Usually in the winter months I get bored and start tweaking the lines of an old design on my computer, and that's how I end up with a new boat.
“Breeze’ is a 10' (3m) double-paddle canoe. Two sheets of plywood are all that’s needed. Stitch-and-glue construction using 3"(75mm) fiberglass tape in epoxy for all seams inside and out.
The deciding factors when designing this boat were mostly the same as with all my designs—seaworthiness and light weight. Breeze weighs 33 pounds (13kg) if made of 1/4" (6mm) pine plywood available at any Home Depot. If she is made of Okoume, that weight could be reduced even more.
Easy transportation and storage and being inexpensive to build were the other things which dictated the development of the design. With most people’s busy schedules nowadays, light weight and easy transportation are crucial in terms of how much actual use the boat will get. Breeze is always available for a quick paddle after work to relax and clear your head.
This time around I decided to consider one more factor—speed. Going fast is fun—especially to the younger generation. In order to achieve this, the hull had to be more streamlined. Breeze has the narrowest beam of all my designs. She feels a bit tender initially, but once the secondary stability (provided by the bilge panels) kicks in, much like any other canoe or kayak out there. As she picks up speed the feeling of stability and comfort increases even more.
There is enough plywood left on the second sheet to make and install buoyancy chambers at both ends. The long skeg provides really good tracking. A backrest frame acts as a mid-frame (kind of) too. For a seat I use a simple foam cushion, but a more comfy and sophisticated seat can be installed.
The entire hull is coated with epoxy inside and out which greatly increases the life of the boat. Breeze is a very suitable project for a first time boat builder. It's hard to say how many hours it takes to build her. It all depends on the builder's skills, experience and level of finish. I never keep track of this anyways.
Overall I am very happy how she turned out. My son and I have been using the boat on the local lakes for the past few weeks. No issues so far whatsoever.
Plans and work instructions with many construction photos are available for purchase from my website.
Nesting of all components of the boat is shown on the plans to make best use of the two sheets of plywood. •SCA•