The Beothuk Canoe appears as Figure 87 in the Bark Canoes and Skin Boats of North America. It differs from every other canoe in that book, and no actual physical model existed when Adney surveyed the canoes. He based the drawing on historic and sometime conflicting descriptions, and a birch-bark canoe toy found in the grave of a Beothuk boy. Chapelle notes that when turned upside down the canoe makes a shelter with a 3-foot head clearance. The canoe can also heel over on the water further than other canoes. Chapelle speculates that the canoes were designed for open-water navigation.
Although it may seem like an April Fools’ Day joke, it’s not. This also marks the end of my winter long Free Canoe and Kayak Plan project. Overall, I produced 25 plans based on historic designs found in several books — Bark Canoes and Skin Boats of North America
Specifications
Length: 15 feet
Width: 43.5 inches
Draft: 8 inches
Displacement: 625 lbs.
Linesplans
Canoe Building Books
These plans don’t include instructions. If you want that, pick up a canoe building book.
- Canoecraft: An Illustrated Guide to Fine Woodstrip Construction
- Building a Strip Canoe, Second Edition, Revised and Expanded by Gil Gilpatrick
For a more, check out my review of canoe and kayak building books.
Consider donating $30 for my time. Think of all the free canoe and kayak plans I made.
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This week’s plans come in three downloads. It’s a big boat!
- Free Canoe Plan: Beothuk canoe
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4 Comments
Ive always seen it as having a much higher point in the center. it’s too bad a complete genocide was carried out on these people.
http://www.heritage.nf.ca/aboriginal/beosketch_a.html
http://www.heritage.nf.ca/aboriginal/canoe_profile.html
heres a example made by one of the last known survivors of the Beothuk people.
There’s an interesting difference between Adney’s drawings and the ones you posted. It looks like Adney’s version has more volume.
Either way a very interesting design. I’d love to see someone build this one and test it out! Cheers for adding another wonderful boat plan to the paddling world!