Open Canoes over 17'

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OPEN CANOES UP TO 15'
DESIGNS & PLANS

(Last up-dated 05/10/07)

We have 8 designs, some with sail, spar, rudder , outrigger and daggerboard details - although all could take a sail plan :-

Canoes on this Page
17' Prospector	Guide 18	18' Ralph	18' Marathon	18' Waka Ama
24' Tikopian	20' Seajay	20' Freight	35' Dragon	40' Dragon

NEW 17' PROSPECTOR OPEN CANOE



The above example is by Alec Jordan (Jordan Boats).
We developed the hull panel shapes for a stretched version of the Fisher Prospector some time ago and now we have completed the set of drawings. She has the same 5 planks per side, generous rocker to the bottom and tumblehome in her topsides that the original version has. The 15’8” Prospector has a capacity of around 900lbs (408kg) but this 17’ version can carry up to 1100 lbs (499kg). In 6mm ply, she weighs approximately 95lbs (43kg). LOA 17’ (5.19m); Beam 2’ 11 1/4” (0.9m); Mid depth 14 1/2” (0.37m).
17' PROSPECTOR FULL PLANS COST
UK/EU - FULL PLAN £50 (incl. VAT)
USA/ELSEWHERE - FULL PLAN £43 ($69)

GUIDE 18

The Guide 18 is a large open canoe for carrying a crew of up to 5 people and/or gear safely over long distances. She has a well rounded hull shape and uses 5 planks per side. The hull has tumblehome putting the greatest beam down at the waterline.
Construction uses the stitch and tape method with 6 sheets of 6mm ply. She may be fitted out in various different ways to suit your own purpose. Length is 17'8" and beam 36" and weight is approximately 110 lbs (50 kg).

GUIDE 18 FULL PLANS COST

18' RALPH

Ralph has been designed as an open trekking canoe. The client who asked us to draw her up wanted a large open canoe that could take a family safely exploring Scottish sea lochs. She therefore had to handle the short chop and winds that often cut across open sea lochs. We have come up with an 18’ canoe with a generous 36’’ beam which has a mid section with some tumblehome in it. The tumblehome moves the point of widest beam down towards the waterline so increasing form stability and also makes it easier to paddle the canoe without scrapping the paddle on the gunwale. In the Ralph design, the tumblehome is combined with a shallow ‘V’ to the bottom to keep the wetted surface area and therefore the resistance, down and we have used a fairly fine forward section so that she does not slam in waves. Construction is based upon simple stitch and tape methods using 4 ply planks per side (shapes are given on the drawings) and she uses 4 sheets of 4,5 or 6mm ply. LOA 18’; Beam 36’’; Depth amidships 12’’; approx. wht. 52 lbs.

18' RALPH FULL PLANS COST

18'6" MARATHON ASYMMETRIC CANOE

The 18’6” Marathon open canoe has been designed for serious long distance paddling. She has 5 planks per side and uses the stitch and tape method of construction for ease, low cost and lightness. Her hull shape is asymmetric giving her a low drag shape with buoyancy positioned to keep her at level trim when moving quickly—and we have given her some tumblehome in the topsides to make paddling easier.

LOA 18’6” (5.64m); Beam 33 1/2” (0.85m); Midships depth 12” (0.3m); Approx. wht. 60lbs (27kg).

18'6" MARATHON FULL PLANS COST

UK/EU - FULL PLAN £50 (incl. VAT)

18' WAKA AMA HAWAIIAN CANOE

This is an outrigger canoe of classic Hawaiian design. Classes of these craft are very popular, especially in places like New Zealand where they are raced in various lengths—this example being one of the shortest. They are noted for their stability and carrying capacity in use both off shore and inland and are sometimes seen carrying a simple sail—a very versatile craft—the main hull can be built in 2 halves. Construction is simple stitch and tape and the beams are tied to the hulls

LOA 18’ (5.49m); Main hull beam 1’7” (0.49m); Overall beam 5’11” (1.8m) Approx. wht 140 lbs (64kg) in 6mm ply.

18' WAKA AMA CANOE FULL PLANS COST

NEW 24' TIKOPIAN CANOE

The Tikopian 24 is based on the 18' Waka Ama and uses the same stitch and tape plywood construction process. She haas 4 seats plus stowage compartments in the ends of the canoe but can be fitted out in various ways - ie. with more seats and storage. The Tikopian 24 uses the same float/outrigger as the Waka Ama and comes with the sail rig of the Dragon 40 for those who want to go for a full platform and sail option. The hull can be built in 2 boltable halves and two hulls could be built to form a high volume catamaran.

LOA 24' (7.32m); Main hull beam 2' (0.61m); Overall beam 6' (1.83m).

24' TIKOPIAN CANOE FULL PLANS COST

20' SEAJAY

This is a larger version of the Beaver design incorporating the same simple compound hull construction with a ‘U’ shaped mid section and a gentle ‘V’ section at either end. The drawings show an optional double masted rig for easy sailing and also optional floats to make her stable for use by the disabled and for teaching young children. However, with a 40’’ beam to the hull, she is also, in her own right, a stable portaging canoe with plenty of space for taking stores. The drawings show her built in two halves and hinged at the centre so that one half of the hull stows on top of the other for easy transport. She uses 6 sheets of 6mm plywood in her construction. Length 20’ (6.1m); Beam 40’’ (1.01m); Depth at centre 16’’ (0.4m).
		The above example is of a shortened Seajay by Revd. J. Mountney
20' SEAJAY FULL PLANS COST
UK/EU - FULL PLAN £52 (incl. VAT)
USA/ELSEWHERE - FULL PLAN £44 ($70)

20' FREIGHT

This canoe has been designed for a client who wanted a canoe which would take a crew of 8 or so adolescents. She is designed to be built and transported in two halves (although she can be built in one piece) and bolted together at the waters edge. Construction is based upon the simple stitch and tape method using pre-shaped hull panels. Buoyancy may be built-in under the seats or these areas may be used for stowage. She may use a similar sail plan to that shown for the 20’ Sea Jay and she can be fitted with outriggers. Large canoes of this type were used for transporting freight in North America and we have retained the same type of hull section which has tumblehome to produce a wide waterline beam. She has 4 planks per side with a shallow ‘V’ to the bottom. Her length is 20’ (6.1m); beam is 53’’ (1.34m) and midships depth is 21’’ (.53m). She uses approximately 8 sheets of 6mm Exterior or Marine plywood and weight will be approximately 180 lbs. See Wilfried G. Stuckmann's web site at www.kle.nw.schule.de/hanna-heiber-schule/kanadier/ for a Freight 20' under construction.

Above, an example by James Berwick.
20' FREIGHT FULL PLANS COST
UK/EU - FULL PLAN £50 (incl. VAT)
USA/ELSEWHERE - FULL PLAN £43 ($69)

NEW 35' DRAGON RACING CANOE

This is a 7 or 8 man racing canoe (plus steersman) for stitch and tape plywood construction using mainly 12mm plywood. She can be made in boltable sections and therefore shortened/lengthened amidships to vary the number crewing her..

She has been designed to replace some of the solid wood boats used in Thailand and has a simple 2 chine hull section making her both stable and easy to build.

LOA 35’ (10.68m); Beam (excl. rubbers) 1’11” (0.58m); Mid depth 14 3/4” (0.37m).

35' DRAGON CANOE FULL PLANS COST

40' DRAGON

Well, this is a boat for the purely insane or totally inebriated!, and it is an example of the wide range of boat designs that we are asked to produce from clients all over the world. Basically, she is a slightly thinned and greatly stretched Waterman canoe and with her side float is designed to take 10 hefty paddlers for what is becoming a popular (if not spectacular) canoe racing event.
She can be built in 3 sections which are bolted together and the plans also show details for a simple 2 masted sailing rig which can be stored on the cross beams. She is very adaptable and the centre section can be left out producing a canoe which is 24’ long rather than the full 40’. Construction is simple stitch and tape using pre-shaped ply hull panels.

40' DRAGON FULL PLANS COST

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POSTAGE & PACKING (SHIPPING)
Please note - the plan prices do not include P&P charges which will be added to your order.
The maximum P&P charges for plans are :-
UK - £1 per plan (sent by 1st class Business Post.
Europe - £2 per plan (sent by Airmail).
USA & Elsewhere - £4 ($6) per plan (sent by Airmail).

See the Postage Charge Table (via the Home Page) for further details.

FOR DETAILS OF THE STITCH & TAPE
AND CEDAR STRIP PLANK
CONSTRUCTION METHODS SEE

For further details of our designs go to www.selway-fisher.com