Thread: Beginner's canoe/kayak

Plans??!!
attached is as near as I got to plans for CB90.
You will need to download "Hulls" from Gregg Carlson's website at Carlson Design Plotter/Cutters

the text file tills you the x/y co-ordinates for the panel mark-up
Sorry, no picture of it..

The .hul file allows you to play with the lines.
Open the hulls.exe programme, then choose to open this file.
Set the CoG at the belly of the largest person likely to use it & locate your cockpit opening to suit.

The .dxf file allows you to export the lines to a "proper" CAD proggy.

It's only faster than Teal when the wind ain't blowing
cheers
AJ

You could build the Wacky Lassie or the Wackless Lassie:
Wacky Lassie: an instant double paddle canoe to be built and used by kids

Wackless Lassie - double paddle canoe

If you are considering the Pirauga or similar designs, these are similar (very similar), and free.

I would recommend Ultraply XL if you can find it. It is stronger than luan but still only cost $20 US per sheet.

Paint it with 100% acylic latex primer and exterior house paint, but let it dry for two weeks before use: Magazine Articles

Does not get much simpler or cheaper than this.

I decided that Toto was close to what I wanted so decided to buy the plans - at $17.50, it didn't really matter if I bought the plans and decided not to use them. So I fired up Duckworks and started the purchase ... then got to postage and handling - they want $29 to post the things here to Oz, making the entire purchase $46.50. Sorry, that's just stupid and makes the plans too expensive unless you're wedded to building it (in which case the price is irrellevant).

So being grumpy and off, I'm now looking at other designs ... but after looking at the Wacky Lassie site (interesting option that one), I realised I'm too off and grumpy to make a valid decision, so I'll probably mow the lawns instead.

I do not want to spend the next twelve months building a complicated design. Not only do I not have the time, I don't have the shed space and any time delay just defeats the point of the exercise. It's not as though is my sole project. Maybe I should try being unemployed again, you get lots of building done then

Richard

OK here's the last word:

Cost of plans- $0

2X sheets of 6mm ply

My first boat and I would probably recommend as everybody's intorduction

free plans for a canoe

the Bateau ' Free Canoe'

I used mine for years and only sold it when my son got too heavy for the boat to hold both of us. Come to think of it, I spend lots of hours of aimless paddling- really paid for itself.

It does need some form of positive flotation it kids are involved, though.

Originally Posted by Daddles

I do not want to spend the next twelve months building a complicated design. Not only do I not have the time, I don't have the shed space and any time delay just defeats the point of the exercise. It's not as though is my sole project. Maybe I should try being unemployed again, you get lots of building done then

Richard

Sounds like you just need to peruse the Friday Shopper & the Trading Post.
Fits better with your time-frame given we are just hitting the best boating weather.
(Autumn in SA ROCKS )
cheers
AJ

Oi, you didn't make any comment about Miks Quick Canoe. I think it ticks all the boxes and the latest one Mik posted looks sweet painted.

Originally Posted by m2c1Iw

Oi, you didn't make any comment about Miks Quick Canoe. I think it ticks all the boxes and the latest one Mik posted looks sweet painted.

I wasn't aware it was suitable for a double paddle. Is it? Most of the canoes seem not to be, especially following AJ's thoughts on high, square sides.

Richard

Originally Posted by Daddles

I wasn't aware it was suitable for a double paddle. Is it? Most of the canoes seem not to be, especially following AJ's thoughts on high, square sides.

Richard

I'll need to check the postings again but I am fairly sure a double works OK. Says he who normally employs an internal combustion engine for movement in non sail vessels and has absolutely no idea about paddles and such.

Originally Posted by m2c1Iw

I'll need to check the postings again but I am fairly sure a double works OK. Says he who normally employs an internal combustion engine for movement in non sail vessels and has absolutely no idea about paddles and such.

Ignoring the stinky things, I know little about paddles and whatnot either.

We're rather taken by the piratical look of Toto (that long, sweeping bow that probably does little in this use), and that will take a woman with a double paddle. I don't want to go too cheap and nasty either, which means I'll be taking a hit on the build time, but you do have to have a boat you love to look at.

Must dash, visitors

Richard

Originally Posted by Daddles

... you do have to have a boat you love to look at.

Ah, it just gets easier and easier....

At this stage, given that the constraints have knocked out an astounding number of contenders, I must ask why you didn't just go for the mouseboat as mentioned in the original post? There are a number of size variations, it is suitable for the double ended paddle, easy to build and cheap on materials. And even if you don't like it's lines it's too small to present the eye with any appreciable amount of ugliness. The only thing against it on paper is that it isn't a canoe/kayak. Is there any particular reason why the new boat has to be one of these?

Shame about the Toto postal costs - it's probably been the best all round possibility so far.

Originally Posted by labr@

Ah, it just gets easier and easier....

At this stage, given that the constraints have knocked out an astounding number of contenders, I must ask why you didn't just go for the mouseboat as mentioned in the original post? There are a number of size variations, it is suitable for the double ended paddle, easy to build and cheap on materials. And even if you don't like it's lines it's too small to present the eye with any appreciable amount of ugliness. The only thing against it on paper is that it isn't a canoe/kayak. Is there any particular reason why the new boat has to be one of these?

Shame about the Toto postal costs - it's probably been the best all round possibility so far.

I've got two Mouseboats - rowing versions, the first and second rowing Mouseboats ever built - Gav designed it for me Great little boats, I highly recommend them.

Jan was in Hawk's Mouseboat which is set up for paddling. They're rather wide and she had to lift the paddle quite high to use it - wound up sitting in a puddle from the paddles. This was after she'd had a good long go at trying to row Redback - couldn't get the coordination to work whereas she found paddling quite easy, so a paddler it is ... and a double paddle, not a single.

The postage with Toto is only an issue if you're buying the plans for a look see. Those prices were $US, convert them to the Aussie peso and you the total is nearer $AU60 and it irks me that after forking out enough for a sheet of ply, the designer only gets enough for a pizza - that's just not right. I guess the cost is still an issue because this boat will have to be built to a budget (I seem to remember someone mentioning dirt cheap poxy in a PM recently ) so while $60 isn't much, it's significant in the overall total. Anyways, it's all part of the deal, just like proper marine paint currently being cheaper than normal house paint

Richard

funny quibbling about price, my next boat will be an expensive set of plans built with expenseive plywood and real timber, not pinus crapiata

Originally Posted by Daddles

I've got two Mouseboats - rowing versions, the first and second rowing Mouseboats ever built - Gav designed it from me Great little boats, I highly recommend them.

Jan was in Hawk's Mouseboat which is set up for paddling. They're rather wide and she had to lift the paddle quite high to use it - wound up sitting in a puddle from the paddles. This was after she'd had a good long go at trying to row Redback - couldn't get the coordination to work whereas she found paddling quite easy, so a paddler it is ... and a double paddle, not a single.

The postage with Toto is only an issue if you're buying the plans for a look see. Those prices were , convert them to the Aussie peso and you the total is nearer and it irks me that after forking out enough for a sheet of ply, the designer only gets enough for a pizza - that's just not right. I guess the cost is still an issue because this boat will have to be built to a budget (I seem to remember someone mentioning dirt cheap poxy in a PM recently ) so while $60 isn't much, it's significant in the overall total. Anyways, it's all part of the deal, just like proper marine paint currently being cheaper than normal house paint

Richard

funny quibbling about price, my next boat will be an expensive set of plans built with expenseive plywood and real timber, not pinus crapiata

Wonder if someone stateside could handle the purchase of the plans for toto and post them to you in Oz cheaper? I send stuff to Europe on a regular basis, and if shipping to Oz is a similar rate, it could be done for only a few bucks.

Originally Posted by Rick_Tatum

Wonder if someone stateside could handle the purchase of the plans for toto and post them to you in Oz cheaper? I send stuff to Europe on a regular basis, and if shipping to Oz is a similar rate, it could be done for only a few bucks.

Thanks for the thought Rick. I suspect the problem is weight from a few sheets of paper. We often have these issues with things from the US. I considered asking if an electronic version of the plans was available but with Jim's reputation, they're probably hand drawn (hence thick paper for the prints hence the weight ).

I'm happy to pay the price, just griping a bit. It's stopped me buying the plans for a look see, but won't stop me buying the plans to build the boat.

Richard

Getting back to the West Lakes Sunday gathering, did we finally decide a location? The options were Dotterel Drive and the rowing club.

For anyone who missed the earlier discussion we are planning to compare some boats on Easter Sunday afternoon from about 1PM.

Thank you, normal topic will now resume.

Richard, I gather that a lot of Totos have been built - there may be someone around who still has their plans and would let you have a look.