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Author: Subject: Canoes and kayaks
Mark Allanson

posted on 4/7/06 at 09:02 PM Reply With Quote
Canoes and kayaks

Built a car, so building a canoe shouldn't be too difficult?

Has anyone done it, got any plans, what to do and what not to do?

Any advice warmly welcomed!





If you can keep you head, whilst all others around you are losing theirs, you are not fully aware of the situation

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indykid

posted on 4/7/06 at 09:08 PM Reply With Quote
don't drill holes in the bottom

tom

sorry, i realise that was completely unhelpful, but couldn't resist.

are you looking more to build a kayak or a canoe? glassfibre or wood, or maybe carbon?

watch ray mears. he makes an awesome wood one in one of his programmes!

[Edited on 4/7/06 by indykid]






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Mark Allanson

posted on 4/7/06 at 09:14 PM Reply With Quote
I will have to take a look, the canoe will be used in cornish rivers (deep reas) and light good weather coastal work. Need advice on materials - an absolute beginner!





If you can keep you head, whilst all others around you are losing theirs, you are not fully aware of the situation

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JoelP

posted on 4/7/06 at 09:23 PM Reply With Quote
i have thought of this several times. Metal is close to our hearts but is not ideal for a light canoe. Wood requires a lot of skill, so i guess that leaves GRP. Id still consider a metal one though, for a laugh. Wouldnt be very practical i suspect.
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stevec

posted on 4/7/06 at 09:34 PM Reply With Quote
What about one of these?
http://www-db.research.bell-labs.com/user/pfps/canoe/winisk/

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indykid

posted on 4/7/06 at 09:38 PM Reply With Quote
that one in that link's beautiful steve!

did you do o level woodwork mark?

i'd think the big thing you'll fall down on with a canoe is manufacturing techniques. composite ones probably want autoclaving, plastic ones need rotational moulding, and wood ones need about 4 trees!

unless you want a thing of beauty wood one, i'd buy one. if you make one, get some pics up
tom






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Mark Allanson

posted on 4/7/06 at 09:40 PM Reply With Quote
Steve, the link look like the sort of thing I am looking for - Thanks

Joel, I did think of using ally, but that would mean a massive amount of tig work, but a really light, tough boat





If you can keep you head, whilst all others around you are losing theirs, you are not fully aware of the situation

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stevec

posted on 4/7/06 at 10:02 PM Reply With Quote
Mark, awsome arnt they?
You certainly would have one of the best looking if you did one. and the plans are only about £60. Do you live near a forest by any chance?

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omega 24 v6

posted on 4/7/06 at 10:13 PM Reply With Quote
made them in my schoolboy years (5 or 6 years ago)
From memory they weremade in 2 halves. Moulds were treated with release agent then pigmented gelcoat then woving roven/pigmented resin then 2 layers of matting/pigmented resin. Moulds were trimmed while green and then bolted together around rim. 2 Layers of 3 inch wide matting around the joints (shit job through the seat hole) wait for cure seperate moulds etc etc. Make seat in same manner from mould and fit to opening and glass into place. Place in water and enjoy.
Realistically though time wise I'd recommend buying a second hand jobbie. and remember the longer it is the better for straight line direction (bugger to steer in small space) shorter is better for fast river/rapid work.
It is great fun though.

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Chippy

posted on 4/7/06 at 11:12 PM Reply With Quote
There used to be a company that hired out the moulds for GRP Kayacs, but cant for the life of me remember who, may have been called Strand Glass, or something similar. Dead easy to fabricate, if you have done any GRP work. Two piece mould, hull and deck, then just stick them togather with Sicaflex. Not much help, you could try a trawl through Google. atb Ray.
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iank

posted on 4/7/06 at 11:32 PM Reply With Quote
For wide rivers or coastal work and touring rather than white water a sea kayak or canoe is the thing.
Wooden boats are a thing of beauty but take a lot of building.

For building at home the common materials for a Kayak would be grp, kevlar or wood, a canoe probably wood or ally, though grp or kevlar are quite possible.

For sea kayak plans a good start is:
http://www.oneoceankayaks.com/

For canoes look for canadian sites/books:
Something like http://www.greenval.com/models.html
To understand the tradeoffs between materials this is quite good.
http://www.venturenorth.com/canoeing/htctcfy.htm
The shape is critical depending on how you plan to use it.

An ally canoe isn't very light generally and are rather noisy but virtually indestructible. They are usually rivetted rather than TIG welded which makes them easy to build and cheap.

If you haven't done any paddling before consider a short course accredited by the BCU to figure out which suits you better.
http://www.bcu.org.uk/bcu/bcu-standardtemplate1.aspx

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Simon

posted on 4/7/06 at 11:53 PM Reply With Quote
Probably not quite what yer looking for

http://www.bruceroberts.com/

Might inspire someone on here though!!!

ATB

Simon






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robertst

posted on 5/7/06 at 06:00 AM Reply With Quote
paper maché? i once made a sailplane out of it... it flew exactly three metres before nose-diving into my coffee table.





Tom

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trextr7monkey

posted on 5/7/06 at 06:39 AM Reply With Quote
We have 2 old canoes behind my workshop - traditional glass fibre jobs constructed as described in previous posts, probably need a bit of gas fibre to patch up.

Availble for collection by anyenthusiast in exchange for low value notes or Mk1 and 2 escort car parts

my son does a bit of paddling now but is into little dumpy boats and rolling in the rivers.





http://www.flickr.com/photos/14016102@N00/ (cut and paste this dodgey link)

Our most recent pics are here:
http://s129.photobucket.com/albums/p211/trextr7monkey/

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David Jenkins

posted on 5/7/06 at 07:28 AM Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by indykid
watch ray mears. he makes an awesome wood one in one of his programmes!



I was more impressed by the indian 'coracle' he made - a willow basket covered with a newly removed buffalo hide! (Complete with tail, and still a bit bloody)

Fascinating, but revolting...

David






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Marcus

posted on 5/7/06 at 08:12 AM Reply With Quote
Seriously been thinking about a boat. Check this out. Loads of plans, if you can't find something you like, you don't like boats!





Marcus


Because kits are for girls!!

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Baldrick

posted on 5/7/06 at 09:36 AM Reply With Quote
CD of plans for Aluminium Canoe on eBay. Doesn't say what a build budget would be but surely you could do it for less than £250

eBay Canooo linky

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iank

posted on 5/7/06 at 10:18 AM Reply With Quote
From the same seller http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=6023100371&ssPageName=MERC_VI_RSCC_Pr12_PcY_BIN_Stores_IT

Now that looks a lot of fun

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Simon

posted on 5/7/06 at 10:57 PM Reply With Quote
"Hydroplane Runabout"

Correct me if I'm wrong, but there appears a slight conflict in that statement!!

ATB

Simon






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iank

posted on 5/7/06 at 11:29 PM Reply With Quote
There is an annual race on Vancouver island - the bathtub race - where the boats look pretty similar

http://bathtubbing.com/gallery.php

[Edited on 5/7/06 by iank]

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