Plywood "Sharpie" Canoe

Paddling a shallow-draft canoe I designed and built for the many rock-gardens and rapids of the Nottawasaga River. hadfield.ca/wilderness/
It weighs about 55 lbs. The 3 panels are made from scarfed-together 8ft sheets of 1/4" home-depot ply -- cheap! Draft is a bit under 3" -- a big relief as you squeeze over the stones. The bottom is rockered so that the end corners just touch the water with me, lunch, and 20 lbs of bow ballast on board. This allows it to swivel easily in a rapid -- the boat responds very well to a draw and a back-ferry (which is how I normally pick my way through the rocks).
I had in mind that this would be a "sacrificial boat" and I'd bang it up so much I'd have to replace it every few years. "Quick-and-easy-to-build" was the mantra. At first I just oiled it rather than spend the money on paint! But it turned out to be a much better boat than I anticipated.
My design influences here are Phil Bolger and Jim Michalak; with a nod to Howard Chapelle of course.
The move-able seat is perfect. I can sit as far aft as possible when flat-water paddling to reduce the J-stroke energy waste, yet I can slide up amidships when we have to maneuver amongst the rocks. When I do that, the bow-ballast and my middle position un-weights the stern, and makes pivoting and back-ferrying very simple and predictable.
The hard-chine is not a negative factor due to the significantly rounded radiused chine-corner, and the flare amidships. It never "catches" and trips the boat.
But all these good characteristics vanish if you put 2 adults in! Then it becomes a barge. It'll certainly float the load, and it's safe enough, but will no longer be responsive in fast water. In fact I made an 18ft version later, which is a fast 2-person boat, and have taken it tripping in the North.
The song "Shield" is off my first (1997) album. hadfield.ca/product/northern-b...

[@Skammee]

Thanks for the upload , good canoe and a good song . 🦆

[@MikeM-CampbellRiver]

Well done. Nice tune and excellent craftsman build.

[@billjames3148]

Wow, neat, Quiet wood canoe. looks good ,fit and finish.

[@ewingsharp8916]

Nice work! Tip of the hat to the camera lady👊

[@CanadianBriar]

beautiful! did you draw up any plans? I'd love to build one of those for my dad, he's turning 76 this year.

[@davehadfield5906]

Yes, I have the offsets somewhere. Please contact me through my website.