I always felt the same way. Too narrow, Must be tippy, until Howard one day said, "Let's build one together". So Mike Antis and I embarked on building two prototypes of Howard's new design, KAZE. With his direction, via Zoom calls from Japan, the dual bilge board canoes came together. Initial testing shows the design to be very stable, and a real performer. Im looking forward to camp cruising these canoes!
Starting at the early part of your article, sailing canoes were the boat of choice until the advent of the board boat, Sunfish and Sailfish. Being essentially unsinkable, even though they are eminently capable of capsizing, and capable of planing, these mass-produced boats quickly took over the waterways.
Much of their popularity was and is due to adoption for youth training programs. Contemporary fiberglass canoes weighed more and were less exciting to sail.
One of the things I dislike about board boats is the ease of becoming entangled in the sheet when switching tacks. Also, the lack of secondary stability that a canoe provides.
I have never gone over in a canoe and the ease of trimming the boat by moving around makes the experience much more wholesome. I have never, so far, had to sit outboard to keep the boat upright.
Try sailing cruising class, without a rudder or with a paddle as your rudder. Anyone who has seen sail boards knows it can be done. It's just another skill.
One other thing a canoe provides is the ability to challenge yourself.
As you mention, a jib can be part of the rig. Although the lateen rig is most common, there are several others available, including schooner, ketch and yawl.
Although I have not done it lately, I prefer teaching sailing in a canoe.
Well said Howard. I have a friend who is an avid kayaker (traversed the Dnipro River in Ukraine, 1260 miles in 62 days before the war for example). He avidly sails his kayaks during his adventures and speaks highly of the experience and additional abilities it provides.
I’m convinced that the canoe is the single most versatile and accessible craft ever created. Truly, it can be scaled up and down, made burly or lightweight, and available used for a modest investment. Some can be carried over a shoulder and yet be capable of remote wilderness trips.
To me, the sailing canoe is an ultimate opportunity for walking the path towards mastery as a paddler who aspires to be a canoeist and a sailor who strives to be a mariner.
Thanks for the article and your encouragement, Howard. As always, thanks for the platform, Josh.
In the 1950s my parents subscribed to a Dutch "hobby" magazine, "Na Vijven". My mom ordered a set of plans for a sail canoe (zijl Kano) with the idea that my father and I could build it. We never did of course. I had those plans in with my books for may years until they disappeared in a move. I have often wished I still had them! We lived in Hawaii at the time but I understand that sailing canoes are/were very popular in the Netherlands.
However, in around 1978 I bought a Folbot kit for their Super, a two person decked over kayak style boat. It was not folding and as such was a lot cheaper than if it was. Anyway, I also ordered the sail rig, a couple of double paddles, and a motor mount (!). I sailed it quite a bit in SE Alaska and on the Columbia when I was in Oregon in 1979 - 82.. At the time I was the only sailor in Hood River; the windsurfers hadn't discovered it yet.
I have recounted before how in Wyoming, I was on Fremont Lake when a sudden mountain squall knocked me down and the sail went to the bottom, never to be seen again. I sold the Folbot later; wish I hadn't done so but it's one of those "too late smart" things! I sure would like to have another, with the sail rig of course.
FWIW, there are replacement rigs available. The cheapest is the Sunflower/Snark rig. Last I checked, those sails were nylon. There is no reason to go with an expensive rig when a cheapo will do a satisfactory job. It is easy to make spars for these. Make sure you use the end of your halliard as a downhaul and to tie the rig to the deck.
I just checked. A used Super Snark sail online is currently under $100.
These rigs are also good for beginners, as they are about 60% of the size of an ACA class canoe rig, the most common size.
Thanks for such an enlightening post - I'd never considered canoe sailing before. Now it makes me salivate to think of it! I'd sure love to see some pix!
I always felt the same way. Too narrow, Must be tippy, until Howard one day said, "Let's build one together". So Mike Antis and I embarked on building two prototypes of Howard's new design, KAZE. With his direction, via Zoom calls from Japan, the dual bilge board canoes came together. Initial testing shows the design to be very stable, and a real performer. Im looking forward to camp cruising these canoes!
Starting at the early part of your article, sailing canoes were the boat of choice until the advent of the board boat, Sunfish and Sailfish. Being essentially unsinkable, even though they are eminently capable of capsizing, and capable of planing, these mass-produced boats quickly took over the waterways.
Much of their popularity was and is due to adoption for youth training programs. Contemporary fiberglass canoes weighed more and were less exciting to sail.
One of the things I dislike about board boats is the ease of becoming entangled in the sheet when switching tacks. Also, the lack of secondary stability that a canoe provides.
I have never gone over in a canoe and the ease of trimming the boat by moving around makes the experience much more wholesome. I have never, so far, had to sit outboard to keep the boat upright.
Try sailing cruising class, without a rudder or with a paddle as your rudder. Anyone who has seen sail boards knows it can be done. It's just another skill.
One other thing a canoe provides is the ability to challenge yourself.
As you mention, a jib can be part of the rig. Although the lateen rig is most common, there are several others available, including schooner, ketch and yawl.
Although I have not done it lately, I prefer teaching sailing in a canoe.
Well said Howard. I have a friend who is an avid kayaker (traversed the Dnipro River in Ukraine, 1260 miles in 62 days before the war for example). He avidly sails his kayaks during his adventures and speaks highly of the experience and additional abilities it provides.
I’m convinced that the canoe is the single most versatile and accessible craft ever created. Truly, it can be scaled up and down, made burly or lightweight, and available used for a modest investment. Some can be carried over a shoulder and yet be capable of remote wilderness trips.
To me, the sailing canoe is an ultimate opportunity for walking the path towards mastery as a paddler who aspires to be a canoeist and a sailor who strives to be a mariner.
Thanks for the article and your encouragement, Howard. As always, thanks for the platform, Josh.
In the 1950s my parents subscribed to a Dutch "hobby" magazine, "Na Vijven". My mom ordered a set of plans for a sail canoe (zijl Kano) with the idea that my father and I could build it. We never did of course. I had those plans in with my books for may years until they disappeared in a move. I have often wished I still had them! We lived in Hawaii at the time but I understand that sailing canoes are/were very popular in the Netherlands.
However, in around 1978 I bought a Folbot kit for their Super, a two person decked over kayak style boat. It was not folding and as such was a lot cheaper than if it was. Anyway, I also ordered the sail rig, a couple of double paddles, and a motor mount (!). I sailed it quite a bit in SE Alaska and on the Columbia when I was in Oregon in 1979 - 82.. At the time I was the only sailor in Hood River; the windsurfers hadn't discovered it yet.
I have recounted before how in Wyoming, I was on Fremont Lake when a sudden mountain squall knocked me down and the sail went to the bottom, never to be seen again. I sold the Folbot later; wish I hadn't done so but it's one of those "too late smart" things! I sure would like to have another, with the sail rig of course.
FWIW, there are replacement rigs available. The cheapest is the Sunflower/Snark rig. Last I checked, those sails were nylon. There is no reason to go with an expensive rig when a cheapo will do a satisfactory job. It is easy to make spars for these. Make sure you use the end of your halliard as a downhaul and to tie the rig to the deck.
I just checked. A used Super Snark sail online is currently under $100.
These rigs are also good for beginners, as they are about 60% of the size of an ACA class canoe rig, the most common size.
Thanks for such an enlightening post - I'd never considered canoe sailing before. Now it makes me salivate to think of it! I'd sure love to see some pix!