Hi Folks,

I'm new to the group, so if this is in a FAQ, let me know and I'll start
there.

My family would love to own a canoe, as we've typically borrowed ones up
till now. I've been learning welding over the past year, and thought an
aluminum canoe project just might fit the bill, and help keep costs down.

Any ideas, websites, online plan sources, and/or books folks would
recommend?

TIA
Steve

On Wed, 25 Jan 2006 20:48:45 GMT, Steve wrote:

Hi Folks,

I'm new to the group, so if this is in a FAQ, let me know and I'll start
there.

My family would love to own a canoe, as we've typically borrowed ones up
till now. I've been learning welding over the past year, and thought an
aluminum canoe project just might fit the bill, and help keep costs down.

Any ideas, websites, online plan sources, and/or books folks would
recommend?

TIA
Steve
Probably not practical given the various sizes and thicknesses of
aluminum you would need and the various bends that are needed
structurally to make it solid enough.
If you're going to put that amount of effort into builing a boat you
should do it because you love building, not to save money. A used ABS
canoe would be a good way to go. I'm sure you can get one for $200 or
so.
But, if you really like working with aluminum then go for it.
After all, some of the beautiful wooden boats people have built were
done for love of the craft, so why not aluminum I guess.

John C.

Steve, other folks seem to like aluminum canoes a lot, so your family
will. When I sold a 15Foot aluminum in pristine shape for $300,
original purchase price, in Annapolis, MD, last year, I could have sold
20 the same day.

Having owned and paddled a couple of aluminum canoes, it seems to me a
major challenge is getting both stems, the inevitable seams at each
end, into the same plane. If not well-matched, an angled stem in a
heavily-laden canoe will veer off track on a long reach.

I bought a 17foot aluminum canoe from Sears in the 1970's; I mention
this as a datapoint - it weighted over 70 pounds. I could cartop-lift
it then, but don't have the strength now. Be sure you have a plan for
final overall weight, lest you build a miniature "Naval destroyer".

;=)

Denny Hugg

There are plenty of plans for plywood canoes which should work, both being
"sheet goods". Sleway-Fisher is one firm which sells plywood canoe plans.
You should be able to get some ideas from their webiste. Usually with
plywood canoes there is a fair amount of material cut to waste. I
think plywood is relatively inexpensive compared to aluminum so that might
be an issue.

It is generally difficult for even a good welder to fabricate a boat out of
light aluminum; figure on 1/8" plate, or thicker. This material weighs
about the same as 3/4" plywood. Figure 200 lbs or more for a canoe. At $2-3
per pound...

If you are serious, get "Boatbuilding with Aluminum" by Stephen F.Pollard
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/007...lance&n=283155
and plans for plywood.

Sal's Dad

"William R. Watt" wrote in message
...
There are plenty of plans for plywood canoes which should work, both being
"sheet goods". Sleway-Fisher is one firm which sells plywood canoe plans.
You should be able to get some ideas from their webiste. Usually with
plywood canoes there is a fair amount of material cut to waste. I
think plywood is relatively inexpensive compared to aluminum so that might
be an issue.

What are the pro-and-con considerations of making a canoe out of eighth-inch
plywood, perhaps laminated prior to assembly with light 'glass and epoxy
pulled down with a vacuum pump? Will the combo of plywood and glass be about
the same weight as quarter-inch ply?

Alex

"Sal's Dad" wrote in message
...
It is generally difficult for even a good welder to fabricate a boat out
of light aluminum; figure on 1/8" plate, or thicker. This material
weighs about the same as 3/4" plywood. Figure 200 lbs or more for a
canoe. At $2-3 per pound...

If you are serious, get "Boatbuilding with Aluminum" by Stephen F.Pollard
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/007...lance&n=283155
and plans for plywood.

Sal's Dad

"William R. Watt" wrote in message
...
There are plenty of plans for plywood canoes which should work, both
being
"sheet goods". Sleway-Fisher is one firm which sells plywood canoe plans.
You should be able to get some ideas from their webiste. Usually with
plywood canoes there is a fair amount of material cut to waste. I
think plywood is relatively inexpensive compared to aluminum so that
might
be an issue.

Don't forget flotation. Most aluminum alloys don't float.


"Steve" wrote in message
47...
Hi Folks,

I'm new to the group, so if this is in a FAQ, let me know and I'll start
there.

My family would love to own a canoe, as we've typically borrowed ones up
till now. I've been learning welding over the past year, and thought an
aluminum canoe project just might fit the bill, and help keep costs down.

Any ideas, websites, online plan sources, and/or books folks would
recommend?

TIA
Steve

John Chaplain wrote:

On Wed, 25 Jan 2006 20:48:45 GMT, Steve wrote:

Hi Folks,

I'm new to the group, so if this is in a FAQ, let me know and I'll start
there.

My family would love to own a canoe, as we've typically borrowed ones up
till now. I've been learning welding over the past year, and thought an
aluminum canoe project just might fit the bill, and help keep costs down.

Any ideas, websites, online plan sources, and/or books folks would
recommend?

TIA
Steve
Probably not practical given the various sizes and thicknesses of
aluminum you would need and the various bends that are needed
structurally to make it solid enough.
If you're going to put that amount of effort into builing a boat you
should do it because you love building, not to save money. A used ABS
canoe would be a good way to go. I'm sure you can get one for $200 or
so.
But, if you really like working with aluminum then go for it.
After all, some of the beautiful wooden boats people have built were
done for love of the craft, so why not aluminum I guess.

John C.

have a look at this site
http://www.boatplans.dk/boats.asp?BType=canoes

Hi All,

I want to thank everyone who either posted here, or sent me a note
privately.

At the same time (as the original post), I posted in a local buy/sell group
to see if anyone had a canoe for sale. I've got a line on a very
reasonably priced one in my area, so I'll probably just grab it up and save
my boat building for a little bit longer.

Thanks again.
Steve