There are at least three Viola Canoe builds underway. Here are update photos of Steve Schleicher’s boat before the decks go on. Steve will use a balance lug rig, joining Peter and Tim as active builders of this lightweight design.
Experimenting With a Wooden Mast Construction for sailing Canoe
The bent paddle represents the way he will build the mast. However, Um … unbent!
Steve wrote”
I am getting close to having to order the sail for the Viola. I am thinking of going with the lug sail and building wooden mast and spars.
My plan is to build the mast from six staves that I tape together, then apply epoxy to the inside of and then roll up to make a tube after which it is wrapped with surgical tubing to apply some pressure.
I’ve done some Kayak paddle shafts this way with a layer of glass wrapped around the outside and they have stood up well. I am now doing some paddle shafts with a layer of basalt tow inside which are just starting to be tested. We can even do crank shaft version as shown in the picture.
We hope he will order the sail from our sailmaking business – Really Simple Sails. See Joost’s sail below. Email us for prices.
The normal mast for the boat is made from standard aluminium sections – 60mm diameter and 45mm diameter available on request for plan holders.
The yard and boom come from one standard windsurf mast – 490cm windsurfer mast, IMCS 28, 50% carbon content, constant curve. It is best to use this specific mast as the sail has been designed around that stiffness.
Moulded Rudder and Centreboard for the Viola 14 canoe
Steve moulded the rudder and centreboard and looks forward to testing them. The plans have a method for shaping wood very accurately and glassing, but Steve wanted to take more control.
He will be building the lug rig including a hollow round timber mast of his preferred construction method.
Final photos are file photos of Joost’s prototype so everyone knows what it looks like and what Steve’s boat will become.
The above Canoe Storage Rack is available as a drawing by Joost.
More information on the Viola 14 Canoe.
