Photo: Fraser McLean
While this boat was designed for use on lakes and relatively calm pieces of water, I have found it to be quite capable in the roughest of conditions encountered in Burrard Inlet and Indian Arm where I row the boat two or three times a week the year round. "Whisper" is a regular part of my fitness program. I love it.
Photo: Burtt Fidler
Building this canoe was a great first project in boat building. Generally it was not too hard, but it did have lots of small, skill-building elements (not to mention endless hours of sanding). I also really benefited from Dave's advice at critical points in the construction. For example, he suggested the strips not be laid parallel to the waterline, but rather follow a fair curve that generally follows the sheer. This subtle detail has a huge effect on the canoe's appearance.
My wife and I have since been on three, week-long canoe camping trips to Murtle Lake and Clearwater/Azure lakes in Wells Gray Park. It is really satisfying to paddle into the wilderness in a canoe you've built yourself.
The instructions for this boat are extremely detailed, and I think a first time builder could build a nice boat if they took their time. But there are a lot more parts to this boat than many glued lap ply boats ie. framing, keelson, spacers for an open gunnel, stringers, bouyancy tanks etc. So be prepared to spend more time.
This is a flat bottom skiff, which I think is actually a very pretty design. I can't take it anywhere without attracting interested and complimentary observers. It's like a magnet.
The boat, while tender under sail, is nevertheless quite easy to balance. I've had it on Cultus Lake in a good blow, when observers said the boat was right out of sight because of how it settled between the bow and stern wave. Big time fun!! And I wasn't ever out of control. Mind you I'm not a small guy, so moving onto the rail puts a lot of ballast out there.
I've sailed it at Crescent Beach, and on the Fraser River by Ladner ( the nicest spot of all). It's small, and not a sea boat, but I've never felt less than secure. I've rigged the halyard so that I can dump the sail without leaving the tiller.
What would I do differently next time? It's a bit heavy ( well over design ) because I had a bunch of lovely 1 x 5 edge grain Douglas Fir shorts which I used for seats. Since both the bow and the stern buoyancy compartments are covered with this material, it adds a lot of weight. I'd bite the bullet and buy cedar for this next time. I also used Doug Fir for the keelson and stringers. The hull and bottom are 1/4 inch Okoume. The transom two layers, with an additional 1/4 inch Sepele transom veneer. Also heavy stuff.
She rows lovely !
I love this boat, and have given it to my Grandchildren. That way I can always borrow it for some fun, and they can learn a great sport.