Since I was a teenager I’ve wanted to build a cedar strip canoe. I bought a copy of Ted Moore’s Canoecraft and read it through and through many times. Building a canoe does require a shop space with a fair amount of room though.
Which brings us to now. I’m currently working at a farm that has a large woodwork shop and a sawmill. My employers have graciously allowed me use of the space and the equipment to make the canoe project a reality.
The design I’ve chosen is the Huron Cruiser 15-9 which is one of the plans that are given as a table of offsets in the 2nd edition of Canoecraft.
I’ve decided to keep a blog of the project as a way to track my progress and time. Mostly for myself, but I know that I’ve spent many hours reading a lot of other canoe building blogs and forums so if I can be of help to any future builders so much the better.
The canoe is designed by Bear Mountain Boats. Here are the specs they give for it:
• Length 15’9″
• Maximum beam 32.5″
• Beam waterline 30.25″
• Beam gunnel 31″
• Bow height 22″
• Centre Depth 13.5″
• Draft 4″
• Displacement 335 lbs.
• Wetted surface 25.5 sq.ft.
• Weight to immerse 121 lb/in.
• Prismatic coefficient 0.543
• Weight 45 to 55 lbs.
It was a toss up between that design and the ever popular Prospector. In the end I decided I would be soloing it fairly often and would appreciate the lighter weight and didn’t need the extra carrying capacity. I also expect to be using it on the ocean a fair bit so the lower windage would be a bonus as well.
