Let’s talk about the next steps for the drive canoe: Right now the plan is to spend the next two weeks testing and upgrading the prototype with and without the drive installed. I need to purchase the Hobie reversible drive with turbo fins to try both of those features and modify the drive box...
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Video: More from the first test of the pedal-drive canoe
Before I share the specs on the pedal drive canoe prototype I just want to make it clear that this is not the size I would normally build for myself. (our building system will let you build any size canoe) I deliberately undersized this canoe to try to find the lower limit of canoe...
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Video: First look at the pedal drive canoe
Here’s a first look at the pedal drive canoe system in action. As always, there are many things I’m planning to change for the final version, but overall the launch went surprisingly well. The canoe is fast, maneuverable, sufficiently stable, and most importantly can be transformed back into a normal canoe in about 90...
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Timelapse: Rigging the pedal-powered canoe
A quick word about the music on these videos: regardless of what type of music I use, someone is always upset about it, so if that’s you today, please send me your suggestions for appropriate, licensable music that you would like to hear on a time-lapse video. Thanks! Moving on, yesterday I installed the...
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Timelapse: Building the seat for the pedal powered canoe
Sound on! Here I’m finishing up the seat for the pedal powered Canoe. Normally I just purchase canoe seats because it’s far more cost-effective than building, but the pedal canoe requires a longer see a higher back so I have to build it. Plenty of small changes to be made on the next version...
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Timelapse: Skinning the pedal drive canoe prototype
Sound on! I put the skin on the pedal drive canoe yesterday, and shot a few updates for our online skin-on-frame canoe building course. This time I ended up using my buddies Grex pneumatic stapler, which was much easier on the hands than the good old Stanley T50. Skinning canoes is always nice because...
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Finishing and oiling the canoe frame
Today I completed the canoe frame, drenched it in oil, then left it to dry outside for a couple days. My backyard is the sunniest spot so right now it’s sharing space with the vegetable garden. I’ve added some weights, clamps, straps, and struts to try to compensate for some of the shaping irregularities...
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Installing the pedal drive base plate
Today I took the plunge and install the base plate for the pedal drive. After 20 years of managing to avoid the stuff, I’m still feeling pretty indignant about all the epoxy work in this new modification. Unfortunately I just don’t see any way around it. On the positive side, I think there’s a...
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