Volume 12, No. 2 Winter 2006
CLC Introduces the Peace Canoe
A great family boatbuilding project! Build it in a weekend from a kit, or build it from plans using local materials.
The Peace Canoe is an interesting new addition to the Chesapeake Light Craft fleet. Call it a canoe, a pirogue, a bateau, or whatever you like---the Peace Canoe is good basic transportation that you can build in a weekend. With its appealing shape, it won’t look like you built it in a weekend.
The Peace Canoe is aimed at first-time builders and those who don't want to commit to the 80 hours that our stitch-and-glue kits will consume. The quick build was made possible by eliminating epoxy resins and their long curing times, utilizing sturdy materials that do not require fiberglass, and engineering a construction process that is forgiving of imprecision.
The kit has an interesting history. Designer John C. Harris created the Peace Canoe specifically for family boatbuilding events and corporate team-building exercises. "On the drawing board we called it the War Canoe," says Harris recalling the big canoes that he remembered from summer camp. “I definitely wanted to conjure up the whimsy and versatility of those old camp canoes."
And he wanted the construction process to be fun too. "There is no mixing epoxy and no scary toxins," Harris adds. "And definitely no anxiety over dust and bubbles in your varnish - this is not that kind of project. It's designed to be fully hands-on for anyone who wants to join in, regardless of age. Definitely put the kids in charge of the paint job; they'll love it!"
With a one-day assembly time for the kit, the design has been a great fit for marathon boatbuilding events. At the Harvard Business School, faculty and staff built 15 of the boats as a teambuilding exercise. (Harvard had us change the name from “War Canoe” to “Harvard 18.”)
Noting the success of the Harvard project, WoodenBoat Magazine selected the design for its Family Boatbuilding event at the WoodenBoat Show in Newport, Rhode Island. “It’s the perfect design,” they said, “but could we call it “Peace Canoe” instead of “War Canoe”? And that’s how the name came about. Through an essay contest, twelve families and groups were selected to build the canoes over two days. WoodenBoat Magazine later reported, "Watching their faces as they climbed into the vessels they created and paddled into the harbor was worth the price of admission and garnered time on three local TV broadcasts."
Like many people, Harris had often been disappointed with the results of one-day boatbuilding marathons. "The boats are either ugly or useless - frequently they're both. On the Peace Canoe I aimed for nice lines and some real utility." The boat's elegant shape fits right in with rest of CLC's attractive fleet. And with a payload of more than 600 pounds, it will easily absorb a family of five and a hearty picnic lunch.
The Peace Canoe has a detailed instruction manual to guide both kit- and plans-builders. The kit is comprised of computer-cut hull panels with puzzle joints to facilitate ultra-fast assembly. The hull is reinforced with traditional stems, sheer clamps, and chine logs, fastened together with polyurethane adhesives (as strong as epoxy but more forgiving!) and bronze ring nails. Plans builders can use AC fir or any strong exterior plywood.
CLC Shop Tip
How to install a Piantedosi Row Wing in a Chester Yawl
We are often asked if a sliding seat unit can be installed in the Chester Yawl. The answer is "Yes!" and here's how to do it in a few simple steps.
Row Wing Assembly - You'll need the Piantedosi's leveling legs (L-shaped brackets) and a few other pieces of hardware. We've bundled these items into a Chester Yawl-specific Piantedosi hardware kit.
You'll need to slide the additional clamps (shown in the first photo below) onto the outrigger before attaching the outrigger support. Fasten the leveling legs to the monorail now. You can adjust their height by setting the rig in the boat.
Step 1: Aligning the Piantedosi - Make sure the Yawl's floorboards are properly seated, set the row wing in the boat, and center it from side to side. (The footbraces point aft, of course.)
We'll align the unit relative to the center set of oarlocks. The outrigger sits just aft of the oarlock sockets. Use the bolts to center the rail clamp's holes over the oarlock sockets.
Step 2: Marking Leg Positions - With the row wing in position, trace around the leveling legs onto the floorboards.
Step 3: Stabilizing the Floorboards - For sliding seat rowing, the forward and aft floorboards must be fixed in place semi-permanently. (The center floorboard is still removeable for bailing.) The floorboards are screwed to the floor ledges. The forward floorboard needs four screws; the aft floorboard only three. Here we are pre-drilling the holes with a countersink bit.
Use the 8 x 1-1/4" silicon bronze wood screws and finish washers from your hardware kit.
Step 4: Installing the Blocks - The wood blocks included in your kit will stradle the bases of the leveling legs, as shown. Pre-drill with a countersink bit and screw the blocks to the floorboards. The leveling legs will slide under the blocks for easy installation and removal while transporting the boat.
Step 5: Securing the Row Wing - Before moving the unit into position, put the bolts and washers through the clamps on either side. Turn the clamps so that the bolts are horizontal.
Now you can slide the row wing into place, turning the clamps down as you go so that the bolts feed into the oarlock sockets. Retighten the clamps, pop a washer and a locknut onto the other end of each bolt and you're all set. To remove the rig, simply reverse the process.
Chesapeake Light Craft carries Piantedosi Row Wings with Fit Kits for the Annapolis Wherry, Oxford Shell, Mill Creek 16.5 and the Chester Yawl.
New Products!
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3 new designs:
Passagemaker Dinghy |
Don't Forget About our Holiday Sale!
Winter Events at CLC
Build Your Own Annapolis Wherry:January 22-27
Canoecopia in Madison, WI: March 9-11
Paddlesport 2007 in Somerset, NJ: March 23-25
Build Your Own Chesapeake 17 LT: April 30 - May 5