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OPEN
CANOE DESIGNS & PLANS
FOR CANOES 15' TO 17' LENGTH
(PLYWOOD - STITCH & TAPE)
We have 10 designs, some
with sail, spar, rudder and daggerboard details - although all could take a sail
plan :-
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We have
launched a new site dedicated to canoes and kayaks -
go to www.makeacanoe.com where you
will find the full range of SFDesign canoes and kayaks plus many more
builder's photos of our canoes and sections specifically on strip planked
and stitch and tape canoe
construction - you can order canoe and kayak plans from this
site or the makeacanoe site but you
will find a lot more info about our canoes on the new site including a
very useful FAQ's page on canoe building (costs, building times etc) and a
page on canoe "bits and pieces" - ie. rudders, seats,
leeboards, rigs etc. |
15'10" WREN
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The WREN is typical
Canadian canoe built using the stitch and tape ply method. Her design was based
upon an original Indian bark canoe and simplified for ply construction but
without loosing the essence of her beautiful shape. She is very quick and simple
to build (taking around 18 hours) and she has a length of 1510 (4.83m);
and a beam of 33 (0.84m). 4, 5 or 6mm ply can be used giving an average
weight of 45 lbs.
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15'10"
WREN FULL PLANS COST
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15'7" RAVEN
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Adrian
Cabedo (see the Wren) came back to us for a second design. He wanted a slightly
more sophisticated design, still of the Canadian type, for long distance
portaging and camping in Spain. Basing the new design on the Wren, we increased
her beam to 36" and by using 4 planks per side were able to give her
section some tumblehome. This has two effects - with the beam at the gunwale
less than the beam lower down the hull paddling is easier and with the increased
waterline beam, she is a very stable design. A bulkhead is incorporated with
some decking at both ends giving buoyancy or stowage space and she uses the
stitch and tape method of construction. 3 sheets of 4, 5 or 6mm ply are used and
the weight is around 50 lbs with 5mm ply.
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The above/left example
is by Chris Newing
of
West Wales.
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15'7" PETERBOROUGH
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The
name Peterborough was often used to describe any open Canadian type canoe
but more especially those with a lightly rockered hull which had a moderate beam
and some tumblehome. Our example has relatively narrow waterlines fore and aft
to make her quick to paddle and a stable shallow veed bottom amidships with
tumblehome to make her stable with a narrow beam. We have given her 5
planks per side in order to produce a well rounded and attractive hull shape
which is not difficult to build using stitch and tape techniques. She will be
excellent for lake and river paddling. She has a length of 157 (4.76m),
beam of 32 1/2 (.826m) and a midships depth of 12 1/2 (.317m). She
uses 4 sheets of 4,5 or 6mm Exterior or Marine plywood and weighs approximately
60 lbs when made with 4mm ply.
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15'8" FISHER PROSPECTOR
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This
is the Selway Fisher version of an old favourite - the Prospector type open
canoe. The original Prospectors were originally designed in Canada and known as
the "workhorse of the North". They had to have a good carrying
capacity for all of the Prospector's gear and they had to work well through
white water and wilderness. The bow and stern are relatively full and she has
good freeboard amidships to keep her crew dry. The well rockered keel line makes
her highly maneuverable and the tumblehome in her topsides makes her both stable
and easy to paddle. She is constructed using simple stitch and tape techniques
and she has 5 planks per side giving her a well rounded and graceful appearance.
LOA 15'8" (4.76m); Beam 2'11" (0.88m); Depth amidships 14.5"
(0.36m); approx. weight 65 lbs. (30 kg).
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The above (lower) example is by Mike Cambray. |

To see Adam Plourde's Prospector go to
http://www.webcdi.com/Prospector/
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15'8" FISHER
PROSPECTOR FULL PLANS COST
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Note - drawings are now
available for a strip planked version of our most popular canoe design - the
Fisher Prospector -
and the plank shapes for a 17' version are also available.
16' PETE
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PETE is a lovely 4 planked canoe (4
per side) on similar lines to our Little Kate design for stitch and tape or
stitch and epoxy construction. She has classic lines and uses just 3 sheets of
4, 5 or 6mm ply and depending on how she is fitted out she will weigh
approximately 65 lbs. The drawings show an optional gunter sail plan with
details of the leeboard and rudder. Length 156 (4.7m); Beam 36
(0.92m); Depth amidships 13 (0.33m). |
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The example left is by Martin
Padbury. |
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...and sailing with a rig similar to
the Prospector rig. |
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WATERMAN 16
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The
Waterman canoes are more than simple open Canadian type canoes; they are a
complete canoeing experience - from simply being a family open day canoe to a
camping/sailing/portaging craft capable of being used to explore normally
impenetrable rivers and creeks. The Waterman 16 canoe, like it's smaller sister
is really a Guide Boat and has a beam of 38 and a central hull depth of 13.
Being wider than the typical Canadian canoe, she is a very roomy stable craft
with the capability to carry a good sail area and to be used to carry a lot of
baggage or to fish from. The hull design has 3 chines allowing a wide bodied
design for stability whilst at the same time having a low water surface area.
This boat will take 3 or 4 adults. The plans show a simple sailing rig with
removable leeboards. If a simple ridge tent is slung over the gunwales one
person can sleep comfortably on the bottom of the hull. Additionally, the hull
could be made in 2 halves for easy transport or for construction in a really
confined space. Buoyancy can be built-in at each end if required. Construction
is simple stitch and tape using 4 sheets of 5 or 6mm ply and around 30 hours
will see the canoe ready for painting. Weight is approximately 75 lbs. when
using 5/6mm ply.
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Above is a version of the Waterman 16 built by Charles Pecats in Australia which was
featured in the Australian Amateur Boatbuilder recently and which Charles uses
in the outback for fishing.
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An nice example by Scott Herrick
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12'/16' RANGER
 
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The
Ranger is a simple multi-purpose canoe design for first time or young builders
who want a quick, simple and low cost boat to get them onto inland waterways.
Although a single chine design she still has graceful lines and she can be built
both in 12' and 16' versions either as a simple open canoe or as a decked kayak
with built-in buoyancy and stowage spaces. Beam in both versions is
32" (0.8m) and 2 sheets of 4 or 6mm Exterior ply are required for the
construction. The plans come free as part of our Manual of Ply/Epoxy
Construction Techniques or may be purchased separately.
Please note - the basic Ranger
12/16 plan is supplied free with our Ply/Epoxy Canoe Manual. the full
plans, which you can purchase here include the basic 12/16 plan along with
several additions and modifications which include details for a
float/outrigger, 8' version, 17' V bottomed version, 16' version with
small vertical transom and a 24' version.
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15'7" CARRICK ASYMMETRIC
RACING
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The Carrick open canoe was
designed for Tyrone Boats specifically for sail racing. She is certainly fast
but is also very handy when paddled. She has 5 planks per side giving her a
nicely rounded shape with a wide waterline beam for plenty of stability.
Construction is stitch and tape and she will take any of the sail plans from our
other canoe designs. Plans consist of the hull panel shapes, construction
details and a sailplan that the builder may choose from any of our other
designs. LOD 15'7" (4.75m); Beam 37" (0.94m); Depth 12" (.305m);
Approx. wht in 4mm ply 45 lbs (20.4 kg). |
15'6" BEAVER CANOE/SKIFF
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The
BEAVER is an ultra modern open canoe skiff using the latest methods of
construction to make building time as short as possible. She has the same shape
at both ends and each half of the boat is made in one piece of ply with simple
darts cut into it at the chines. This means that the sides actually blend into
the bottom as one unit at the fore and aft ends. Each half of the boat is
stitched together along the fore/aft part of the centre seam and the part of the
chine towards the centre of the canoe. The shape produced has a gentle curve to
the bottom at the middle of the boat which runs into a U shape as it goes
towards the bow/stern. The single chine at the middle of the hull eventually
disappears towards the ends with the bottom blending into the topsides in one
continuous curve.
This makes an easy riding shape with plenty of stability but low wetted surface
area. Marking out, cutting, stitching together, taping the seams and fitting out
takes only 35 hours and the canoe uses just 3 sheets of 4mm Exterior grade ply
plus some Pine or Douglas Fir for the gunwales. She can be made in 2 halves and
bolted together or in 1 piece and the length can be reduced easily by a couple
of feet to meet your individual needs. Being able to build her in 2 halves means
that your building space can be very small although you must still check that
you can get the 2 halves out of the door and up the passage - one client didnt
whilst building in his lounge and ended up having to make major surgical
alterations to our design leaving him with 2 very useful motor skiffs but not
the canoe that he had wanted !
As drawn she is 156 (4.7m) long with a beam of 37 (0.94m) and a
depth amidships of 13 (0,33m) and a very light weight of 60 lbs. The
drawings come with details of a simple gunter sail plan and yoked rudder with
detachable leeboards.
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DW6 RACING CANOE
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This open canoe has been designed as
a simple low cost solution to taking part competitively in the Devizes
Westminster race. The hull has an asymmetric shape with a narrow entrance angle
to the forward waterlines and with additional buoyancy aft. he hull has a V
bottom and two chines per side. Construction is stitch and tape. She has
buoyancy chambers fore and aft and carrying handles for portaging and her
overall weight is going to be around 80 lbs. She uses between 5 and 6 sheets of
5 or 6mm Exterior or Marine plywood. Her length is 1910 (6.066m) and
her beam is 211 (.894m). |
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DW6 RACING CANOE FULL PLANS COST
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REVIEW THE CONTENTS OF YOUR SHOPPING CART
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POSTAGE
& PACKING (SHIPPING)
Please note - the plan prices do not include P&P charges which will be
added to your order.
The maximum P&P charges for plans are :-
UK - £1 per plan (sent by 1st class Business Post.
Europe - £2 per plan (sent by Airmail).
USA & Elsewhere - £4 ($6) per plan (sent by Airmail).
See the Postage
Charge Table (via the Home Page) for further details. |
FOR DETAILS OF THE
STITCH & TAPE
AND CEDAR STRIP PLANK
CONSTRUCTION METHODS SEE THE HOME
PAGE
For further details of
our designs write to :-
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SELWAY
FISHER DESIGN
15 KING STREET,
MELKSHAM, WILTSHIRE, SN12 6HB,
UK
Tel/Fax
UK 01225 705074
International +44 1225 705074 |
or
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