SOF Build

Crazy Trout Craft (CTC) · Monday at 11:58 AM

In case anyone has any interest. Here are some photos of my SOF builds from this summer season

MyKneesHurt · Monday at 2:30 PM

I love skin-on-frames. It looks like you've established your rib lengths by some system, how did you establish lengths?

Crazy Trout Craft (CTC) · Monday at 6:45 PM

Hey MKH-
Good to hear from you … still hope to see you on the NFCT. Rib lengths are measured from the beam at each rib location and Brian at Cape Falcon Kayak has a proprietary rib formula that comes with his plan set. It’s very straightforward and easy to do. His process and plan program is excellent and reproducible… on my 4th canoe… and they come together quite readily especially due to no strong back. Hope that answers your question
Cheers

Pseudonym · Monday at 8:22 PM

Do you install thwarts in your SOF canoes?

Crazy Trout Craft (CTC) · Monday at 9:01 PM

Pseudonym said:
Do you install thwarts in your SOF canoes?

Yes

Crazy Trout Craft (CTC) · Monday at 9:04 PM

Pseudonym said:
Do you install thwarts in your SOF canoes?

Crazy Trout Craft (CTC) · Monday at 9:05 PM

Crazy Trout Craft (CTC) said:
Yes

And you can remove and nest a smaller canoe inside for easier transport

Crazy Trout Craft (CTC) · Monday at 9:08 PM

This canoe is 13’8” and weighs in at 25.5 pounds. Material cost was around 550$. The hardest part was finding green white oak and clear cedar in the lengths necessary for the gunnels

Jim Dodd · Monday at 9:17 PM

Have always wanted to build one of these !
Have watched many of the Cape Falcon videos.

Jim

PS. I like the color !

ABT · Monday at 9:27 PM

I know next to nothing about SOF canoes, so pardon my ignorance but what are the skins made of? The same fabrics as regular composite canoes? Just one layer commonly, or multiple? I’m assuming epoxied or resin impregnated through similar wetting out processes? Is the skin attached mechanically in any way other than at the gunwales?

These look really cool, and very interesting.

Crazy Trout Craft (CTC) · Monday at 9:33 PM

Jim Dodd said:
Have always wanted to build one of these !
Have watched many of the Cape Falcon videos.

Jim

PS. I like the color !

Thank you.. it’s the spruce green acid dye. They are very fun to build…and quick… I am impressed at how quiet they are. Reminds me of my wood canvas in that regard…but way lighter

. They are quite speedy as well. I am looking forward to building a tripping version next.

Crazy Trout Craft (CTC) · Monday at 9:42 PM

ABT said:
I know next to nothing about SOF canoes, so pardon my ignorance but what are the skins made of? The same fabrics as regular composite canoes? Just one layer commonly, or multiple? I’m assuming epoxied or resin impregnated through similar wetting out processes? Is the skin attached mechanically in any way other than at the gunwales?

These look really cool, and very interesting.

I was too as of last spring… Cape Falcon Kayak has many videos if you wish to go down that rabbit hole. The skin is a ballistic nylon that is made for the Skin Boat Store. This nylon is the 840 X-tra Tuff nylon and the urethane is a bio blend that is 2 part originally formulated for concrete floors. Brian has a mix ratio for each design based on size. Mine I believe took 3 or 4 coats… you have 24 hours before it will no longer chemically adhere to itself. My dye went on nylon first, but there are some colors that get mixed into the urethane and not dyed into the skin first.

Crazy Trout Craft (CTC) · Monday at 9:44 PM

ABT said:
I know next to nothing about SOF canoes, so pardon my ignorance but what are the skins made of? The same fabrics as regular composite canoes? Just one layer commonly, or multiple? I’m assuming epoxied or resin impregnated through similar wetting out processes? Is the skin attached mechanically in any way other than at the gunwales?

These look really cool, and very interesting.

One skin layer of the nylon

Goodtimescharlie · Monday at 10:37 PM

Looks great, nice and light too!

RBourg · 2025-11-13T13:03:02-0500

Good looking boat, with nods to Hornbeck on the seat design and Swift with that maple leaf!

Punkinhead · 2025-11-13T14:32:45-0500

Crazy Trout Craft (CTC) said:
This canoe is 13’8” and weighs in at 25.5 pounds. Material cost was around 550$. The hardest part was finding green white oak and clear cedar in the lengths necessary for the gunnels

I've never built a canoe. Do you really use green wood for the gunnels? I'm taking down about a dozen white oaks next month to make room for a barn. 60-70 feet tall and at least 40' to the first branch. They're right on the edge of being large enough diameter to be worthwhile to mill into lumber but maybe I'll set one aside to replace the aluminum gunnels with wood on my Northstar Phoenix.

SOF Build

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