Comanche click here to read or make an observation about this  article
By Les Brown - Stratford Upon Avon - England

I thought you might be interested in the mini-canadian canoe I have built. I began with plans for a 12ft canoe but shortened it to 10ft so my Great nephew could carry it around. And then - wait for it - I built it on the carpet in my lounge.

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Panels cut

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Stitched up

I named her "Comanche" and here are some pics. She is one of the shortest, and most portable, canoes around. By the way, it is not possible to build a boat on your carpet if you have a wife.

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Epoxied

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Finished

She is not tippy in the least. She has a flat bottom panel about 18 inches wide at centre, and while I wouldn't recommend it, I reckon I could stand up in her.

The original 12ft plan was a "Baby Raven" from Paul Fisher. I built the canoe for Michael's birthday and well, I had to give it a good field testing before handing it over.

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Next project? Well now, I know what I would like it to be. I have this 24ft cabin boat in my head built to take an outboard motor so I could lock my front door one day and take off down the canal to Stratford Upon Avon, then starboard on to the river toward Tewksbury and wait for an adventure to happen. There are problems however. First I need somewhere to build her, then I need to save a few more pennies yet, but we shall see. I think it is more likely I will do something smaller first. I will know when the good Lord tells me.

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