The “Muck-A-Bout” easy to build Canoe.

Can be built ready to hit the water in 5 days! Will still require painting.

These boys built the Muck-A-Bout predecessor with their father.

Only need basic hand tools & a cordless drill to cut out & Drill holes.
Approximately half the weight of most fibreglass Canoes.
The Muck-A-Bout only needs three separate panel shapes to make the ten panels required. Made from 2x sheets of Marine Plywood.

Comes with;

Full Size plans enabling the builder to trace out the panels and cut with a Hand saw.
Comprehensive step by step Instructions with illustrations that enables people with no boat building skilled to make a canoe.
We also recommend you purchase the Bote-Cote Boat building book, for the cost of $6 as it provides excellent product Info for those unfamiliar with playing with modern technology Epoxies water based Aquacote Polyurethane paints.

Please click play below to watch from go to finish a Stitch N Glue Canoe Build in three days! Students from four High School Competed for Best build under the tutalige of brian Jones the designer of the bellinger Canoe. This Video was taken during the sydeny Classic & Wooden Boat festival in April 2016.

The Muck-A-Bout is a stitch and glue plywood Canoe that is easily cut out then stitched together with plastic cable ties or copper wire & Fastened with Bote Cote Epoxy Resin thickened with Gluing & Filleting Filler to provide a thick paste. The result is a 3.6 metre (12 Feet) Canoe with approximately 81mm beam that is light enough to be carried by one adult. It will handle two adults easily, is very stable, and is easy to paddle.

The design is ideal as a family project schools or youth projects, with we as a one student per canoe project, or as a group effort. The Muck-A-Bout has been built by high school students from Eden Marine High School and by 15 to 70 years old at illawarra woodworking school.

The Muck-A-Bout requires two sheets of 4mm AA or BB Face Plywood in either Marine, Exterior, Bracing plywood which can be supplied by Drive Marine Service or your local hardware store. If want a Clear finish or minimum weight we recommend using Gaboon Marine Plywood which has a superb finish on both sides and is the lightest superior grade marine plywood available.

Plans

The Muck-A-Bout canoe is built from plans that are then set out onto each sheet of ply, once marked out & cut out the builder has three templates which are simply traced around to form the other seven panels. Only Hands tools & a cordless drill are required, though a sander makes quick work of the final sanding & finishing.

Weight - Approx 20.0kg - in Pink Marine Plywood or approx 18Kg in Gaboon Plywood.

Cost - Plans & Instructions - $50.00 / Construction Kit - Bote Cote, Filler, Etc as per Materials Lists - Price dependent on Paint/ Coatings Desired.

Note - Plywood, Timber strips, Acetone & other items which are expensive to freight are possibly available locally which save money in freight. We have listed them in the Materials Lists as they should be easy to get from your local hardware store.

Note - We recommend using Aquacote Water Based Topcoat which is a water-based polyurethane that is extremely easy to use and extremely tough when cured. Plus it is much safer to use than solvent-based paints that are no good for your health.

Eden Canoes

Six Indigenous youth, build three boats, in two weeks.

The Website for MICA

The Muck-A-Bout Canoe Material List

The following is the Material List for items you will need in the construction kit or build your canoe.

2x4.0mm Hardwood Marine Plywood Marine Plywood - 3 ply - A bond - B-B Veneer Grade - BS1088 2440x1220mm.
3Ltr Bote-Cote Epoxy Resin Kit with Standard Hardener. Note: if you want a clear finish you will need to use Non-Yellowing Hardener.
250ml Purbond single pack waterproof glue
32 metres plain weave fibre glass tape.
4 metres 75mm Plain weave Fibreglass Tape.
5x 250ml reusable Measure Cups.
5 x Little Ripper 100mm Foam Roller Covers.
6 x 50mm Economy Brush - disposable low cost brush with plain wooden handle.
20 x Tongue Depressors Wooden, Premium Grade.
1x 10 metre roll of copper wire or 200 cable ties.
30 x Galvanised screws - 8G x 40mm Long.
100 x 15mm Panhead screws.

Note: You should also consider painting your canoe if it is going to spend considerable time outside as Epoxy has no UV resistance. We recommend the Aquacote Water based Topcoat paints. If leaving as a clear finish then Aquacote clear over the Bote Cote. This will be extra cost and estimated you will need 2 litres. It is worth purchasing contrasting colour to the outside of the hull.

Additional items you can purchase from us or your local hardware store:

1 x Roll of 25mm masking tape.
Cardboard or plastic sheeting
Gunwales - 25mm x 12mm Tassie Oak, Radiata Pine or Hoop Pine - 2 x 3.8 -3.9 metres long.
Centre Beam spreader 45 x 45
Beam spreaders and seat supports - 45 x 19mm Tassie Oak, Radiata Pine.
Sandpaper in various grades - we have hand sanding pads and Abranet 150mm Sanding Disc's out our YouTube channel to see Advantages.

Illawarra Woodwork school building canoes with the Epoxy Guru.

Building modern canoes with the Epoxy Guru.

Note: Our prices for items such as paint brushes, rollers and other consumables are competitive with the major hardware stores. If you would like us to supply all of your building gear, we are happy to provide you with a quote including freight.

Here is what one of our customers has said:

"During a 2 week period, I built a Muck-A-Bout canoe with my 2 sons, at the recommendation of Dave from DRIVE Marine Services. I wanted a project that was simple to follow and fun to build. The Mock-A-Bout most certainly was both of these things and more.

We all learned a lot and the sense of satisfaction on launching was priceless, the boys telling all the other kids at the lake of their build. I ordered all items for the build through Dave; they arrived promptly, in the right quantities, and are great quality.

We have had a ball paddling the Muck-a-bout. It take our family of 4 easily with camping gear and we’ve had a great time exploring the local waterways. Best of all the Muck-a-bout is light! I can easily lift it on and off the roof of my car by myself, making a quick evening paddle much more appealing than lugging heavy sea kayaks.

Thanks again for the recommendation Dave, we love the Muck-a-bout.”