The old model Algonkin canoe from the Ottawa River area represents a canoe built before contact with other tribes and the fur trade changed the types of canoes built by the Algonkin. It features high ends, a flat sheerline and resembles canoes used during the fur trade. In the Bark Canoes and Skin Boats of North America, Howard I. Chapelle writes that this style may have been the type of canoe that fur trade boats were based on. The canoe shown in these free plans has a surprisingly high carrying capacity. The flat bottom should make it stable.
Personally, I love the look of the stems. It’d be fun to paddle this canoe through the Boundary Waters or other canoe country destinations.
Specifications
Length: 15 feet 6 inches
Width: 35.5 inches
Depth: 12.5 inches
Capacity: 300 to 675 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
- Consider buying The Bark Canoes and Skin Boats of North America for more info about this canoe.
For a more, check out my review of canoe and kayak building books.
Sample Station and Stem Plans
The free drawings comes with a combined station and stem plan. You can work from this if you only want to print out one piece of paper. Great for framing and placing in the boat house (garage). Sample below.
Nesting Sample
These drawings come with multiple pages of nestings. Each station and stem is drawn separately. Use spray adhesive to fix the paper to your plywood before cutting out the forms. Nestings cost extra. Sample below.
Printed Drawings
Buy printed drawings that include the Station and Stem Plans and a full set of Nestings for $100. Comes printed on 24- by 36-inch paper.
Electronic Nestings
Buy a pdf of the electronic nestings for $30. You can print the file on 24- by 36-inch paper on your own.
Donate
If you build this canoe from the free plans, consider donating $30 for my time and effort. Any donations are appreciated. Whether or not you donate, please, send me a picture of your build–I’ll add it to a builder’s gallery.
Free Canoe Plans Downloads
The free cedar canoe plans come as a pdf (free Adobe Reader required to view) that you can print off at photocopy stores.
- Free Canoe Plan: Old Model Ottawa River Algonkin Canoe Plans
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4 Comments
I am thinking about building a wooden kayak this winter. I am a woodworker, but have never built a boat/kayak before. I would like to look at some plans to see if this project would be a good one for me. Any assistance would be appreciated. Thank you.
Hi, Bill, your best bet is to buy Nick Schade’s The Strip-Built Sea Kayak: Three Rugged, Beautiful Boats You Can Build. That book shows the entire process. After you get an overview of the process, then you can figure out what kind of kayak you want. Feel free to contact me and I’ll help you find the right boat. There are many free kayak plans available here. I ask for a $30 payment after you build the boat.
To see the free kayak plans, click Kayak and Canoe Plans. You’ll see an overview of all the plans that I offer on the website. I add new plans often.
What a great and generous site, Bryan.
Well done.
I built a cedar strip canoe with my daughter when she was fourteen
(as well as small Bolger boats with my boys)
and it was a magical, gratifying experience.
She is thirty now, and still enjoys her canoe with her husband.
I encourage anyone who is thinking of such a project
to make the commitment and go for it.
You’ll never be sorry!
I have two questions, Bryan-
The presence of station moulds for your Old Model Ottawa River Algonkin Canoe
leads me to think the construction is strip-built,
am I correct?
And secondly, the term “nestings” is new to me-
what does it mean?
Thanks very much.
Shas
Thanks, Shas.
The stations are set up for strip-built construction, but you could also use them to construct the mold for a cedar and canvas canoe if desired.
By nestings, I mean each station is shown individually, so you can print (or purchase prints) cut out the station, glue it to the plywood and build. You don’t need to loft anything.