a sailing canoe

This is my husband sailing a wee lassie strip canoe he purchased unfinished, just finished building and then made into a sailing canoe. He completed the canoe with gunwales, a centerboard case, (not usually in a canoe!) a center board and rudder, a tiller -all created by him as well as the 2 bamboo masts, sails he made from Tyvek, plus all the rigging, loops and "stringy things", as he calls them. : )

wow! It really is a work of art and it actually sails! He learned a lot working with my dad, refinishing the strip boats dad has made and restoring another boat, see HERE.

This was the boat's first "sea trial" or more aptly, it's "river trial" as Steven was in the Manatee River with it today. Yes, this boat is small; good thing Steven is skinny! I believe the wee lassie is about 11-1/2 feet long and only about 14 lbs.

He has an idea. Do you think I should let him tow me in a similar small canoe as he sails briskly in front of me??? hmmmm. I should add, there is not much wind during this sea trial and it will go considerably faster when there is!

Someone saw this at the boat shop and said, "Cool. Is it radio controlled?!!!" They thought it was so small it was a toy, not a real, albiet small canoe! Happy sailing, Steven!