At the Duckflat Autumn Boating School Bob Bauze built himself a Eureka Canoe and we used some faster building methods – slideshow
We used a few methods a bit different from the plan to speed things up and make some fitting work a bit easier.
We used fillets on the inside of the boat instead of glass tape.
This method adds a bit more weight and a bit more expense but some people prefer the look of neatly fitted fillets.
We still used some glass tape on the inside in the buoyancy tanks as that is the only way of making the joint strong where the two panels that make the sides of the boat meet up edge to edge at a vanishingly small angle.
The method for the decks was changed too – with the side of the boat being routed down to the same thickness as the deck and the deck edge covered by the gunwale.
This created a join between the edge of the deck and the gunwale that was at a joiner’s level of tightness.
It is also faster – but a bit more risky – and it does mean that the process goes faster but is more fiddly. So have a look at the pics and see what you think.
Because of the tight timeframe we decided that instead of glass taping the seams on the outside of the boat we would use one layer of a very light glass cloth.
This does add some weight – but saves a day or two on the building process – important if the class lasts only 10 days.
The advantage is that you have only one glass edge to fair into the ply and it is much smaller being a cut edge and also because of the lighter glass weight.
The photoset with comments is here
Anyway – most of the class participants – who were building more elaborate boats – were pretty impressed by the Eureka’s good looks and lightness
Also that it could be almost finished in 10 days (sans seats).
The current record for a completely finished Eureka is 2 weeks.
Hi Michael
I have been admiring your Eureka canoe over the last couple of years we are in the middle of building a 26 foot Wharram Tiki but for various reasons building has come to a halt and I’m tempted to start a smaller project that we can take on camping trips. The Eureka would be perfect as it uses stitch and glue techniques I am familiar with from the Tiki.
I’ve just noticed the Quick Canoe though and the shorter build time is tempting although design wise it doesn’t have the same appeal as the Eureka…. what’s a girl to do!!!
If I was to add the drop in sail rig which would handle better of the two?
Cheers
Sonja
HI Sonja,
This is the eternal problem of providing choices.
It is not just a girl problem! Blokes get it the same!
I don’t think the Quick Canoe really is justifiable if you want something beautiful to keep for a long time. The Eureka does a better job of that and should be built with care in premium materials – at least most builders should do that.
The Quick Canoe is just that. A quick, simple and cheap boat for someone who wants a canoe next weekend – or the weekend after. If it gets trashed on some rocks or stolen, build another one.
I do have a page which sets out the choices between the two plywood canoes in my plans range.
The sailing rig plan will drop into both hulls just fine – it adapts to most kayaks and canoes OK – click this text for details.
Best wishes
Michael