: With slight modification you can build an older design PLYWOOD
: canoe as a SOF.

: The current crop of designs for plywood canoes and kayaks tend to
: favor stitch and glue construction. But years ago there were
: people building canoes by using the same methods as larger boats
: were made. They built a frame with ribs made from plywood, or
: solid wood, connected these frames with chine strips (sometimes
: called chine logs) then they screwed plywood pieces to the ribs
: and chines.

: Before plywood was around they used more chines and screwed boards
: to these.

: Below is a picture from Clark-Craft's website showing their Niagara
: canoe being constructed. On the right is the finsihed boat
: turned rightside up. If you look at the middle frame you'll see
: the ribs and keel resting on the strongback, or building board.
: You'll also see how the chines are attached to the ribs. If you
: built just this much of the boat according to their plans you
: could wrap that wood frame with your fabric to obtain a
: skin-on-frame canoe.

: That would be pretty minimalistic, though. I'd add several more
: chines to the bottom of the boat, cutting notches in the ribs so
: these were flush with the original edgeline of the rib. These
: would give floorboards that would be more durable. I'd also add
: a chine in the middle of each side to give the fabric a bit more
: support.

: PGJ
Nice thought Paul. I'll look them up.

Charles Robinson