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.

Here is a Solo Portage I built as tandem canoe for a customer

Solo Portage 14' 6" long, 30" wide, 10-1/2" deep at center, 18" high at stems Finished weight 32 pounds

Building plans are available

For current pricing on a finished Solo Portage follow this link.

Contact Laughing Loon for details


Built from Plans

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


Rob- thanks for your great plans and help along the way. Started this solo portage New Year's Eve. In the water 4 months later. This float was in 20 mph wind. No problems, but am itching to take it out this evening when it is calmer. I learned a lot and will begin the next one soon for a friend. Thanks again for all your help.

Very light. Have not weighed it yet.

Already had several admirers.

Took my Solo Portage to Alaska. (photo below)

She is a beaut. Very happy with all the lake paddling I did. So many compliments!

Ron Sprott


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