Finally found some time to build the deck for the next pedal drive canoe prototype. This one is a mini tandem/big guy solo and once again, I’m pushing the limits of how small of a canoe I feel like the drive could work in. At 15’6” long, 34” wide, and 12.5” deep, a 325 pound load should put this right around the 4 inch waterline, which is pretty much the upper limit that I feel safe with considering the flood level of the box.
It’s important to do this kind of worst case scenario testing because unlike most small boat plans, my canoes can be built any size, so I need to figure what size boats will tolerate different modifications so I can give the appropriate warnings and make recommendations.
I’m also building this one as light as I can out of Western red cedar. Normally when I get into tandems I start thinking about pine or spruce for stiffness and strength, but with my injuries right now, minimizing weight is my biggest priority and, unlike a kayak, if I do somehow manage to break a framing member it’s pretty easy to repair from the inside.
I’m configuring this canoe with the seats closer to the center, where both paddlers can reach the pedal drive with the forward paddler facing backwards. (they can also face forward if desired and paddle normally.
Like most tandems the paddler/pedaler can also use this as a solo by facing backwards. For this reason I am making the canoe completely symmetrical and setting it up so the rudder can be moved to either end.
My hope is that this makes a lovely little day tripper for two medium-size paddlers or a great gear hauler for somebody bigger or maybe someone with a dog plus gear! We will see…
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