Today we think of wooden canoes as being strip-built in cedar.  But lapstrake canoes have an even longer history. The legendary Rushton lapstrake canoes are considered the pinnacle of the canoe builder's art. Unfortunately, the required skills of this costly method faded away in the early 20th century. Simpler strip building, and later aluminum and fiberglass, took over. But CLC's revolutionary LapStitch building method allows lapstrake canoes to be built by someone with no previous woodworking experience. All the planks and other parts are pre-cut. No strongback, molds, frames, or steam bending are required; building a LapStitch canoe is basically a matter of gluing all the pre-cut parts together.

Imagine a boat so light that you can put it on your shoulder and stroll casually down a wooded trail, carry it to a hidden lake or stream, or paddle it with almost no effort. That was the idea behind the original "trapper" or "pack" canoes. CLC's 26-pound Sassafras 12 carries on the tradition - but with modern building methods.

Try this boat at OkoumeFest in Maryland: May 17-18

Though she can be carried, or paddled, by a child, she'll hold a 250-pound load. She tracks well, turns easily, and is stable enough for fishing. For maximum efficiency you'll want to paddle the Sassafras 12 with a double (kayak) paddle. 

Plans for the Sassafras 12 are currently out of print while they are updated for 2013.

Builders also looked at:

Nymph 10 | Nymph 12 | Sassafras 16 | 10 Foot Little Auk 

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