LIST of WOODEN BOAT PLANS – By Michael Storer

Plywood Boat Plans and Wooden Canoe Plans.
Sailing Dinghy . Power . Row . Paddle . Overnight

A boat building course in a book

Click on an image for more information about our inexpensive, highly detailed boat plans and wooden canoe plans


Viola 14 Sailing Canoe Boat Plan

A sailing canoe to make dinghy sailors happy – 75lbs and for a simple boat, beautiful beyond belief – visit page

Viola 14 Sailing Canoe is fun and exciting. But easier than a sailing dinghy to transport and store.

Canoe performance and Dinghy stability. 14ft – 75 pounds (34kg)

Viola 14 Canoe - Joost sailing upwind - boat plan

Viola is extremely stable allowing the crew to stand up and step and unstep the lug rig mast while on the water. Try that in a symmetric paddling canoe hullform! If righted correctly she is almost dry after capsize.

Three Sailing rigs with two piece masts 4.7 and 6.0sqm full batten rigs. 6.3m balance lug with three reefs for distance sailing. 75lb hull. Four sheets 4mm plywood.

More about the Viola 14 Sailing Canoe Plan here

Kits For Viola 14 Canoe
Europe – Viola 14 Sailing Canoe Precut Plywood and Timber Kits
Americas –
Viola 14 Saling Canoe Precut Plywood and Timber Kits


16ft Kombi Sail and Paddle Canoe Plan

A 50/50 Sail and Paddle Canoe for one or two with more stabililty for sailing – visit page

The Kombi Canoe is a development of our recent sailing canoes to bring paddling ability up equal to the sailing ability.

Great for families as it can be used as a pure paddling canoe, but also sail well with one or two adults aboard.

Kombi Sail and Paddle Canoe Plan and plywood kits 1150px

More about the Kombi Sail and Paddle Canoe here.


NEW Plan – Mini Outriggers for Adding stability to sailing canoes and small dinghies

The Mini Outriggers are to add stability to a sailing canoe or small dinghy and aid stability to reduce the risk of capsize on other relatively slender boats.

They are set above the water to allow a sailing canoe or narrow dinghy to be sailed normally.

drop in mini outriggers for canoe stability

More about the Mini Outriggers here.


Taal Stand Up Paddleboard in Plywood

Both speed and stability at the same time

A beautiful plywood Stand Up Paddleboard designed for distance paddling.

The user feels the stability, the water thinks it is a low drag pintail. 12ft

Plywood Stand Up Paddleboard Plan - Taal Touring SUP has a bow profile to minimise the pitching rate when in waves - a smoother ride

We created a board that hits the numbers for a good canoe or rowboat. Less wetted surface with a stable midsection and excellent weight carrying.

12ft and Stable for beginners but with the low drag of a kayak/pintail type hull (see the stern photos).

More about the Taal Touring Stand Up Paddleboard Plan here


Goat Island Skiff Sail Boat Plan

Simple, Modern Performance and famous worldwide

Justifiably famous.

Simple to build but light, fast, pretty.  Fast with 1 to 4 adults

Rows and Motors and will sail rings around other character boats. 15.8ft

Goat Island skiff a simple fast plywood dinghy that can carry four adults. Storer Boat Plans

More information about the Goat Island Skiff Plan
Facebook Group for asking questions about the Goat Island Skiff


Quick Canoe 155 – build in 2 weekends

Very Simple Plywood Canoe that handles well and looks right

Quick DIY wooden canoe that works better than most flat-bottomed canoes and many fibreglass ones.

Even looks good on the beach. 15.5ft

simple homebuilt plywood canoe

First one took the builder 4 1/2 hours to get on the water – but most take 2 weekends. Half the weight of many fibreglass canoes. Lighter than most plastic. 55lbs from big store plywood. Another took 5 1/2 hours.

It has been designed to be as easy to build as possible while keeping most of the qualities of a nice paddling wooden canoe.

In particular the ability to track – excellent first boat plan. Click here for a comparison between our fast and our classic paddling canoe plans

More Information about the plywood Quick Canoe Plan


Eureka Canoe – Classic Plywood Canoe Plan

Light and lovely to paddle. Simple Plywood Boat Plan

Light on the land, Prettiest Plywood or wooden Canoes anywhere. 15.5ft

Excellent distance touring boats.

Touring a Eureka Plywood Canoe in Scotland Loch Lomond and Caledonian Canal

15’6″, simple construction for a wooden canoe. 32 – 45lbs (15 to 20kg)

Click here for a comparison between our paddling canoe plans.

Click here for more information about the Eureka Plywood Canoe


Quick Canoe Electric Cargo Canoe Plan

Wooden Cargo Canoe for Electric trolling Motor 34lbs thrust

5 to 6mph using a 34lb thrust Minn Kota or other electric trolling motors. DIY plywood canoe for fishing and roof racking.

Keeps the simplicity and low materials cost of the Quick Canoe Family. 15.5ft

Quick Canoe Electric . DIY plywood for for fishing and roofracking

Cartop transport. Very detailed Wooden Canoe Plans.

Click here for more information about the Plywood Quick Canoe Electric


Oz Goose Light Family and Club Sail Boat Plan

Low-Cost Family sailing Dinghy, Regattas and Club training and learn to sail

The Oz Goose is a small boat that is super easy to build.

Cruising or teaching with three adults or excellent club racing performance sailing with 1 or 2 in the boat. 12ft

Sriram, a dinghy racer since he was 8 finishes a roll tack - oz goose sailboat national championships 2019

The famous line is we can build 10 of these in the Philippines for the price of importing a single Laser sailboat. Boat speeds are very matched for excellent tactical racing when not heading off for a family picnic with two adults and a bunch of kids aboard

For training, the goose will carry an instructor and two adults to sail with good sensitivity and speed. In stronger winds, we commonly see downwind speeds of 10 to 13knots and sometimes much more.

College students build 10 racing sailboats in two weeks

Also, visit the Oz Goose Group on Facebook
More information about the Plywood Oz Goose – see the website


“BETH” Sailing Canoe – Elegant plywood boat plan

Simple, brilliant performance – one person cartop – sailing canoe portability!

A touch of the 1870s but fast about as much fun as is possible on a plywood boat. 

Yawl Rig with speed – a wooden canoe that can scare the Lasers at your local club.

Beth sailing canoe winding upwind. Nice trim and concentration. storerboatplans.com

Racing dinghy experience recommended! 

A small boat for amateur boat building that is light enough for one person to roofrack 70lbs plywood canoe hull. Sailing Canoe boat plan

Click here for more about the  plywood BETH Sailing Canoe Plan


Drop-in sail Rig Plan for Canoes and Kayaks

Convert a canoe or dinghy into a serious sailboat

Convert most Kayaks or Canoes into an INSTANT SAILBOAT.

Everything removes as one unit except for the mast step

Drop in sailing rig plan to convert canoe or small dinghy to sailboat - storer boat plans

Also fits some rowing dinghies that are small or narrow.

Very cheap beginners plan.

Read more about the Drop-In Sailing Rig Boat Plan


Drop in Outrigger Canoe conversion Plan

Convert Canoe, kayak or dinghy to a Fast Sailboat Trimaran with Amas.

Create a paddle or sailing outrigger canoe from a fibreglass or wooden Canoe or Kayak.

Even an elderly Grumman!

Convert your old canoe into an awesome sailing machine or fishing or diving platform.

drop in outriggers to convert a small dinghy or canoe into a sailing trimaran includes sailing rig plan for outrigger canoe - storer boat plans

Each component is under 10 pounds and everything removes cleanly from the boat apart from 4 small fittings and a mast step.

These Amas and crossbeams work for fibreglass and wooden canoes and dinghies, Fibreglass, Aluminium and some plastic canoes.

Performance sailing (see the video on the plan page) or as a stable fishing platform or to make a super quick sailing multihull.

If you buy the plywood boat plan for the outriggers there is a free supplement available to set it up for sailing. Very cheap plan for a big boost in performance.

Find out how to convert your canoe, kayak or dinghy to a fast sailing outrigger canoe


Handy Punt – simple fishing punt Boat plan

Light cartop load, simple to build and stable – Ideal first plywood boat plan

Outboard motored Punts are the simplest plywood boats.

Good performance, easy construction, stable fishing platforms.

And lightweight for cartopping on roof racks.

Handy punt utility fishing boat plan in simple plywood construction plywood cartop - storer boat plans

An easy first boat plan for first-time boatbuilders.

6 to 8hp – 10 in some regions

Click here to find out more Outboard Punt Boat Plan


Russki Wave Ski, Surf Ski, Sit Down Paddleboard Boat Plan

Easy to build sit down paddleboard from two sheets ply

Simple plywood waveski or paddleboard from two sheets of plywood.

Paint it and keep it on the car roof ready for use after work.

8ft

Russki sit down paddleboard or surfski waveski plywood boat plan - storer boat plans

Small light boats usually are used more frequently than complicated and expensive boats.

Find out more about the Russki Plywood Wave Ski Plan


15 1/2 ft Storer Rowing Skiff Plan

Easy pretty plywood rowing skiff plan for oar

Simple lightweight rowing skiff for one person and maybe a passenger based on the Goat Island Skiff.

Or Adult and a couple of kids.

Pretty and quick rowing boat on the water.

Storer Rowboat plywood rowing boat plan - rowing skiff storer boat plans

Simple lightweight rowing skiff for one person and maybe a passenger or a couple of kids. Based on the Goat Island Skiff. I used to get enquiries about using the Goat Island Skiff sailboat hull for rowing. It does row well but blows around too much.

This is much, much better. Pretty and quick rowing boat on the water.

Find out more about the plywood Rowboat Plan


Dayboat/Launches Boat Plan Bundle 23 plus 27ft (7/8.4m) Venezia

Boat Plans for TWO Simple Prefabricated Cruisers for Low Power Outboard in one package – 23 and 27ft

Picnic boat, party boat, river-cruiser, camp aboard, mini home-away-from-home. 

Cuts through river and lake chop with zero bouncing and pitching.

Dayboat launch riverboat restored by Drew Campbell

Pack includes 23 and 27ft Dayboat versions in one plan pack includes Venezia below.

Simple plywood construction. 10 or 15hp 4-stroke for 8 to 10 knots. Venezia and Dayboat Launch Boat Plan Package

More about the 23ft Plywood Dayboat/Launch Boat Plan


“Venezia” 27ft trailerable canal boat

Stretched version of 23ft – both included in the plan above

An 8.2m (27ft) boat for gentle cruising in rivers and canals.

Great appearance, sleeping accom., separate toilet – your layout.

"Venezia" - canal boat/river boat for the Venice Lagoon: storerboatplans.com

10 to 15hp 4-stroke. 2 wooden cruising motor boat plans for the price of one –  Venezia and Dayboat Launch Boat Plan Package

Read more about the 27ft Venezia cruiser canal boat plan


TC35 Riverboat – Prefab, Economical Liveaboard for Two

Minimal liveaboard plywood boat 35ft

Very economical, near wakeless cruising motorboat.

Light on the gas and light on building materials.

TC35 riverboat canal boat camp aboard live aboard outboard square (Custom) - storer boat plans

Revised wooden boat plan for an extremely economical, efficient low horsepower riverboat.

35ft. 1 x 15hp or 2 x 10/15hp. Simple Prefab Plywood Construction.

Find out more about the TC35 River Cruiser Plywood boat plan.


OZ RACER – 8ft Sailing Dinghies. 

Smaller versions of the 12ft Oz Goose Sailing Dinghy – 8ft for easier storage.

Rose and Rommel and instructor in light conditions, boat is moving just fine - storerboatplans.com

12ft Oz Goose for Capacity and Performance

  • Same easy construction
  • Same Sail and Foils
  • Much higher performance
  • Much larger capacity

OzRacer RV 8ft – General purpose version

OzRacer RV is the same small boat hull but with more space in the cockpit and is a slightly simpler build.

4 sheets plywood.

OzRacer RV 8ft box boat plywood boat plan - storer boat plans (Custom)

These Boat plans are a modern boatbuilding course in a book. Capacity 1 adult and one child or maybe 2 adults

Find out more about the OzRacer RV

OZ RACER Mk2 8ft – Race Version

OzRacer Mk 2 has a centreboard for more performance but a bit less room for extra crew.

Three sheets plywood. Simple Plywood Boat Plans. Capacity 1 adult and one child or maybe 2 adults

OzRacer Mk 2 8ft box sailboat simple plywood sailing dinghy - storer boat plans

Find out more


Free plans Oars and Single Paddle & Double paddles.

Simplified paddles and oars based on classic designs – free plan

  • Free Plans for Wooden Oars
  • Single Paddles
  • Double Paddles.

I didn’t want to charge extra for nice paddles to go with our nice wooden Canoe plans

Free Paddle plan, single, double, bent cruising oriented paddles for canoes and kayaks

Download Free Oar and Paddle Plans from this page.

Tips and Tricks for Boatbuilding, Woodwork, Use of epoxy.

CLICK HERE for many helpful articles about the selection of materials, boatbuilding and boat repair techniques. All to help home boatbuilders.

The Master list of Articles we have written to explain and help out home boatbuilders

Blog Articles about a whole range of design, building, sailing technique articles.

57 thoughts on “LIST of WOODEN BOAT PLANS – By Michael Storer”

  1. Dear Michael Storer,
    After purchasing your design of the Viola 14 I am in the process of building now and looking for the sail plan for the 6.3m lugger sail which is not in the building description. Can I find the sail plan somewhere on the website or can I get it in another way?
    Thanks in advance and best regards, René

    Reply
  2. Hello Michael,

    it is possibel to get a Plan from your Goat island Skiff but 50% bigger and with a standard Rigg with Fock and main sail ?

    Best regards Volker

    Reply
    • Hi Volker,

      No, I am a afraid it isn’t possible. It changes so many things that it becomes a new design. I choose new designs on the basis of how many I feel I’m likely to sell. I am interested in designing a bigger boat but it won’t be for some time. Maybe years. But there are other excellent designs that may suit your needs. Have a look at B & B designs. Similar performance type but already bigger and with and without a cabin.

      Best Regards

      Michael

      Reply
  3. Hello,, Michael, I am interested in building a hull like your Handy Punt, but at a length of 14 to 16 feet and a maximum width of 5’11”. (48-inch width would be adequate.) These dimensions are dictated by the covered slip where the boat would live. I will customize the interior for fishing in a 100-acre lake that does not allow gasoline motors. It can be lifted by an electric hoist for storage. Power would be a Minn Kota bow-mounted trolling motor with 80 pound thrust. It would be laid out for two-person fishing. Pilot would sit in the front to steer motor and consult bow-mounted sonar. Passenger would be in rear on chair or bench. It would need two 12-volt marine batteries. Could this work?

    Reply
    • Hi Howell,

      Increasing the length doesn’t really create any significant problems if another bulkhead is put in somewhere.

      But increasing the beam creates all sorts of structural loads not anticipated in the original. It would no longer be a Handy Punt, but an original design from you. That’s not necessarily a bad thing – but there are risks involved.

      Cheers
      Michael

      Reply
  4. interested in building a handy punt catamaran using an enlarged ozgoose plan 16 x 4 making the air chambers 2 x16 for the pontoons for a outboard motor of fairly low hp I am thinking 20 hp

    Reply
  5. hello Michael,

    would you be the man formerly behind Q-Craft ? If so, can I get your advice regarding the 3-person canoe model. There’s a used one for sale nearby and our buying decision based more on price than anything else. Being fibreglass, weight’s the prob but I’ve owned the same Canadian type many years ago so know what we’re in for at least. Solely calm waters intended for our paddling
    Appreciate your feedback if appropriate

    cheers

    Reply
  6. Hey Michael,

    I recently bought your GIS plans, and then I found out that you may have a smaller version in the works. Will that be available any time soon?

    Reply
  7. God day Michael ! I am following the VUELTA (cycling Tour of Spain) and I enjoyed for 10 mn ago seing the young Australian Michael Storer winning the very hard “etape” (day competition). He had to climb the last mountain with two others guys 100 yards back and the suspense was terrible until the line, but this Aussie was a tiger today. Conclusion : two Michael Storer on top of the wave in Australia now ! (I enjoy your boats and I love Australia – living in Cottesloe, Perth, in the last century).

    Reply
    • Thankyou Yves!

      I don’t actually have many namesakes. For years the only Storers in the Sydney phone book were my family and my Aunt.

      But other Storers have clearly been more (re)productive!

      Best Regards and thankyou for the kind words.

      MIK

      Reply
  8. Hi Michael
    I’m finally (FINALLY!!) building the Eureka Canoe. I purchased the plans way back – this is the set from 2006 (!) – but I wanted to check the temporary spreader dims for the higher volume boat.
    In the plans I have, it’s middle spreader = 857mm, and 2 end spreaders = 646mm.
    What are the higher volume dims?

    Thanks

    Richard M

    Reply
  9. Hello,
    I have decided that my next boat to build will be a Shanty Houseboat as a retirement project, some place to live and be near fish, ya know?
    But, my journey in boat building started back somewhere in 2005 in Balad, Iraq. I was deployed at the time and was having severe anxiety so I did some meditation to calmer, more serene places and times, which eventually led me to a particularly fine memory of about 10 yrs old.
    Then, I was the middle child of 3 to a single mother on welfare, which did not afford many options on luxury or entertainment. I am sure you’ve heard the tale a thousand times already…
    I had a friend, named Eddie Dean, who’s Mother had a boyfriend who wanted to take her sailing. Being a single mother also, she couldn’t leave the kid behind, so they took me as a playmate. I had never been on a “real” boat in my life up until that time (a couple of ‘canoes’ at Six Flags, maybe.) I cannot even tell you the color at this point. But we went sailing, night sailing also, and it was a hidden, joyous memory for me!
    Fast forward to the war, and I find myself struggling for sanity in an insane place. I find that gem and I latch onto it like nothing else, this was my ‘safe’ place! I order “Sailing for Dummies” from Amazon, Sailor-talk Flashcards, and a book on knot-tying. I am determined, I am going SAILING again!!! Yet, I am in a desert and don’t have a boat…
    So, when I rotated back to the World, I do research and find the PDR, easy enough. Then I find the OZ version of that boat, which is the FIRST boat I built! Before this, the ONLY thing I had ever built out of wood, was a lopsided bookshelf in 8th Grade woodshop. A truly tragic abuse of wood, in hindsight.
    Your plans were straight forward, easily read and thorough. It was an immense pleasure to craft something from nothing. I took a month on it because I did not understand some terminology. More research…
    Once she was built and rigged, I still didn’t have a name. I floated her on the south marina of Willard Bay, Utah and dubbed her “OMGIF” (Oh My God, It Floats!) Afterwards, I applied all the book learning and taught myself how to sail. It wasn’t all peaches and cream, I had underbuilt some things and over estimated my skill A LOT! But, it was a GREAT beginner boat! I even taught all the “feral and orphan” children (this is a generic term for ALL kids that are not mine) around the neighborhood, those that were willing to learn, how to sail. I eventually gifted the boat to the prodigy for his 10th birthday.
    Since that first incursion into boat building, I have built 3 more: 2 day-sailers and a sloop, cabin cruiser, which I now currently own NONE! My ex-wife would let me build them, but not sail them. She is NOT an issue anymore

    So, to make a short story long, I have been searching for a tender- type fishing platform for the Shanty I will build. I am quite excited about the prospect of a 12′ OZ sailer to fill that function, and I cannot wait to start building!

    You do good work Sir, I thank you for it!

    Rob

    PS. Not that it really matters, but I posted on the PDR website 2 records the year I built my OMGIF: Highest Elevation and Fastest Speed. Was quite proud until I realized that I was the ONLY person that posted that year. So, to cure my depression, I also posted a PDR World Record for the Pinkest Boat! (mine was green…)

    Reply
  10. Hi Gary, Wayne, Michael –
    I am also interested in outriggers+Kombi. has anyone pursued this idea? If one were to go down this route, are there any design considerations that need to be in mind from the beginning? Is the only real change to the Kombi increasing the mast diameter to 60mm?
    With the increased stability of the outriggers, is there any merit to considering the larger rig from the Viola instead of the standard Kombi rig? Or would this throw other things out of balance?
    Thanks,
    Colin

    Reply
    • Hi Colin,

      There are other ways to go with outriggers.

      The idea from Solway Dory of smaller hulls gives a lot more reserve stability – plus they can be kept out of the water most of the time for a negligible effect on performance.

      the mast would not need to be changed over either.

      Look up the Solway Dory Outriggers on Google and see what you think. This is also a better topic for email.

      Michael

      Reply
  11. hi Mik
    Following Garys query about outriggers for Kombi and/or Viola.
    I have been thinking for a while about an rooftoppable allrounder for our extended road/camping trips in the campervan.
    So all in protected water, two septigenerians with one “boaty” and one a “tourist..
    Single or tandem paddling (rivers estuaries and such)
    Sailing (safe not high performance)
    Fishing.(again safe platform)
    Of course such a wish list threatens to result in something that doesnt do anything very well.
    When Viola appeared I thought this could be it?
    But a bit wide for paddling, a bit flighty and a bit heavy.
    The along came Kombi!
    And I already have your drop in outrigger plans…Perfect!
    Could you perhaps suggest a layout for a Kombi Tri including any hull mounting reinforcement.
    As we age needs change and I am going to jury rig a couple of amas to the GIS this summer as a proof of concept experiment. I hope thats not too “rude”.
    The Kombi Tri I would build as a package , concept already proved.
    Thanks
    Wayne
    Fremantle

    Reply
    • Hi Wayne,

      The Kombi is the boat for this use pattern. Mast diameter will have to go up to 60mm to handle the greater stability from the outriggers.

      I would suggest setting up two spreader bars set the same distance apart as the outrigger crossbeams with the mounting points for the outrigger tie downs just behind the spreader bars.

      For hull mounting reinforcement for the crossbeam tie downs a piece of ply at each point 50 wide by 75 to make a pad for through bolts and a “saddle” or “deck eye” using 3/16″ Bolts (or 5mm metric).

      I think it would be quite a satisfactory boat. I would definitely carry paddles as I suspect the tacking technique will be like a roll tack for the standard Kombi so it will spin fast. With the outriggers it may be a bit sluggish … or maybe it will be fine. Also there is a free supplement written for buyers of the outrigger plan to alter the crossbeam curve to match canoes with lower freeboard. That would match the Kombi too.

      MIK

      Reply
  12. Mr.Storer, I am thinking about combining your drop in outriggers with either the new Combi or the Viola sailing canoe. Has it been done? Your thoughts? Thanks, Gary Moore

    Reply
  13. Hi
    I’m interested in the possibilities of cruising in a Goose and sleeping under a boat tent, for which the rectangular hull would be very well suited. Would it be possible to move the daggerboard case to the side – even against the buoyancy tank, perhaps – and narrow the bottom of the frame so it doesn’t dig in to your legs, in the interests of comfortable sleeping?
    Thanks.

    Reply
  14. Hi, Michael !

    I am interested to learn how many plywood sheets go in 27ft Venezia and 35ft TC35 builds. And also the TC35 resulting hull weight estimate.
    Can you share on that?

    Kind regards,
    Aleksei

    Reply
    • Hi Aleksei,

      Here are the plywood quantities.

        TC35

      12mm x 2
      9mm x 57
      6mm x 4
      4mm x 1

        Venezia

      – there will be some variation here as the interior layout can be changed substantially by each builder.
      12mm x 1
      9mm x 20
      6mm x 28
      4mm x 3

      Best wishes
      Michael.

      Reply
  15. Dear Michael,

    I wish to build a Mundoo electric boat for european canals, but I can’t find the plans. Is it available?
    Thanks in advance,

    Pal Horvath

    Reply
    • Hi Pal,

      You need to contact DuckFlat Wooden Boats in Adelaide Australia.

      Their website is duckflatwoodenboats dot com (change the dot to a . and remove the spaces)

      I was simply employed as a draftsman for that project. It is not one of my designs.

      MIK

      Reply
  16. Thanks for the reply Michael.

    I’m actually one step ahead and already had a good look over your pages of sailing tips! Really good stuff that simplifies everything considerably, especially in regards to point of sail.

    The reason I chose the RV was purely for space reasons. I figure that if I ever get to a point where I’m longing for the extra size of the goose, I can always sell the RV and build a goose. I’ll never turn down the chance to build something.

    Another question I had was in regards to whether the RV is suitable for roof rack transportation? I couldn’t find any info on the weight of the RV and whether this would be a viable option. Not having to buy a trailer would also cut down on costs :)

    Thanks!

    Reply
    • HI Drew,

      No problem at all with the principle of cartopping the OzRacer (or the Goose).

      It can be tricky to find roof racks for some modern cars that can handle even the 70 odd pounds of the OzRacer RV hull. But if you can do that, then no problem.

      Michael

      Reply
  17. Hi Michael,

    I’ve never sailed before, however i’ve recently taken an interest in sailing after coming across various youtube videos on boatbuilding. I then went down the rabbit hole and started digesting countless books, researched terminology and watched demonstrational videos. However, I obviously don’t have the practical experience.

    I’m particularly interested in the Oz Racer RV, mainly due to the simplicity of the build, but also because I can easily store and transport the boat. This also seems like a great beginner boat.

    My big question however is would you recommend I take sailing lessons before building and sailing the RV? I don’t have a lot of money, so i’m in a bit of a dilemma about whether I spend money on learning to sail or building the boat and teaching myself to sail through research and practice alone.

    Thanks!
    Drew

    Reply
    • Sailing lessons don’t hurt at all.

      But I would also have a careful look through the basics of my online lessons as they are closer to the state of the art than many sailing schools.

      There has started to be large difference between what is taught and what the best sailors are using.

      The importance is that the methods of the best sailors actually make sailing easier and make it easier to extend a beginner/intermediate sailor into the stronger wind ranges.

      Many courses have moved with the times. But many have not.

      Also, have you considered the 12ft Oz Goose.
      http://opengoose.com/plans/oz-goose-2016-plan-now-available-from-our-agents/

      The biggest reason for choosing the shorter OzRacer 8ft is the storage after building. The cost is only a little more because the sail and everything above the decks and the fittings etc are all identical. Building difficulty and time is identical too – about an hour different actually)

      Michael

      Reply
  18. Hi Michael,
    Thanks for your prompt reply. I replied yesterday but had issues with my browser. Anyways a putt putt boat is fine and the ability to trailer the boat is paramount. Getting down around southern moreton bay or the Noosa river, lake Cootharaba.
    Do you know of any builds in my neck of the woods, sunshine coast.
    Kindest Regards
    Tony

    Reply
  19. Hi Michael,
    Would your Dayboat come launch Venezia handle Moreton Bay.
    That is the water from say inner Bribie Island through the Moreton Bay Islands to Runaway Bay?

    Kind Regards
    Tony

    Reply
    • Hi Tony,

      With the high thrust 10hp Yamaha it has substantial grunt. But despite the cabin you really need to think about it in terms of being like the old open Putt Putts.

      Outboard trailerable cabin cruiser for Moreton Bay.

      There would be conditions that would be unwise to go out in, but plenty of conditions and parts of the bay that would be available as they are quite protected.

      It would start to get tricky heading up to the North part of the Bay parallel with Moreton Island with one of the strong North Easters. But down toward the South you would just pick the location relative to the water conditions on the same day.

      Best wishes
      Michael

      Reply
  20. hi Michael .way back in 1979. I bought plans for optimus maximus from you.
    I got to the frame complete stage, then a friend took over construction.
    as I moved to australia, He and his 3 boys finished and sailed it
    Often beating my brother and his sons in their bought sail boat. and had a lot of fun in the process

    Reply
  21. Hi, so it’s me, my wife (who is not a huge fan of sailing), and our 3.5 yr old son.. I’m trying to figure if I should build a eureka canoe for our family outings, and then the amas and sail rig for me to sail .. or.. go for the Viola 14 and hope we can all fit for short outings on lakes and ponds.. could we all fit for a paddle in the Viola? Also, how does sailing performance compare with Eureka and amas, vs Viola? With this crazy pandemic, seems like a good time to build a boat out in the carport!

    Reply
    • Really simple sails logo - sailmaker for homebuilt boats

      Hi R P,

      The Viola will be OK while your son is really small. I designed it around being optimal for one adult. But I left enough margin for decent sailing performance with two adults providing they are not too large. Maybe it tops out at around 350 pounds or a bit more. With that weight it won’t be a great paddling boat but would be fine for messing around in a bay or a couple of miles in good weather with that weight. One up the Viola paddles pretty well, but it not optimum so will drop behind a proper paddling boat.

      The Eureka or Quick Canoe would have a much better ability to travel as a paddling boat with the family. If adding the drop in outriggers it makes sense to leave out the central spreader on these canoes and put two spreaders at the same distance apart as the crossbeams of the drop in rig but a couple of inches forward of the crossbeam locations.

      As far as performance. The Eureka with outriggers will have a significant and sole advantage when reaching. But upwind and running the Viola will have significant advantages as it is set up like a racing dinghy.

      With the outriggers a 60 to 70sf sail seems to be about right. There is one in the free supplement for the buyers of the outrigger plan but we also make one at our sister business Really Simple Sails

      Best wishes
      Michael

      The thing with the drop in outrigger setup is that not to fixate on pointing high. Get heaps of speed and then point up without losing the speed. If light winds sit to heel to leeward so the leeward hull is well immersed. Or make a leeboard for the eureka.

      Reply
      • Hi Michael,
        Thank you so much for all the information! The Eureka with outriggers and sailing setup seems like the right way to go I think, especially fur versatility, plus allowing more people aboard comfortably ..
        One more question.. what type of sail setup do you recommend for the Eureka in the 60 to 70sf range? I’ve seen bermuda rigs and gunter rigs on this type of canoe and outrigger arrangement .. I couldn’t find the specific sail on the sail makers website.. just trying to cost out this option to see if I can afford to add the sail ..
        thank you!
        Hope you are well
        RP

      • Really simple sails logo - sailmaker for homebuilt boats

        Hi R P,

        A basic sail is part of the free supplement available to purchasers of the outrigger plan. It provides a mast support built into the front crossbeam a flatter crossbeam curve to suit the Eureka and other boats and dimensions of a homemade lateen sail to be made of polytarp, or even regular sailcloth.

        Our partner business Really Simple Sails does a 70sf lug sail. However we are stuck down with quarantine which I think will add a month

          or more

        to the normal 10 week timeline at this time of year. In Northern hemisphere winter it goes down to 4 weeks.
        That sail is USD392 at this point April 2020

        Maybe that will fit in with your timeline unless you are a very fast builder.

        Best wishes
        Michael.

      • Hi Michael,
        I’ve got a Laser Radial sail mast and boom setup, and I’m wondering if you thought this could work well on the Eureka canoe with outriggers, with plans on building a leeboard setup. Also wondering if I should go with the larger volume and wider Eureka. Would this sail better with the outriggers? Harder to paddle?
        Thanks!
        RP

      • HI RP,

        It will be a bit big as the wind gets stronger but sparkling performance in up to 12knots of breeze. Might be exciting by the time the wind is at 15 and hard to sail in much more than that.

        Could trial it with the full rig and then get a local sailmaker to cut some sail off the bottom if it is too frisky and cut a similar length off the bottom of the mast.

        Another way, though not very good upwind would be to wrap the sail around the mast a few times when the wind gets up. Though the sail shape will become a big baggy for going upwind well.

        There is also a supplement for the Eureka and other canoes as the freeboard can be a bit low for the drop in outriggers. I provide a drawing on request for making a mod and it also includes how to build the upper mast support into the front crossbeam.

        Michael

      • Hi Michael,
        Sorry just one more question about Eureka (or I guess all of your plans in general)
        Do you mail a full size printed pattern to trace the cuts from? If not how do you transfer the lines to a larger scale from the manual to plywood?
        Thanks!
        RP

      • Hi RP,

        The plan itself is more like an instruction book for boatbuilding techniques to build the particular boat. Do the steps one by one and you will have the boat.

        The method for marking out is super accurate and has a failsafe.

        Basically you draw straight lines across the narrow width of the ply sheets at a set interval – dotted vertical lines in drawing below. 300mm apart.
        Blue is the plywood.
        Green is the curve of the panel.
        The dimensions are purple.

        Marking out the plywood sheet for the boat panel shapes

        Then put the end of the tape on the edge of the plywood and measure along each dotted line (it will be a solid line on the ply). Put a mark at the distances from the edge shown in the plan. After marking the points on the first line vertical line, do the same for the second line and so on to make a series of dots in a curve.

        Finally put a thin nail in each of the measured points and use the piece of timber from the plan list as a batten and a pencil to “Join the dots” or nails in this case to make each curve.

        If there is an error it will stand out either when you stand at the end of the sheets and look along the line, or the batten will tell you the point is out of place.

        If the point is out of place it is very likely a misread or a mismeasure as most of my plans have been corrected over time. But if it isn’t then you can contact me and see if I made a mistake. The CAD plans on the computer are super accurate, but sometimes a dimension arrow can be a little off.

  22. with the article , images of the trimaran canoe – what is the canoe design. Is it a Eureka . If i wanted to build a trimaran canoe, what centre hull design would you suggest?

    Reply
    • There are many centre hulls that are suitable. Many canoes as long as you can attach the strong points for the crossbeam lash down points. So almost any variation of wood, fibreglass or aluminium. Plastic canoes may be difficult but some claim great successes with the WEST system G-flex epoxy.

      The Eureka or either the Paddling version of the Quick Canoe or the Electric version of the Quick Canoe would all be suitable.
      s

      Reply
  23. Good Day- i would like to chat to Michael about some design work.
    Is there any direct contact info for him
    many thanks
    wayne

    Reply
  24. For which type of waters(salt or fresh) was the Gooze designed?
    This never occurred to me until someone told me that I could navigate north on the “Rio Grande de Loiza” river and exit out into the sea, turn right, after some time I would see the exit of “Rio Espiritu Santo ” river and turn right again to go south on that river which heads inland or vice a versa (depending on wind directions on that time of the day).

    Reply
    • Hi LAlverio,

      The Oz Goose can be out sailing any time that other sailing dinghies are out. It can go conditions that are a bit rougher than many conventional dinghies will not handle well.

      oz goose sailing dinghy in rough water and strong wind copes with waves very well

      The goose is very stable and that stability gives it a lot of power. Also if you do capsize the Goose comes back up with no water inside.

      This article about sailing in stronger winds and rough water from the Oz Goose Website may be useful for background.

      If you mean the Ooze Gooze, the cabin version by Perttu Korhonen it has less capability than the Oz Goose in rough water.

      Best Wishes
      Michael

      Reply
      • Hello sir,
        I am in the process of converting my 12′ wood sailing dinghy to the Oz Goose balanced lug sail. I have purchased from Duckworks the sail and hardware kit and now I wish to build the wood mast, boom and yard. Can you tell me where I might locate and/or purchase the plans for these alone as I don’t need the entire boat plans, just the wood spars.
        Thank you

      • Really simple sails logo - sailmaker for homebuilt boats

        Hi Bob,

        I have provided basic information on our Really Simple Sails website for each of the five stock sails we sell through Duckworks.
        https://reallysimplesails.com/rss-stock-lug-sails-other-boats/

        It lists the spar lengths and cross sections in timber for each of our stock sails. It also provides guidelines for Aluminium or timber spars.

        If you need details on how to actually make the parts (and a lot more including accurate foils) the Oz Goose plan is USD40. A boatbuilding course in a book.

        Best Regards
        Michael

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