Tales From Two Wannabe Boat Builders

Colin planing the rowboat gunwales

A few months ago Julie and I dreamed up the rough specs for the ultimate human-powered boat suited for our upcoming adventures. We wanted lightweight boats suitable for solo paddling; they needed to be fast, have the ability to be joined together in catamaran configuration, be seaworthy, and most importantly, we wanted them to be amphibious.

There are no vessels commercially available with all these attributes, so we decided to create the boats ourselves. After much deliberation, we came up with the final design. The 18’ boats (we will each have a solo boat) will be large enough to carry a disassembled bicycle and boat bicycle trailer. The hull shape will be similar to a canoe, and it will be decked over like a sea kayak, creating watertight compartments accessed by oversized hatches. Our gear and bicycles, stored in sealed lockers, will be secure and dry in the event of a capsize. Because the boats are wider than sea kayaks (a requirement to facilitate bicycle storage), it is most efficient to use oars and a sliding seat for propulsion.

The main benefit of our design is we can now choose journeys that include travel over both water and land. We can pull our boats behind our bicycles on trails and roads, and carry our bikes and trailers on the water. The boats are shaped for maximum performance, and we expect to be able to cruise at about five knots (9.5 km/hr). On land we will be able to pedal at 15-20 km/hr on the flat.

Juha Hemminki of Finland cycled 600 km through Norway with his sea kayak. Unfortunately he couldn’t carry his bicycle and trailer in the boat. (courtesy of Juha Hemminki)

We have also put thought into maximizing our two boats for camping and recreational usage. The boats will have the capacity to be connected in catamaran formation. Although we won’t actually be paddling while joined, the stable platform created between the boats will be ideal for camping, fishing and relaxing. A tent can be set up between the boats, and camping can take place on the water in any calm anchorage. This aspect will be useful in both remote rugged locations and busy urban centres where conventional camping spots can’t be found.

Of course the fun and easy part is dreaming up the design of our ideal human-powered craft. More daunting is the question of creation. Obviously shipwrights and designers could be commissioned, but since neither Julie nor I are born into old money, we needed to find an alternative solution. A quick visit to Chapters.ca provided us with the how-to-build-a-boat book that we required. After reading our $30 book from beginning to end, Julie and I certified each other as boat builders and went to work.

Route of self-propelled journey around Vancouver Island.

The boats are coming along nicely and we are using an epoxy/fiberglass/plywood construction method. We should have our new craft completed by the end of June, and will have some action pics in our next update.

Upcoming Adventures

With the prospect of having an amphibious mode of transportation, we have spent hours poring over maps looking at the countess exciting routes combining lakes, roads, rivers, oceans, trails etc. When the boats are completed we will do a few trial runs on the roads and waterways around our hometown.

After getting married this August, Julie and I are planning a more elaborate excursion for our honeymoon. We are organizing a trip which will begin from our home on Vancouver Island – a 400 km circuit around the centre of the island. The route will involve paddling on lakes, inlets, rivers and open ocean combined with cycling (with the boats in tow) along logging roads, trails and highways. With our amphibious rigs, there will be no complicated logistics of dropping off boats or picking up bicycles. Instead, everything we need for the entire trip will be packed on our bikes at the departure point. This journey will be a warm up for our proposed expedition next year of paddling from Scotland to Syria.

Colin Angus

PS. If you're looking for a Father's Day present, I hear "Beyond the Horizon" is a great read. Check out Saturday's review in the National Post.

Our newest addition to The Adventurer's Handbook - a free online resource for adventurers
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Apurimac Canyon

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Reid Stowe and Soanya Ahmad on their boat while in New York. (courtesy of www.1000days.net)

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