Homebuilt Canoe This project got started after kidding my brother in law about building my own canoe. He bought me the book mentioned, I read it, and decided to build it. The mold in constructed by building a ribbed frame as per the specs in the book, covered with Styrofoam strips and smoothed with drywall compound. When the mold is finished it is covered with a layer of wax. The hull is made by rolling a layer of epoxy resin on the mold and laying the fiberglass or kevlar cloth into it. Our canoe has 1 layer of fiberglass cloth and 2 layers of S glass. When the epoxy and glass have cured it is removed from the mold.

When the epoxy and glass have cured it is removed from the mold.

Our finished canoe. 18ft long 54lbs!

This picture shows the hull after being removed from the mold. It is one flexible piece at this point of construction and needs to be handled with care.

Off to the river for the maiden voyage. Our canoe is a Tripper designed for camping and voyaging. The design has a gentle vee bottom. Some of my friends feared it might not be very stable. It is very stable in calm or rough water.

Gunwales were made from sitka spruce and the stiffeners are polystyrene foam cut 1/2 inch thick by 3 inches wide. The thwarts are clamped in to hold the proper width.

If you have any questions or comments e-mail Dave Conrad.

This page was made buy Eric Conrad and was made by mac.