A 50/50 canoe is a boat which has been designed and built with the intention that it should be as easily and efficiently powered by sail as it is by paddle (in this case a double paddle). This means that the rig needs to be both efficient and easy to erect and stow—she can use any of the rigs we have for our canoes but the one detailed on the plans is of a batwing type with spars which can be hinged to lie along the mast so that it can be stowed inboard when not in use. The cockpit is wider than normal for a single crew member so that the crew can sit on the canoe bottom out to one side when sailing. Construction is simple stitch and tape using 4mm plywood. There are stowage/WT compartments fore and aft.

LOA 15' (4.58m); Beam 35" (0.9m); Sail Area 52 sq.ft. (4.89 sq.m); Approx weight of hull/deck 45lbs (20kg).

This design has been drawn up for Bill Serjeant (who has made the example above) and you will be able to see her progress under the 50/50 Sailing Canoe Page on his web site at http://www.smallsailboats.co.uk

The Lillie Canoe Yawl - this lovely craft was commissioned by Tom Dunderdale after reading the series of articles in the Classic Boat magazine on the 13’ strip planked canoe yawl Ethel. The idea was to produce a canoe yawl of similar style to those of the last century used by Baden Powell and MacGregor and which formed the basis of modern canoeing today but using modern ply/epoxy construction methods with computer generated plank shapes. Her length is based upon the maximum length of plank that you can get out of 2 sheets of ply and we have increased the beam a little over the original Ethel design which allows more extensive cruising and even the ability to sleep on board. She uses 6 sheets of 6mm and one of 9mm ply in her construction. The standard set of plans show details for stitch and epoxy construction using 7 planks per side to give a beautiful round bottom hull shape and details are given for her to be fitted out in classic style with a lug yawl rig. The plans include mould shapes and construction details for her to be made using the strip plank method. Tom reports that up to a force 2 she will sail herself both before and into the wind hands off allowing the helmsman to drink his beer in comfort. Above that, she handles herself with grace and she rows very well with excellent tracking. LOD 14’11’’ (4.53m); Beam 4’8’’ (1.43m); Draft 8’’/2’1’’ (0.2/0.63m); Sail Area 106 sq.ft. (9.84 sq.m); Approx wht. 353 lbs (160 kg). Plans also include mould shapes and details for strip planking.