Bump, any updates on this? The design seems brilliant and I want to add my vote for plans and a kit to be made available.
I emailed a wish list for this design about a week ago, but haven't heard anything back yet, so I thought I'd pose the same comments/questions here:
I live in Albany Western Australia, which has shall we say "boisterous" conditions and as such would probably need a smaller sail plan (60 ft2, 6m2 ?). I realise I could reef the existing plan, but a smaller sail for windier areas would be great.
Given the above conditions, I would love it if the design could incorporate small high set removable outriggers (like the ones Solway Dory use) for extra stability. The idea with these is that they are mostly out of the water, but offer some extra buoyancy when suddenly heeled over. The boat can still capsise, but the outriggers give a bit more time to react. If the boat does capsise, the outriggers make it much easier to re-enter the boat and as such make self rescue much easier. The area between the front combing and the hatch seems like it might be the best spot for a quickly detachable laminated beam, which could be styled to fit with the style of the boat.
With self rescue in mind and given as I am unlikely to sleep in the boat, I would ideally like the bulkhead behind the seat to be solid to close this area in for extra buoyancy. It would probably be worth incorporating a hatch then for extra storage?
Are these idea feasible, what do other people think?
Cheers,
Adrian
I made the decision to go with the NE Dory. I still love the design for the Waterlust Canoe but I feel the Dory will be a better fit for me and my wife. Of course the fall kit sale didn't hurt the decision any at all! I still hope maybe in a year or two as a 2nd boat, these might just be the way to go. Although the Autumn leaves is really appealing as well!
Last I heard from Dillon (~ 10 days ago) the project is moving forward but there's no timeline, it's up to JCH to complete his end of the logistics then sign off on a date.
I'm not gonna be a pest bothering them for news every week, resigned to being patient while hopeful I can contemplate a kit (sans instructions or not) for a'building next winter if not this'n.
Great update from Adrian
Looks like the CLC Exp Canoe is going ahead.Adrian contacted them and here is the reply.
I contacted CLC a little while ago with a few suggestions and enquiries about this design and just received a reply from Dillon. This design just keeps getting better and better to me:
"Hi Adrian
Thanks for your interest in the Expedition Canoe! I've just spoken to John and confirm that we will plan to offer the boat as a kit. We'll hold off on creating a full-blown manual (for now), but will include a simple step-by-step assembly plan to help with the build. As such, we recommend that builders have some experience with stitch-and-glue construction before tackling this project. I'm sure we'd make the kit available through our Australian Dealer (www.denmanmarine.com.au) and perhaps offer plans and templates in the future.
I appreciate your thoughts and input on the design - it's feedback like this that makes the boat better! There will be provision to mount small "training wheel" amas (a-la Solway Dory) at the forward cockpit bulkhead. We didn't include these with the initial build because we simply didn't have enough time with only a few weeks for construction! I've added a second mast-step for the main (also at that forward cockpit bulkhead) to allow one to sail with the mizzen stowed and the main reefed to approximately 35 sq.ft. We set our rig up with single-line reefing (with controls led to the aft end of the boom), and I recommend this setup for anyone planning on sailing in blustery conditions. The Waterlust crew were able to self-rescue when they ran capsize drills, and I've added a bit of side deck volume to prohibit flooding when the boat is on its side. A good inflatable buoyancy bag (or waterproof gear bag) stowed under the aft deck will greatly decrease flood-able volume, and can be moved / deflated to allow for sleeping on board.
Hope this helps - please let me know if you have any other thoughts or questions.
Best,
Dillon"
I was particularly interested in whether this design could be self rescued on the water and I was hoping there would be a way to attach small amas for security in windier conditions, so hearing the above is great. It seems like Dillon is really trying to tailor the design to a wider range of conditions. I'm going to flick him a quick mail back re timelines for this, as in my book this design holds the most appeal for what would work for me in the boisterous conditions it is likely to be sailed in.
Cheers,
Adrian
Adrian thanks for your update info on this!
Glad to see other 'cheerleaders' urging Dillon & John H. on towards bringing this design to the rest of us.
Clemens I envy you for having passed the open-carton stage! That's as far as I've progressed since my kit arrived, and read the manual a couple times too just for familiarization.
You going the full Mirage Drive + sail(s) + maybe paddle/oars route? My intentions include all that though not all at once, or in that order either.
Hope to begin assembly in a few months but sooo many things to get past first that's strictly a hope at present rather than a schedule.
Please summarize the points you & Dillon have discussed! Maybe you can save me a call to him to cover that ground once again.
Still hoping for 'good news' before snow flies!
Building my Waterlust Canoe is proceeding very nicely, with generous help by Dillon when needed. I just glassed the bottom. Has anybody else start building in the meantime? If so I'd be happy to share some thoughts about little issues I encountered. I probably won't make it to finish in time for OkoumeFest to bring it along, but I am aiming at a camping trip over memorial day.
http://www.clcboats.com/shop/boats/wooden-sailboat-kits/waterlust-sailing-canoe.html
It sure looks like a sweet craft. Love the addition of the mirage drive for those with limited paddling ability. Sounds like it even makes good time in the bicycle mode. In the end, why peddle when you can sail? Boat, drive and sail plan gets a bit pricey, but bet it would be the belle of the boat show ball.
Because you can't always sail, because sometimes it's easier to pedal than sail, such as in close quarters. Or, as below, the wind was blowing right from the ramp and I was trying to beat the squalls ashore.
Laszlo
Ah, the Faering Cruiser, a beautiful looking design....
Hey Laszlo, care to hazard a comparison between the Waterlust Canoe and the Faering Cruiser? I wonder how the Cruiser would go with mirage drive propulsion?
I haven't seen a Wanderlust Canoe in person, so not sure how valid my comparison would be, but I see two main differences - the Mirage drive vs. the sliding seat rowing system and the enclosed cabins. The latter certainly make the FC very comfortable to sleep in, advantage FC. On the other hand, the Mirage drive lets you use your most powerful propulsive muscles AND face in the direction of travel, advantage WC.
The Faering Cruiser's sail plan appeals to me more than the Wanderlust Canoe's does and I like the security of 375 lbs of water ballast when needed. Finally, the cargo capacity of the Faering Cruiser is astonishing - you can load it with almost 1000 lbs of gear, food and water and it will still be a lively boat.
As I said over in another thread, I don't think that you could put a Mirage drive into the Faering Cruiser without removing the centerboard and that would eliminate any sailing.
Laszlo
I am about to order my WaterLust kit and I am wondering if anybody else bought and maybe started building the sailing canoe so far. I know only of spclark who wrote in this thread that he bought the kit, too. spclark, did you start building already? And anybody else maybe? I just enquired if I can get the old pointed coaming of the original WaterLust canoes. Dillon had altered the form to allow for the mainmast aft step which I most probably won't need. I think the old coaming form looked racier. Will report back when I got the kit and started building.
No Clemens, I've opened the boxes & bought 2x4's for building horses but that's it.
I'm in no hurry, this is a long-term dream, I don't want to be rushing only to find I'm not quite prepared for what might challenge me along the way.
First hurdle is: where I'm to do this? The garage (needs to be sheetrocked first; I get my half, she gets hers) or a covered deck (yet to be built) beside the garage... assuming my property has sufficient set-back for such a structure.
I could use the basement I suppose, but the closest window isn't big enough!
Hi Spclark, I picked up my Waterlust kit today at CLC. I will build it part in the garage, part outside. Last summer I bought a huge party tent for roughly 100 bucks on Amazon and built a Passagemaker Dinghy under it on my driveway. Rain protection was not as good as I had hoped, the canvas had a couple of little holes, which forced me at times to take refuge in the garage, but all in all it worked out pretty well. Happy to share my experience further on.
Looking forward to your posts Clemens! I'm a little jealous you're starting before me but that's life....
When I set about installing 12"x12" ceramic tile in the kitchen where I used to live I set up the tile wet saw in the driveway, near the back door.
Of COURSE once I'd started a huge storm blew in, so I grabbed the mainsail from that scow I built years ago, hooked the foot to two screw eyes hastily fixed to the garage & held the head high with a spinnaker pole. The boat was long gone but I'd saved what I thought might come in handy!
My Waterlust building calendar's got a few pages to it, I'm in no hurry.
Your plans include the Hobie drive? Dillon's told me they're introducing a 'reversible' model soon, which may lower prices for the original design.
I'd like to use that, or more typical oars at first, but my real goal is its sailing capability.
Hi Spclark,
yes, I plan to put in the Hobie drive, preferably the new one with the reverse, I might use the boat occasionally also without the sails, because I am finishing a Petrel Play kayak at the moment and if we want to go kayaking as a family two can take the canoe with the drive and one the Petrel.
Just started glueing the planks of the canoe. They seem very thin, that makes them light, but the appear also quite vulnerable. But with all the bulkheads stability shouldn't be a problem.
I don't know if I am the first who started building the Waterlust canoes outside of the CLC shop. Anyhow my first experiences are excellent. I have now finished the hull up to plank #3 of 4. It is coming together beautifully and my impression is that tolerances are tighter and precision of the cutting and fit are on a higher level than with my previous CLC projects. Maybe that's just me or it is due to the fact that the Passagemaker and the Petrel Play I built previously are older designs. I liked building the other boats, too, else I wouldn't have returned to CLC. But I can especially reccommend these Waterlust canoes so far. And thanks a lot also to Dillon who dilligently responds to all the questions I have.
Great to see one of these being built! Do you have any more info re the amas?