Hi everyone, I normally post in other sections, but I've been reading a bit in the kayak forum here for awhile. I'd really like a kayak, but also want something i can take kids out in so I settled on getting a canoe. While researching them, I saw someone post an Uncle John's Pirogue that they had made. That sent me down some more research paths and I liked what I saw. They're easily customizable, cheap, have a shallow draft, and meet my needs. I try to do as many projects as possible (and some that I'm not sure are possible :D) and include my kids so that they can see what it's like to use things that you've built yourself. I decided to build one as a father-son project with my 6 year old.

I'm using 1/4" A/C exterior grade plywood, Titebond III glue, Poly Resin, and latex paint. This is meant to be a budget project, not a masterpiece. I know that there are better materials to use, but according to the Uncle John's plans I have what I'm using is acceptable.

I bought the lumber a couple weeks ago, and we started the project on Sunday.

Me and my son ready to start.

The lumber doing it's best to look like it wants to be a canoe.

Sounds like fun, looking forward to more posts as you progress

The sideboards were cut to 11", stacked and aligned, and scarf joints were sanded down.


Scarfs are ready to be glued up.


Scarfs glued and under pressure over night.


The stems were tough to cut, but I managed to get them right after a few attempts.


Monday evening, once the glue in the scarf joints dried, I was able to attach the stems with glue and screws (the screws will be removed and the holes filled to keep weight down and keep it smooth). It's kinda looking like a canoe already! It'll be a little wider once the ribs are installed. I just put some scrap lumber in the middle to spread it for now.

I also scarfed the bottom, glued it, and put the weight on that joint so it'll be ready to go when we get there. The next step is cutting and installing the ribs. It'll be tricky also, but we'll be taking that on tonight.

Looks like a good time with your boy.

Awesome!

Good luck with your build.
Have to warn you, it can develop quickly into a consuming madness. Really, I jumped into this about 8 years ago and have never regretted it.

If you ever need some guidance try

http://www.jemwatercraft.com/

Matt is a great guy and will go out of his way to help.

Great to see farther/son getting into this together, I agree entirely with preaches comments, I'm hooked, Just finishing up on a boat for a good friend, Had him do the assembly, so he had a hand in his own build.

Nice! They even have SOT kayak plans:
http://www.jemwatercraft.com/products.php?cat=10

Thanks for the nice words. I'm already thinking about what I might take on next if this one turns out.

Last night I got the ribs cut and assembled. Tonight I was able to install them.

It's getting there!

Nicely done!

Very nice. Looks fun

awesome. keep the progress reports coming

Work has continued on the canoe! I haven't posted the updates, but we've been plugging along.
Once we got the ribs in, we cut the bottom to a rough shape and glued it on.

I trimmed the edges and got some help sanding it all down.


Then I fibergalssed it (without the helpers). Fiberglassing is harder than it sounds. This is a pre-sanding shot of a layer of glass.

5 layers of resin and a few layers of cloth later I was ready to water test it.

It floats! No leaks. (I would have gone after with with a chainsaw if it leaked with all that fiberglass on it, ha ha.)

Stable enough for me to stand up in it. I'll be taking it out to a lake this weekend for a bigger test and to see how it paddles. Wish me luck.

We've painted the outside since these pics. I still need to install seats and fore and aft decks, plus paint the inside. And add a "dashboard" for a fishfinder. Put an anchor trolley on it, etc.
So far it's come together quickly and seems sound. It took 2 weekends, with 1-2 hours on the nights between them to get to this point. The kids had fun, and I'm hoping they'll have to lasting memories from the project.
If you're handy (and patient) I think this is a great project to do with kids, and I'd do it again. I'm already thinking of a rowboat project a few years down the road. It was lots of fun for all of us, and hopefully using it will be just as fun.