Dream Catcher canoe - or other suggestions

[dan-marques]

Hi.

I'm taking a wood shop course this semester, and given that we are free to choose our own project, think that this might be the time to begin a hobby I've wanted to do for years.

In trying to determine what to build, and was thinking about the Dream Catcher canoe (http://dreamcatcherboats.com/). I was wondering if anyone out there had built one, and what their experiences were like.

I'm also open to other ideas. A project would need to be completed in 25-35 hours. It would also need to be something I would use: i.e. car top-able, and usable on a lake where it could sometimes get choppy, so I think the 6 hour canoe wouldn't fit.

I'd really like a row boat, but because of the conditions on the lake I plan to use it at, I think a 7-9 foot dinghy would be out of the picture.

Suggests, hints, ideas?

Thanks.
Dan

[RobFM]

The skin on frame canoes are interesting and I was hoping to see a few other people comment. But, since none have, I will.

I have been looking at boat plans on the web on and off for a couple of years and I have never seen the Dream Catcher before, so I suspect they are a relatively new company.

If you are interested in skin on frame designs, you should take a look at the Geodesic Aerolite boats. They look very similar to the Dream Catcher. But because they have been around for a long time, there is more information available. They offer about 12 different designs including several canoes and a series of boats similar to the New York Whitehalls. You can find a number of web sites that describe building the canoes and there are at least 2 videos available. Check the Geodesic web site and also the web site for "The Boat Shop," which is, or was, a series on public television.

You might also be interested in a couple of books that cover skin on frame kayaks in some detail. One by Robert Morris also has a brief discussion of a canoe and a Providence river boat.

The canoe pictured on the Dream Catcher web site looks nice too, and I expect it would make an interesting project. From what I read it looks like it might be a bit more traditional than the Aerolite designs which use epoxy in place of lashings and also use Kevlar rovings to add strength and rigidity.

If you decide not to go the skin on frame route, I think stitch and glue may be your best bet for a quick project that ends up as a boat you can really use. There are many sources for plans, such as CLCBoats, Selway-Fisher, and Merten Gossins(SP?).

Good Luck,

Rob

[htom]

I'll nominate the D5: http://www.bateau.com/plans/small/D5_study.htm

[Eric Sea Frog]

http://www.clarkcraft.com/images/teal16.jpg

Oldies but goldies.

ClarkCraft (http://www.clarkcraft.com/cgi-local/shop.pl?type=item&categ=005&item=932688325&cart_id=cf5d290332c92093d9031dbdfec6d95d)

Free plans at Svenson's site. Like Little Chief:

Svensons (http://www.svensons.com/boats/LittleChief/)

http://www.svensons.com/boats/LittleChief/LittleChiefA.jpg

Caillou boats, Cullison Craft got nice stuff too.

[ 09-10-2003, 02:01 PM: Message edited by: Eric Sea Frog ]

[DougC]

Dan, if you're going out on some choppy fingerlake I don't think you want a canoe. An Adirondack guideboat would be ideal, but VERY hard to build. Instead check out the Gloucester Gull a 16' light dory. Great boat, simple to build, seaworthy and very fast and fun. You can get the how to book from WoodenBoat. Also do a search in the archives here for a lot of info. On the down side they weigh in at 90 lbs. minimum. But they're really a lot of fun to row.
Doug

[JimConlin]

What Doug said.

A link to the Bolger 'Gloucester Gull is http://www.instantboats.com/ggull.htm

You'll get it pretty near built in the time you have.

[dan-marques]

I looked at the Glouster Gull - it would be perfect for my needs, and it is very attractive looking. Unfortunatly, I think it would require too much time to complete.

The Gull in not an 'instant boat' - it requires setting up temporary molds and building the boat upside down over them.

Thanks for all your suggestions.

Dan