Hi Steve,
Having worked in various parts of the marine industry I know exactly where you are coming from. After working all day over several days to do one job or one section on a larger boat there is a great attraction in doing something that takes shape quite quickly.

The smallest and simplest boats are the most used. I try to make them look good and work well too – as well as trying to make them different from everything else in the marketplace – a lot of my inspiration there is tradition.

Nothing like a nicely turned out sheerline!

Best wishes
Michael

Michael… I just recently started working in the boat building/repair industry, mainly luxury yachts. After spending some time working on these craft I now have the bug to build my own boat, but, like you, my budget is limited and space and cartage is an issue. So it’s the Eureka for me.. it’d suit my lake touring ambitions nicely, I think.

I love the lines, it looks the business, and it’s relativly simple to build. I’m looking forward to getting some space around me, buying your plans for it and getting into some stitch and glue fun.

Bring back the basics, I say.. there’s nothing like replying to the admiring comments of others with the words ” I built that myself.”

Steve

Very good points Dan,

People need to know the right way to buildl a boat. My plans very carefully cover every detail of the boat construction. A lot of that information about the right ways to do things in the plans is on my boat building and repair FAQ.

In a sense it is not an important question because most people will never be in a situation where they might break their boat. And those who do use the boat in a way that might break it carefully study what they need.

I would say that both fibreglass and plywood break in different ways. Even for those who might break their boat because of extreme use there may be times when plywood is better. For example in some situations a fibreglass boat might be penetrated and tear easily because of the thin hull thickness. A plywood hull of the same weight would be about four times thicker.

However .. main point is most will not be in situations where a boat of any construction is likely to be broken.

Plywood is strong an will last forever if good quality is used an maintained. Epoxy makes it less maintenence then PolyesterGRP. Only downside is its so simple to work whit that everybody think they dont ned too learn how to do it proberly. Too use plywood in a marine environment isn’t difficult,

You just need to know how.

Hi Joe,

Kayaks offer a much better margin of safety than a canoe in general. The three downsides of canoes are that the weight is up much higher – reducing stability, they can catch the wind badly and so be blown out to sea and waves will find it more easy to fill the boat up.

The kayak sounds like the best idea. The Quick Canoe really is not just a single boat. I am looking to expand the range. It might eventually end up including a kayak … but the next version will be an electric version for use with a trolling motor.

Best wishes
Michael

hello Michael,
Congratulations on your ingenious designs. I have a question. Every summer i put my sit on top kakak on top of my car and travel a thousand miles or so and paddle around in fairly tame water in the estuary of a large river or on fairly calm open ocean (Atlantic).

I was wondering whether i might just build one of these canoes and leave one in each location, rather than all of this transporting that I do. I built a double kayak designed by Hartley Marine of New Zealand, hoping that I could do that with it. Unfortunatly, i find it is too low to the water and a little tippy for anything but a calm lake. Do you think I could use your canoe for open but not rough water like this?

thanks Joe

Hi Vegas,

Boats out of plywood have been used for huge trips. Some parts of many rivers are suitable.

The basic canoe would be fine on the Murray River in Australia or the Mississippi in the USA. The photos in the article show me paddling on a dammed section of the Colorado River known as Lake Powell. There are certainly parts of some rivers that are not suitable for canoeing.

Much of the Colorado river is too dangerous.

Plywood boats can take a bit of abuse – so choosing the water is important. They will take some impact with rocks etc, especially if they are fibreglassed on the outside, but even the standard would be fine for many of the smoother and slower flowing rivers.

A plywood boat built and coated with epoxy before being painted will have a very long life with little maintenance – ten years, twenty years. One built of alternative glues – which are not as good or polyester resin – which is easier to get but not as strong will probably give at least three years of reliable service. If maintained well – it might go for a long time.

Thanks for the questions
Michael

very cool article!!

Hi Alf, The Quick canoe has only very gentle twists for the side panels so the tape works quite well. The thing to watch for is that there are quite high forces at the ends of the boat trying to pull the sides apart so there is some advice to use cable ties, copper wire or just a couple of temporary screws in those locations. This may have been a factor of the cold weather the first couple of boats were assembled in too – but something stronger than the tape is a good failsafe.

With the Eureka Canoe there is a severe twist in the bilge panel as it goes from about 30 degrees from the horizontal in the middle of the boat to vertical at the ends. This requires quite a bit of force and duct tape or even cable ties are not quite enough. So it is wire for that model.

Thanks for the great question!
MIK

First, I cut my teeth on canoes, and have a fondness for them.

Second, I was wondering before finding this design “Can’t I just use duct tape instead of wire or zip-ties?” I guess that question was answered

Third. that is a heck of a lot of boat for the money.

Fantastic work!