Dacron Canoe Construction
Text and photos by William B. Watters

This canoe was built with the guidance of Dr. J. Ennis and his sons ENNIS & SONS BOATWORKS in the spring of 1999. It is extremely lightweight because of the thin skin of dacron over a basket-like frame.

The frame is built right side up. The keel with bow and stern are constructed as step one.

Only three stations are used to give it shape. Stringers are run from bow to stern.

Ribs are steamed in order for them to be bent into shape.

Rib ends are trimmed and floor boards pre-fitted to the basket frame. The frame is all urethaned.

Dacron is draped over the frame, attached at the gunwales and stems, and heat shrunk with an iron until the dacron tension is taut enough to create a drum sound. (The room looks like a morgue at this stage.) The dacron is waterproofed with spar urethane.

The dacron is then trimmed and seats and gunwales all fitted. Decks, brass stems, and an outer keel for protection are attached.

The final canoe is translucent, and lightweight. It has to be used with a degree of care in order to avoid puncture. We carry duct tape just in case.