Introducing Katie Beardie.

A while ago Cee Dubbs and I were having a discussion about a replacement for Polythene Pam. 

Pam is a game old bird and has done very well but she is a victim of her genes and no amount of surgery or exercise can negate the fact that she is a bit slow on account of those sharp chines going all the way forward.  Paul Fisher never designed her as a sailing canoe and I didn't build her with that in mind, maybe it was time for a re-think.

A few years ago I read Over the Sea to Skye, early Travels by Canoe to the Scottish islands and West Coast 1874-1876.   The published journals of the Clyde Canoe Club.

I was fascinated  by the exploits of these guys who would travel miles in their canoes carrying all their camping gear with them.   Above is a shot of one of their canoes, and lets just say its inspirational. 

Now Cee Dubbs has what he calls his premise, not so much a design as a way of life, which combines the qualities of two of his favourite boats, the Thames Barge and the Gloucester Dory, which results in a hull, of almost any size, which has a flat bottom amidships, so she will dry out, chines curving well up towards the stem creating a nice V bottom and a clean entry, with a broad run aft tucking well up towards a transom.   

This is then coupled with the fact that plywood comes in 8ft by 4ft sheets to inform the design and determine the dimensions.

I asked him whether the premise would extend to nearly 16ft with a beam of  less than 3ft.  

This was his response. Obviously the transom has gone and there is a little bit of  V amidships, but unlike Pam the chines twist up in a gentle curve towards the stem which will part the waters like a knife. The broad flat sections towards the stern should help support all the weight of yours truly and the camping gear she will need to carry. 

Katie Beardie is a new design using modern materials and techniques but with more than a nod to the Victorians.  She should be very simple to build, just wait until you see the plans, although I have a habit of complicating things!


The Clyde Canoe Club moved to Loch Lomond in 1898 becoming the Loch Lomond Sailing Club. You can read more about their early history here.

 http://www.lochlomondsc.org/club-info/history/

Over the Sea to Skye was published by Solway Dory ISBN 0-9542401-0-3  

They don't seem to list it any more on their web site but it might be worth giving them a call.

http://www.solwaydory.co.uk/information/canoe-sailing-history/

The aim is to have her ready for the summer expeditions, I'm currently nursing a frozen shoulder but I'll get on to it as soon as possible.