How to Mold a Fiberglass Canoe

Create a solid canoe mold to build a strong canoe.

Prior to making a fiberglass canoe from scratch, you'll need to have a canoe mold to work with. This is a necessity for most novice canoe makers. Unless you are a seasoned expert, a canoe mold is what makes or breaks your project. Having an uneven canoe may lead to you sinking once you get into the water. With a well-planned design, you can create a mold that is sure to produce a long lasting canoe.

Things You'll Need

• 2-by-6-inch boards
• Sawhorse
• Handsaw
• 2-by-4-inch boards
• Nails
• Hammer
• Plywood
• Pencil
• Saber saw
• Drill
• Drill bit
• 2-by-4-inch blocks
• 1/2-inch screws
• Wooden strips
• Wood glue
• Epoxy
• Varnish

Instructions

1. Create the mold holding. Stand a 16-foot long 2-by-6-inch board up, so the 2-inch part rests horizontally. Place a sawhorse leg about 5-feet from each end of the board. Use the handsaw to cut four 2-foot 2-by-4-inch boards. Nail these boards to the sawhorse clamps and place the structure on the sawhorse legs. Nail the other 2-by-6-inch board flat on top of the assembly.

2. Using a carpenter's pencil, trace the canoe template mold shapes on plywood sheets. Cut out the traced shapes with a saber saw. Cut a small notch the width of the 2-by-6-inch board into the flat side of each mold. Make the notch about 7 inches deep. Follow spacing directions as described in the template directions from the manufacturer.

3. Use the pencil to mark the pattern of the templates for the stern and bow onto the plywood. Use the saber saw to cut these templates out as well. Drill the templates onto the station mold on each end in a perpendicular fashion. Use the 2-by-4-inch blocks to hold the templates in place. Screw together everything to secure.

4. Screw the plywood strips on the bow and stern with 1/2-inch screws. Begin placing the strips down lengthwise, starting at the bow and ending toward the stern. Glue the strips in place, then place a screw in the end of each strip.

5. Check for any gaps when placing the strips together. If gaps are apparent, place a small amount of wood glue or epoxy material to fill the gaps. Paint the wooden strips with a waterproof varnish or wood sealer.

References

• Micro Tek: Building my own Kevlar-Carbon canoe-The mold