A SOLO CANOE for INLAND LAKE SYSTEMS, QUIET RIVERS & PROTECTED BAYS

This is the boat I’d wish on all of you.
The Solo Day is a very personal canoe … she is designed to fit the paddler like a glove, locking them in much like a kayak, able to maneuver through and above deadfall, and able to cross windy stretches of bleak marsh with impunity.

Today’s paddler will fall in love with her. Her initial stability makes drinking a cup of coffee a less tippy affair; she’s a stable platform for photographers and birdwatchers; and the most brave amongst you will find her suitable for stand-up paddling (or fly-fishing). Furthermore, her 15 foot length and asymmetric rocker mean that she tracks well and is able to put in the miles when required.

We believe that this design is the perfect combination of portability and on-water versatility …

A Simple & Elegant Design

When we designed the Solo Day we worked extremely hard to reduce the elements to a bare minimum. The result is a simple elegant hull shape drawn to minimize weight while distributing stresses hrough-out the complex curves evident by her recurved tumblehome. The result is a light, stiff hull that prioritizes the beauty of its form over fancy marquetry and heavy elements such as fancy decks and contrasting hardwood stems.

The plans include construction notes that will help a careful builder achieve a target weight of 30 pounds while at the same time having confidence that she will last a lifetime.

Single or Double Paddle

The Solo Day is designed for a single paddle. Her tumblehome and 29″ beam make for an easy reach. That said, paddlers have found that a double paddle works just fine, and will get you down-river a good bit faster. If you’re considering using a double bladed paddle, either of the following articles will be useful in helping you make a decision.

• Double Dipping in a Canoe
• Half the Paddle, Twice the Paddler

Why Choose Plans for the Ashes Solo Day

Choose the Solo Day if you want a light weight solo canoe to be used predominately in protected still water, and which can cover distance when required.

Click Drawings to Expand …
 
 

 Before You Get Started

Plans from Ashes come complete with all the details necessary to build a canoe but they do not include building instructions. If you are novice builder you will save many hours and benefit immeasurably from an purchasing either of the following:

• For Stemless Construction, Building A Strip Canoe, by Gil Gilpatrick
• For Classic Cedar Strip Building,  Canoecraft, by Ted Moore

Materials

Start with 1/4 inch thick cedar strips. 3/4 of an inch is as good a width as any and full length clear stock will make stripping your canoe a whole lot easier. Her gunnels are either a hardwood, or if a builder wishes to reduce weight, laminated softwood strips (two outer and three inner) with an outer hardwood rail shaped to please the builder’s eye. Best results will be obtained if the builder can curtail the urge to use fancy marquetry, or exotic woods. A materials list is included with you plans, as are scaled drawings of the strong-back.

Stations

Unless marked otherwise stations are laid out with the centre station placed in the middle of strongback, and each one thereafter is spaced at 12 inches on centre from the previous. At Ashes we cut our stations from 3/4 MDF. The bow and stern stations are trimmed for stemless construction, an easy and elegant construction method that contributes to her minimalist lines. Plans also have the outer stem profiles marked for those wishing to use hardwood stems.

The Tumblehome

Ashe’s tumblehome will cause some pause for thought for first time builders, however with a little patience she will go together with minimal fuss. Novice builders choosing to build the hard-chined versions included with some of our plans would be well advised to apply equal parts patience and good humour.

Building Light

A careful builder may wish to reduce the weight of their canoe by starting with 3/16 inch cedar strips. Keep in mind that you’ll have less material to start with and if not careful when fairing it’s easy to sand too far! Builders who hope to keep her light will also laminate the gunnels directly to the hull and use mechanical fasteners only in the ends and at the thwart. Likewise, seats will be attached to cleats glued and glassed to the inside of the hull, thus reducing the need for hangers and associated hardware.

Fibreglass

The industry standard calls for 6 oz cloth. Builders wishing to match our advertised weights will start with 4 oz glass inside and out with a reinforcing layer laid inside and out in her middle third (on the bias). Likewise, her ends are reinforced both inside and out with two extra layers of 4 oz glass, 6 inches wide and also laid on the bias.