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The plans for my 50/50 Sailing/Paddling canoe arrived on Saturday, 1st February, 2003. Above you can see the general layout and batwing sail which is my preference.
Her dimensions are as follows: LOA 15' (4.58m); Beam 35" (0.9m); Sail Area 52 sq.ft. (4.89 sq.m); Approx weight of hull/deck 45lbs (20kg).
Paul Fisher, the designer, has now made the plans available at £50.00 inclusive of VAT within the UK - in the USA and elsewhere £43.00 ($69). To find full details, visit the Sailing Canoes section of his web site at http://www.selway-fisher.com/Sailcanoe.htm
It is my hope that this 50/50 decked canoe will become a very popular choice among those with an adventurous spirit. She has so much potential. One could use her for messing about; day sailing or paddling; lightweight camping expeditions; sailing or paddling on lakes, estuaries and rivers according to ones experience and ability. She could even be adopted by clubs as a one design racer, either for sailing or for racing with the use of paddles and sail.
She is in some respects more of a kayak than a canoe - since she is principally decked, rather than being open like craft used by members of the UK Open Canoe Group. With a beam of 35" she is much wider than the traditional Eskimo kayak, but this is essential to enable her crew to move to windward while sailing 'on' the wind.
Offline there has been some discussion with a view to trying to define what constitutes a 50/50 sailing/paddling canoe, but for the moment I'll keep this section of the Small Sailboats web site exclusively for 'decked' canoes. Elsewhere there is ample mention of open sailing and paddling canoes.
After 231 man hours 'Caleb' was completed on 14th May 03. Pictures of her first outing can be seen at the bottom of the page.
Before starting the project I collected the components and building materials so that she could be built without interruption. The wood arrived on 7th March 03 and I started building 'Caleb' on the 10th March. Here are some pictures of the canoe ten days later, representing 46 man hours.
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These next pictures were taken on 22nd March and they represent a total of 52 man hours.
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On 4th April I used the camcorder to take these pictures (hence the poor quality) which represent a total of 118 man hours.
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Here are some more pictures taken on 7th April after 131 man hours. You can see a bulkhead extension for the stowage of the rig within the canoe.
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Yet more pictures were taken on 11th April after 150 man hours.
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Here are views after the deck was applied on 12th April after 159 man hours.
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These pictures taken on 15th April after 169 man hours show the Kajak hatches and the coaming fitted.
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I took these shots on 20th April having spent 182 man hours. The coaming trim, leeboard fixture and mast housing have all been finished.
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Here the decks have received their final coat of paint on the 4th May after 209 man hours. Notice the generous cockpit width.
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Although incomplete, I took these photos of the rig on 5th May bringing the total man hours to 215.
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After more rigging adjustments I recorded these details on the 6th May bringing the total time spent buildiing 'Caleb' to 218 man hours.
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Caleb was finished on 14th May after 231 man hours. Here are pictures of her first outing on 15th May at Hullbridge, River Crouch, Essex.
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I went for a sail at Burnham Marina on 21st May and here are some shots of her sailing there.
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Here are more pictures from the 21st May.
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This picture was taken some time in June at Creeksea, the River Crouch.
For details of suppliers of components and materials visit Addresses, Web Sites and Telephone Numbers.
You may wonder why I chose a name for my canoe before she was built; it's because I looked forward in 'faith' to the 'fruit' - that's to say fun and enjoyment I would have from building and using her. (Some of you may know that the biblical character Caleb (Numbers 14:24; 32:11,12) was rewarded for his faith in God by being one of only two people who reached the Promised Land after forty years in the wilderness.)
Copyright 2001/4 Small Sailboats. Site URL: http://www.smallsailboats.co.uk