Whether you call it a canoe, a pirogue, or a bateau, the Peace Canoe is good basic transportation that you can build in a weekend but with its appealing shape, it won’t look as though it was built in a weekend.

The Peace Canoe is aimed at first-time builders and those who don't want to commit to the hours that our stitch-and-glue kits will consume. The quick build was made possible by eliminating epoxy resins and their long curing times, utilizing sturdy material that does not require glass fabric and engineering a construction process that is forgiving of imprecision.

The kit has an interesting history. Designer John C. Harris created the Peace Canoe specifically for family boat building events and corporate team-building exercises. "On the drawing board we called it the War Canoe," says Harris recalling the big canoes that he remembered from summer camp. “I definitely wanted to conjure up the whimsy and versatility of those old camp canoes."
And he wanted the construction process to be fun too. Harris adds. "And definitely no anxiety over dust and bubbles in your varnish - this is not that kind of project. It's designed to be fully hands-on for anyone who wants to join in, regardless of age. Definitely put the kids in charge of the paint job; they'll love it!"

It takes about half a day to cut the wood and one day to assemble the boat. The design has been a great fit for marathon boat building events. At the Harvard Business School, faculty and staff built 15 of the boats as a team building exercise.

Like many people, Harris had often been disappointed with the results of one-day boat building marathons. "The boats are either ugly or useless - frequently they're both. On the Peace Canoe I aimed for nice lines and some real utility." Wwith a payload of more than 600 pounds, it will easily absorb a family of five and a hearty picnic lunch.
The Peace Canoe has a detailed instruction manual to guide builders. The hull is reinforced with traditional stems, sheer clamps, and chine logs, fastened together with polyurethane adhesives and bronze ring nails.

The boat has been designed to be build using locally sourced in-expensive materials but, if required we can cut a kit for you.

Build in a weekend

Length 18' 0"
Beam 44 inches
Weight approx 100 lb.
Maximum. Payload 600 lb.

42 page manual of instructions and 5 sheets of plans.