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My wife and I currently reside in North Carolina. At a very early age my parents were dragging us kids up to float the Buffalo National River in Arkansas. After 35 years, I was able to go back and float it again a few months ago. Still love that place!! After the trip to the Buffalo and a stop at Morelys Canoes in Swan Lake, MT, I decided that I wanted to build my own canoe. So I am in the planning stages of that project. During some of the research I stumbled across this page....so here I am.
 
Welcome PM
You’ll find a wide variety of opinions and experiences here. Just pick a few builders who’s opinions line up with yours, everyone has different needs and expectations.
So what sort of build will you do? What materials? What intended use?
 
Would like to build something more for flat water and easy white water use probably around 15’. I am still unsure on wood, really like the red/dark of the cedar but this may be cost prohibitive on the east coast.
 
If all you'll do is day trip, 15 ft might be OK, but if you plan to trip, something a bit longer will fit you and your gear better. I am assuming that you're wanting a tandem boat, for you and your wife.
A couple of the guys here have built a 17 ft Freedom (?) that sounds like a boat that could suit you.
Maybe they'll chime in...
 
Be warned,now! before you get into it! it's addictive! very addictive! There can never be only one.... 35 years of woodworking ...
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They actually go together quite quick! it's the form that can take years to build and or develop! I gave my form away based on the fact we weren't going to build any more canoes
 
They actually go together quite quick! it's the form that can take years to build and or develop! I gave my form away based on the fact we weren't going to build any more canoes

If I build one, I'd want to build my own mold. Is the mold basically a cedar strip canoe with metal bands over it?
 
If all you'll do is day trip, 15 ft might be OK, but if you plan to trip, something a bit longer will fit you and your gear better. I am assuming that you're wanting a tandem boat, for you and your wife.
A couple of the guys here have built a 17 ft Freedom (?) that sounds like a boat that could suit you.
Maybe they'll chime in...

X2 !

The Freedom is easy to build, and has a great following. I agree with Stripperguy ! 17' is a better size for a tandem !

Jim
 
If I build one, I'd want to build my own mold. Is the mold basically a cedar strip canoe with metal bands over it?
We used 3/4" pine square strips, and a 2x6 in the keel line so the ribs can be clamped down with a 2x4 and long bolts on top, (which is really the bottom) Very rigid construction. This very long clamp also is shaped with the rocker built into the form.

I lost a lot of photographs to Photobucket
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Unless you carry the kitchen sink, a 15' canoe makes a fine solo tripper. I have done many trips with a 15' wood canvas canoe and had no issues. Mine is just a bit over 12"s deep from floor to the top of the gunnels.
I did paddle Memaquays 15' stripper empty and found it to ride higher in the water than my same 15' wood canvas hull, but it seemed like a fine solo tripper to me.

Here's mine in a big lake crossing in norther Ontario, and it's just as much at home on a small winding creek.
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Unless you carry the kitchen sink, a 15' canoe makes a fine solo tripper. I have done many trips with a 15' wood canvas canoe and had no issues. Mine is just a bit over 12"s deep from floor to the top of the gunnels.
I did paddle Memaquays 15' stripper empty and found it to ride higher in the water than my same 15' wood canvas hull, but it seemed like a fine solo tripper to me.

Here's mine in a big windy lake crossing in norther Ontario, and it's just as much at home on a small winding creek. I know many solo trippers who use 15' open canoes.


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picture not showing up, Robin.
 
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