OK! I finished my opelu style outrigger canoe!
It took 3 months from making the first model to putting the wa’a in the water. Pretty good time, I think!
Length: 15 ft. 8 inches. Depth: 22 inches. Beam (at gunwhales): 19.5 inches. Weight (bare hull): 115 lbs.
Here are a few pictures:
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On the left: all the planks are cut from 1/4″ marine plywood. Center: the outrigger canoe is stitched together with plastic zip ties; these will be cut off outside but glassed over on the inside. On the right: inside the canoe I have glued the planks together and the fiberglass cloth is ‘clothes pinned’ to the sides and ready to be applied.
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On the top picture I have glassed the wa’a both inside and out and installed the seats; on the outside of the canoe I applied black wood stain before glassing. The bottom picture shows the forward and aft decks, manu, and wae’s installed. And the ‘ama is shaped and ready to be glassed.
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Finished Opelu Outrigger Canoe at Anini Beach, Kauai, Hawaii – Oct 3, 2013.
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