I was checking out some sites on hawaiian outrigger canoes - like this one http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/garyd/ulua.html - and I got to thinking that it would be really cool to build and ride one of these things. Has anyone had experience with building a classic hawaiian outrigger canoe with modern materials? Where can I start? Know of any good resources? Thanks.
How big? 1 man light weight? 6 man traditional? Somewhere inbetween? The one man models are built like surfskiis. The 6 man models need to fall withing a certain weight for competion purposes. One man canoes are usually vacuum bagged with either 3K 2x2 Twill 5.8 oz carbon or e-glass (4 & 6 oz) with maybe a layer of very thin Pvc foam or baltekmat to add thickness to the laminate. Usually on these canoes are made from epoxy, although there are lower cost polyester versions available. Most guys I know gel coat the mold then use a tie-coat like Duratec High Gloss Additive to allow adhesion of the epoxy to the Polyester Gel Coat. These boats are usually vacuum bagged to get better fiber to resin ratio. The 6 man canoes are made more like a traditional boat, using a variety of glasses like CDB 200 stiched glass and either PCV core, balsa or some variety or coremat to build laminate thickness. Since these boats need to weigh a certain weight, they are made with simple hand layup techniques, taking weight out does not help. You need to make a mold to make a boat, and you need a plug to make a mold. Bad mold = bad boat. Roger Baltierra (shaper in Costa Mesa) has made several 6 man molds for people. Some of the canoe makers I know of are: Sonny Bradley in Hawaii: 808-239-4941, Wayne at Gils catamaran in Costa Mesa, Johnny Puakea (boats made at JD Lincoln in Costa Mesa, Gary Hogue in Orange County, Robbie Roberson (Capo Beach) also had a 1 man mold at his facility recently. Jono
I’d be looking to make a more traditional craft that can hold 2. Perhaps a craft designed more for versatility (something that I can row, surf, and sail). Anyway, thanks for the input Jono. I’ll be sure to look into these techniques you mentioned. Thank you.
Mike, You either need to design a plug or “take a splash” (build a mold) off someone elses 2 man canoe. Matthew Barker at Clark Foam built a 2 man canoe a few years ago, call Clark Foam and ask for Mathew. Jono