Building the Quick Canoe

Hi all,
I have chosen my next project; to build a Quick Canoe. My wife doesn't quite know that I'm planning this, but she will when the package from Bote Cote arrives on the doorstep tomorrow :o.

I have a few semi-questions about the project that I hope people can help me with.

1. I am thinking of building it using 6mm ply for the bottom and 4mm ply for the sides to save a bit of weight. Cost-wise it will be about the same price as making it out of all 6mm. Do people see it as a real issue?
2. I'm going to build bouyancy tanks fore and aft, partly for safety, partly for storage. What's a good length to make them? I was going to play it by ear after putting the seats in and seeing where my legs came to, but was thinking that 500mm or 600mm would be a reasonable length.
3. My intention (once my wife sees the merit and beauty of having a canoe) is to "upgrade" by building the outriggers and a sail for the canoe. I was thinking of putting a sternpost (or whatever you call a reinforcing piece of wood at the back where the two sides of the hull meet) in, so that I have something to attach to if I want to add a rudder to it. Is that a good idea?
4. I have 3 young kids who I know (based on prior experience messing about in canoes) will all want to come along in it at the same time. If I replace the central spreader with a middle seat, will that unduly upset the canoe's structural rigidity? I think I saw a QC that someone built in central Europe that had done this, but just want to check peoples' thoughts.
5. It will mostly be for use on the Yarra (Heidelberg to Kew Boat House) and for car camping trips to places with lakes or slow-moving rivers. Will the skegs (as per the plans) be too "grippy" for river use?

I think that's about it. The plan is to build it in the upcoming school holidays and have it on the water by mid-October (famous last words, I know - but we're off to Anglesea in the December holidays and I need to have it ready for use by then).

Cheers, Mike

Well, I've made a start. In the end, it's being built out of 6mm ply as that was all that was available at bunnings in marine ply.

Attachment 361100 pieces all cut out and buttstrapped

Attachment 361101Attachment 361102 taping the sides together and taping the bottom on

Attachment 361103 epoxy fillets on the inside all done

Attachment 361105 and the underside ready for epoxy and glassing of the joints.

I will hopefully get the underside done and maybe the gunwales on by the end of this weekend (time and family permitting).

Work on the canoe has progressed well since my last post.

The underside has been epoxied and the joints glassed.
Attachment 361806

Gunwales and inwales have been fitted and shaped. Seats have been attached and decking thwarts put in (for 700mm airtight bulkheads at either end)

Attachment 361807


And the keel has been attached.

Attachment 361808

Still to do: shape and coat the keel; make the airtight bulkheads; sand and paint.

The canoe is almost finished.

I've shaped the keel
Attachment 362109

made and glued in bulkheads (700mm deep)
Attachment 362107


decks are glued on - slightly oversize so I can shape/merge them into the gunwales.
Attachment 362108


Attachment 362110

So, just a quick hit with the handplane and sandpaper and a lick of paint and it's finished! Launch day is sometime this coming Cup weekend.

The boat is finally finished. The bulkheads and decks went on last weekend, with final sealing and epoxy on the Sunday.
Attachment 362515


Then this week, the painting commenced. It's a mid-grey hull, 'passionate' blue along the outside of the gunwales and the interior left natural
Attachment 362516 Attachment 362517


I have also installed the latest in handprint recognition technology for added security and convenience
Attachment 362514.

Yesterday was launch day! I took the canoe (now named "Canoey" by my children) and the family down to Fairfield Boathouse on the Yarra River. Not only did it float it paddled easily, was stable (to the extent I could stand up and paddle it without problems) with plenty of space for people and crew. I am very, very, very happy with it.

Below is the maiden voyage of Canoey:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qw7Mfai2xjk

"Canoey" I love it:U

Well done Michael, looks fantastic. Interesting to see how stable it is, particularly as you get in, with it's flat bottom v's more vee shape of the Eureka. Good stuff. :2tsup:

Hi--Did you go with the 4mm sides? I was thinking of doing the same.
--CR

CR - he mentions in the second post that it was made of all 6mm because that was all that was available.

Well that looks a treat, well done. It's inspired me to have another go this summer (2016)