the wee lassie 2 although from an email from Mac a few months back he reckons the station moulds can be moved out a few inches to make 16ft or so... but I think from your post the tractor fellas after something a bit tougher than a wee lassie... Then you have Gil Kilpatrick or somesuch who bought out a book called building strip canoes or something like that... hes a fella was a guide in the Adrionaks {sp?} and a champion canoe paddler for many years... I know it sounds as though Im a bit vague on this mate but thats the book you should get!!... he goes into great detail on building several designs "white guide" "laker" and "grand laker" from 16ft through to 20fters 1, 2 and 3 man and the flat transom for outboard type... he has also included in the book the offsets for 6 or 7 canoes... probably the grand laker at 20ft would be ideal its apparently a big canoe for carrying loads. Hes the sorta fella that seems to from his writing to go in for making a canoe not as a show pony but as a work unit tough and take the punishment of being portaged around over rocks and such. Anyway will have a hunt later and find the name of the bloke and book... unless someone else has it on their shelf and lobbs up with it! 8) Good luck with it... oh and Jake? mate the work you did on the kayak you wouldnt do on the canoe!! You will find a canoe simple after that beauty! oooh if hes after ribs and such then Piccollo? Bruce Taylor build one awhile back and the plans were in the Woodenboat magazine a couple of years back... has the added advantage of the drawings including sails riggins etc!!... maybe I can find them and scan them and email them through for you? let me know Quote
Wild_Dingo Posted March 4, 2004 Posted March 4, 2004 I must admit Ive thought the same thing at times... then I see the strips starting up the moulds and shake my noggin and lay a couple more... Course its cheeper to buy one or even a kayak for that matter second hand... for me at least its the journey of the building thats the actual fun part! 8) Like restoring the old ply and pine skiff I coulda bought one for the amount Im spending on this old girl... but think of the end mate the end when shes sittin there all purty and ready for the drink... and she'll be all my work! :wink: Then theres the reason why Ive painted her yellow too... remember the old Beatles song?... well I can act all cool as she goes under and start singing "We all love in a yellow submarine" with this huge cheshire cat look on me dial a look that says "Dont worry about it sinkin... I new that!" Its the journey Quote
Steve Downs Posted March 4, 2004 Posted March 4, 2004 I built one of Gil Gilpatricks canoes and it was pretty easy. Look his site up. He has quite a nice variety (8) in his book. Quote
capt jake Posted March 5, 2004 Author Posted March 5, 2004 What I struggle to comprehend is the building for sale at the prices sold for. True statement! This trade may not work, unless I can make something that I am not buried in time with (like a stripper). This has been an interesting thread though; I think you guys pointed me to the canoe that 'I' want to build in a few years. Quote
Barry Pyeatt Posted March 5, 2004 Posted March 5, 2004 There are photos of a couple of the Moccasin 15' canoes being built in a class that Grahame conducts on the B&B Forum. Also a current thread on a 12' Moccasin. Just do a search on Mocassin and the 15' was back in Dec. Quote
Reno Posted March 5, 2004 Posted March 5, 2004 I built a 16 foot strip canoe, (some folks call them "strippers") last year that turned out to be a wonderful project for me and my 10 yr old son. We used the plans from Gil Gilpatrick. http://gilgilpatrick.com an avid outdoorsman who builds his own outdoor gear, including canoes, and provides guide service in Maine. We built our stripper out of free maple, mahogany, white/red oak and walnut. We got the wood free from the scrap heap outside of a local hardwoods retailer. Apparently they get their wood in rough cut form and have to shore it up for retail sale. The scraps are in various thicknesses but run up to 14 feet in length. Each strip is cut on table saw to 1/4" thick by 3/4" wide. The strips are glued to eachother and stapled to stations on a strongback. Staples are then removed and the canoe is fiberglassed on both inside and outside. Very tough, durable and great to look at. I'll try to post a pic of it. Go to Gil's website. His book on building a stripper is quite detailed. Since you've already built a kayak I'm sure you have most of the skills down pat. [attachment over 4 years old deleted by admin] Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.