Having built many canoes over the years using plans from others, I finally designed my own canoe without modifying or using another canoe or plan as a basis. I also documented some of this on the builders forum.
This is my 16’ wood canvas canoe. 62 pounds. Shellac bottom, Birds-Eye maple (I love that wood) accents. Gunwales are mahogany inside and ash outside. The canoe has moderate tumblehome in the center and some flair on the ends. I love the overall shape of the canoe. Super traditional lines.

Remember, wood canoes were the only canoe people paddled until aluminum came around. Wood canoes opened up the wilderness, not Kevlar.

I love, love building canoes and I can’t wait to start the next one, which I’m doing now. If anyone is interested in building their own canoe, you might consider looking through the builders’ forum. I’ve documented at least several builds over there. Enough to get you going in the right direction. Lots of info from other builders too. It’s a small but proud crowd over there so not too much action.

Tom

What a stunning canoe! Very impressive. I love the coloring of the various woods on the interior as well as the contrasting textures. You are definitely an artist!

Beautiful. Well done and thanks for sharing.

Very nice, have you ever built a skin on frame canoe?

What a beauty!

Beautiful boat. Well done.

Really nice ride.

Tom

Beautiful!

Awesome design, craft, weight, and color!

Looks Great!

Nothing like a little canoe porn to start the year off right.

Well done Tom! Will keep an eye out for Red Rider in Quetico.

Beautiful Canoe! Thanks for sharing. Did you have design software in putting the hull together or drafter skills? Curious about the process in figuring out the lines and such?

A few things to answer some questions.

I have not built a skin on frame canoe before but have contemplated it.

For the design of this canoe, I did not use any software. I lofted the form on paper completely by hand. I've built a lot of canoes so I sort of know where to start.

One thing that helped me is that I layed out the top of the canoe on the floor. Basically how the gunwales would look if looking down on the canoe.

And then I measured the distance of the gunwales every 12" so I knew what the width of the forms would be at each station.

Then I sort of just sketched everything out. The canoe overall was really nice but I had to rework the ends. The last form was a little too wide and the planking didn't flow nicely to the stems. So I had to do some on the spot work. I have 'fixed' the form now so the next build should be a little easier.

Tom

tumblehome: "A few things to answer some questions.


I have not built a skin on frame canoe before but have contemplated it.


For the design of this canoe, I did not use any software. I lofted the form on paper completely by hand. I've built a lot of canoes so I sort of know where to start.


One thing that helped me is that I layed out the top of the canoe on the floor. Basically how the gunwales would look if looking down on the canoe.


And then I measured the distance of the gunwales every 12" so I knew what the width of the forms would be at each station.


Then I sort of just sketched everything out. The canoe overall was really nice but I had to rework the ends. The last form was a little too wide and the planking didn't flow nicely to the stems. So I had to do some on the spot work. I have 'fixed' the form now so the next build should be a little easier.


Tom"

Very nice, you sir are a true Craftsmen.

This canoe is gorgeous. I’ve restored three prospector canoes, much different and I imagine far dirtier that all that fresh, non rotten wood. I was wondering what you used for canvas filler and what weight canvas you used.

There is no feeling like paddling a canoe you’ve created. The sound and feel of these boats in the water is something you need to experience.

That is some fine joinery work. I love looking at the pictures you and others post on the Building and Repair forum. Those are some magnificent creations.

Exquisite work! My wife and I have restored an 18 foot Penn Yann Owasco, an Old Town Yankee, and an Old Town 20 foot guide. Unfortunately, I no longer trip with them. The Guide needs recanvasing again, but I probably won't do it because of the expense.