| DGS Construction Tips |
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| Building a Sailing Canoe |
| When people ask me about building a sailing outrigger canoe, I try to first make them understand the four basic parts of building a sailing canoe. Costs are determined by how cheap or expensive you want to go and what type of budget you can get by with. I believe you get what you pay for, and the safety of your crew and craft will have to depend on it. I always try to go for the best. I will base most cost projections on new quality equipment. |
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| The first part is the HULL. The hull is normally a reinforced regular paddling outrigger canoe, although some companies have started offering outrigger canoes specially made for sailing. A fine example is Holopuni Canoes. A 6 person canoe is about 40' to 45' long, while a 3 to 4 person canoe is about 27' to 32' long. Our canoe, "Na Mo'oniho'awa", is 27' long and we use a three person crew when racing. Costs will run somewhere between $ 4,500 to $ 7,000, depending on if you pay to have someone build it complete, or buy a new or used hull and do the modificatiions yourself, or find an used sailing canoe hull. |
| The second part is the BOTTOM RIG. The part is made up of the Amas, I'ako, Running Boards, and the Tramp. Average costs are between $ 2,500 to $ 3,500, depending on the type of set-up you use and the quality of the materials used. |
| The third part is the TOP RIG. This part is made up of the Mast, Boom, Spar, and Sail. Average costs are between $ 2,000 and $ 3,000, again, depending on how elaborate your system is and the quality of the materials used. |
| The fourth and ultimately, the most expensive part is EQUIPMENT. It will take the longest, if ever, to complete. Average costs will start around $ 3,000 and only go up, so don't worry about it. This part includes everything from rigging, safety equipment, a trailer, paddles, life jackets, a spray cover, and anything else you can think of. |
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| There are three basic types of sailng I'ako set-ups: The first type of I'ako is nicknamed the BROKEN WING and is the most traditional. It is the style sanctioned by the Hawaiian Sailing Canoe Association for racing, thus it is the most used for Hawaiian sailing canoes. It features an Offset Main ama with a Safety ama. The second type is the TRIMARAN set-up. It is used in different forms through out Polynesia. It features both amas at a equal distance from the canoe. Our canoe,"Na Mo'oniho'awa" uses this type of set-up. It is extremely stable and safe, but serious considerations have to be made to the type of sailing conditions you plan to sail in. The third type is the DOUBLE HULL. The Double hull set-up is extremely stable and provides extra storage space, but needs more crew to handle the canoe. |
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| There are several types of SAIL set-up one can use on a sailing canoe. The most traditional is the Hawaiian Crab Claw and the Latine, but one can use a modern high-aspect type sail like the ones used on Hobie Cats or a new high tech type like the ones made by Horizontal Sail Systems. There has even been some experimentation with high performance kites. |
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| The techinque used to make all of your wood parts is called "Bent Lamination". It is used to make the I'ako, Mast, Spar, Boom, and Running Boards/Pola. Special consideration should be made to the type and quality of wood you use. A good quality epoxy glue should be used. Remember that quality materials increase the performance and safety of your canoe and crew. |
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| Finally, most of the parts can be interchanged with other canoes. For example, your TOP RIG can fit on a six person, four person, or double hull without too much, if any, modifications. Now, there are a lot of ways to cut corners in building your canoe. Some of the ways you can save money is to buy used sailing gear and canoes. Keep what you want and upgrade the rest later. Even if you only score the hull and amas, you are doing good, but if you also score a sheet line, I'ako, tramp, or rigging, you are way ahead of the game. A cheap way to score a Sail Rig is to buy an old Hobie cat or some other type of Cat and use the rigging and sails. It may not be very traditional, but it will get you in the water having fun. |
| See you on the water! KEEP CANOE SAILING SAFE |
| WARNING: It is unlawful to use, copy, or reproduce any photograph or article without written permission of DGS WaterSports or Gloria Reed |