Peace Canoe

A great family boatbuilding project! Build it in a weekend from a kit, or build it from plans using local materials.

The Peace Canoe is an interesting addition to the Chesapeake Light Craft fleet. Call it a canoe, a pirogue, a bateau, or whatever you like---the Peace Canoe is good basic transportation that you can build in a weekend.  With its appealing shape, it won’t look like you built it in a weekend.

The Peace Canoe is aimed at first-time builders and those who would prefer not to commit to the 80 hours that our stitch-and-glue kits will consume. The quick build was made possible by eliminating epoxy resins and their long curing times, utilizing sturdy materials that do not require fiberglass, and engineering a construction process that is forgiving of imprecision.

The kit has an interesting history. Designer John C. Harris created the Peace Canoe specifically for family boatbuilding events and corporate team-building exercises. "On the drawing board we called it the War Canoe," says Harris recalling the big canoes that he remembered from summer camp. “I definitely wanted to conjure up the whimsy and versatility of those old camp canoes."

And he wanted the construction process to be fun too. "There is no mixing epoxy and no scary toxins," Harris adds. "And definitely no anxiety over dust and bubbles in your varnish - this is not that kind of project. It's designed to be fully hands-on for anyone who wants to join in, regardless of age. Definitely put the kids in charge of the paint job; they'll love it!"

With a one-day assembly time for the kit, the design has been a great fit for marathon boatbuilding events. At the Harvard Business School, faculty and staff built 15 of the boats as a teambuilding exercise. (Harvard had us change the name from “War Canoe” to “Harvard 18.”)