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I had a dream of having a canoe light enough to carry across a portage in one trip, with a pack! I heard that wood-strip canoes were lightweight and strong. So I started building canoes using the wood strip method and experimented with ways to make them even lighter without sacrificing strength.
The 14'6" Solo Portage was the canoe that made my dream a reality. Solo Portage is a wonderful canoe to explore those quiet backwaters and be by yourself. I like to paddle along and I wanted a light-weight solo canoe to explore the St. Regis Canoe Wilderness section of the Adirondack Park of New York.
I had a dream of having a canoe light enough to carry across a portage in one trip, with a pack! I heard that wood-strip canoes were lightweight and strong. So I started building canoes using the wood-strip method and experimented with ways to make them even lighter without sacrificing strength.
The 14'6" Solo Portage was the canoe that made my dream a reality. I started by using 3/16" wood strips, instead of the 1/4" strips most other builders use. That's a 25% weight savings right there! The difference in wood thickness does not effect strength. The real strength of this building method is in the fiberglass cloth and epoxy resin. I designed the Solo Portage to be a good tracking solo canoe with the stability to use as a fishing platform or for nature observation. The light weight of this canoe make it a joy to portage. The light-weight of this canoe also makes the handling characteristics extremely good for this solo canoe, even on windy lakes. While the Solo Portage is intended to be a solo canoe, yet it has the carrying capacity to be set up as a tandem canoe if you wish. Hi Rob, "I thought you'd like to know we launched our Solo Portage in the UK as my father just finished construction. I have enclosed a coupole pictures of me canoeing on a large tidal inlet called Chichester Harbour on the sout coast of England. The village you see is Emsworth. The boat is unbelievably light and paddles superbly. I have never ever paddle a canoe that attracts so much attention. One passer-by couldn't believe I was on the water; if she owned it, it would have a glass top and be used as a coffee table in her lounge. Now that would be a waste. If you are ever over here, let me know and come for a paddle." Regards, Dave Cooper
The 14'6" Solo Portage was the canoe that made my dream a reality. I started by using 3/16" wood strips, instead of the 1/4" strips most other builders use. That's a 25% weight savings right there! The difference in wood thickness does not effect strength. The real strength of this building method is in the fiberglass cloth and epoxy resin.
I designed the Solo Portage to be a good tracking solo canoe with the stability to use as a fishing platform or for nature observation.
The light weight of this canoe make it a joy to portage. The light-weight of this canoe also makes the handling characteristics extremely good for this solo canoe, even on windy lakes.
While the Solo Portage is intended to be a solo canoe, yet it has the carrying capacity to be set up as a tandem canoe if you wish.
Hi Rob,
"I thought you'd like to know we launched our Solo Portage in the UK as my father just finished construction.
I have enclosed a coupole pictures of me canoeing on a large tidal inlet called Chichester Harbour on the sout coast of England. The village you see is Emsworth.
The boat is unbelievably light and paddles superbly. I have never ever paddle a canoe that attracts so much attention. One passer-by couldn't believe I was on the water; if she owned it, it would have a glass top and be used as a coffee table in her lounge. Now that would be a waste.
If you are ever over here, let me know and come for a paddle."
Regards,
Dave Cooper
Solo Portage 14' 6" 30" wide 10-1/2" deep at center 18" high at stems Building plans are available Cost of a finished Solo Portage is $4500. Contact me for details
Solo Portage
14' 6"
30" wide
10-1/2" deep at center
18" high at stems
Building plans are available
Cost of a finished Solo Portage is $4500.
Contact me for details
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