Preview: The Native Canoe of the Salish Sea: A Modern Plywood Version by Leif Knutsen
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June 11, 2015
Email this Video to a FriendLeif Knutsen is a retired shipwright who lives in the Pacific Northwest and appreciates the fine seakeeping qualities of the traditional wooden Salish-style canoes of the Skokomish Indians. He has set out to build these canoes lighter (200 pounds verses 700 to 800 pounds), stronger (3 planks per side instead of 25 strips), in less time and at a lower cost, so the Skokomish might carry on this tradition more easily. We caught up with him at the 2014 Wooden Boat Show in Port Townsend to check out this new-fangled 27′ Salish Sea Canoe.
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22 Responses So Far to “The Native Canoe of the Salish Sea: A Modern Plywood Version by Leif Knutsen”
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Sean Scully says:
Mr. Lief, I would like to build a 1st nations canoe like you did.If I could buy a set of plans, and get your cnc cutters name. sscull@centurytel.net. I live in Astoria so it is a short drive to Port Townsend.
Leif Knutsen says:
Sean: I attempted to contact you via your link provided above 3 times all failed. Contact me either at l.e.knutsen@gmail.com or cell at 360 643 1679
Leif
Vincent Dorio says:
Where do I go to purchase plans for this boat? What do they cost, if available? What is the maximum load capacity?
Respectfully,
Vince
Leif Knutsen says:
Thank you all for the comments and praise. Leif
Paul Fielder says:
Leif, you are one clever boat builder / shipwright. I would like to buy your plans for this Salish canoe and or the pre -cut kit, I live in Steveston in BC Canada(close to Vancouver) so I could pick up the materials from where you are, Port Townsend is it??. I love the way your boat just glides through the water when motoring or rowing. it looks like it could handle a bit of chop too. Your fishing boat is amazing also. I watched that video after seeing the canoe. Great job.
Leif Knutsen says:
Paul Fielder:
Thank you for the inquiry in 2015. I had some health issues’ that got me side tracked. However, I am still walking and talking and now 80 yo.
So yes the plans are available, $500.00. Turn Point Design cuts them. ~$1200, material inclyded. Very professional, and flat packed in a 4′ x 8′ box , 5 sheets of OIkumi ply 2- 9 mm bottom, and 3- 6 mm sides.
This canoe assumes that you have a fair amount of boat building skill, as well as a covered building area at least 30′ long. She is a good sea boat.
Leif
Jim Long says:
Just gorgeous! Made me smile
Neil Moomey says:
That’s about the coolest thing I’ve seen in awhile. Good job!
Jim Dinneen says:
I do not see a link to the still pictures. Nice boat.
Leif Knutsen says:
I apparently cannot do a live link. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151741397862757&set=pb.61035237756.-2207520000.1405177362.&type=3&theater
Lets see if this one works .
Leif Knutsen says:
Ta – da I apologize for the delay folks. I will bo out of the link again for a few days and then it os the Wooden Boat Festival here in Port Townsend but things should settle down after that. I will attempt to check in more often. I have delivered one kit with another in the process and I am anxious for their feed back before I get too serious about marketing.
Leif Knutsen says:
To contact me my e-mail is: l.e.knutsen@gmail.com. Expect response after this coming weekend. Sept 14. Thank you all. Leif
Rob Macks says:
Wonderful Boat!
It’s great to bring back to life and interpret for modern construction methods, proven designs from our first nations.
I want one!
Thank you Leif!
Philip Prather says:
Very nice Canoe! It looks very stable and it glides beautifully through the water, with just the 3.5 hp motor. Thanks for this!
James Vibert says:
On a second viewing, it looks as if there could be some reinforcement on the inside. If so, do you do both sides? Really impressed with your lovely trawler. Great work on the cabinetry.
Leif Knutsen says:
The only reinforcements are the thwarts and in whales. I do have a flotation chamber bulkhead and a floor aft to separate the well engine bilge from the rest of the canoe but that is it. There is constant curve in all the strakes, except the bitter ends are straight for a bit to ease construction. The aft apparent bulkhead below the thwart not structural. The joints do have 2 layers of 4 oz glass but the sanding and fairing makes it look like it is bare, It gets another coating of epoxy as the vessel at this point was far from complete.
James Vibert says:
Your puzzle joints appear to be without any glass cloth covering the joint. We usually use 6 oz. on both sides. Do you find any reinforcement unnecessary?
James Frank says:
I’m interested in plans also if available.
Leif Knutsen says:
James Frank: Thank you for the inquiry. While I have yet to make a formal set of plans, I can send you a precut kit and the lofting plans that I used. They were quite adequate for me but I must assume that you have enough skills with epoxy and boat construction that you would not require too much hand holding.
It has been a couple of years now and I would need to check the prices of things before I can give you firm numbers. I can tell you that the last time I had the vessel cut using top of the line Okumi ply was ~ $1,000 which included the three stations and about 1/2 sheet of 3/8″ salvage.There will be shipping, and yet to be determined design fees. (I do not have a reputation of over charging.) Construction time on the second canoe, pictures are due but were not in time for Vedio-launch. Link below.) which was a plane Jane version of mine weighed in at <200 pounds and took ~8 weeks of work. Mostly alone but some unskilled help comes in handy at times. The long plates are upwards of 30' and very limber come setup time.
Send me an email for further discussion.
Leif Knutsen
l.e.knutsen@gmail.com
There are ~ 20 pictures here. Not sure where this link will stick you in the series so back and forth to see the start and finish.
Leif Knutsen says:
Here is a picture link of the canoe I built for the Skokomish Nation. ~20 pictures in the series. This vessel was delivered with just a primer coat.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151741397862757&set=pb.61035237756.-2207520000.1405177362.&type=3&theater
Dominic Lowe says:
Is this boat available as plans?
Leif Knutsen says:
Thank you Dominic Lowe for your inquire. See above.