I am also looking on Craigslist for a prebuilt canoe for sailing. I viewed an earlier post on this subject. I would be mainly daysaling on the river and would like to be able to have a guest. I am 6'7" 230lbs. I have many to choose from including fiberglass. There are dozens of canoes from 12 to 18 ft in my area between $100 and $400. What are it's strengths and weakness in comparison of fiberglass to aluminum, plastic and Royalex?

Can you attach a mast step on the floor of a plastic or Royalex boat without a keel.

Is heavier weight mainly a transportation/lifting concern or are they slower/harder to paddle.
I guess aluminum is also hotter in the summer in Florida and more noisier than other materials.

Thanks
Steve

Nice canoes are made of cedar and are very pleasant to sail. I own a 17ft unit and love it. You can also sail with almost all other canoe made of other material. It's mainly a question of choice according to budget. You can build your own gear or purchase it.

My advice would be you have a look to a great book titled: Canoe Rig: The Essence and the Art, by Todd Bradshaw. I purchased it last year and beleive me, it saved me time, and money. You may click on the link of Amazom.com from Canoe Sailing Magazine HOME page, watch the book's icon. Have good wind.

Thanks for quick response, I noticed another response in another forum section that gives some info on this subject.

I admire your nice canoe !

It looks like I need to get Todd Bradshaw's book under the Christmas tree as everyone seems to mention this book.

Happy to be helpful.

My canoe sails model were taken from Todd's book. However, size are bigger, normally they are shown as 45sf total, for both sails, mine are 67sf, giving more power. Outriggers give a very stable sailing, making capsize free in normal conditions, which is F5 according to Beaufort wind chart that you may find in past issues in this great magazine.

Friday night I bought a 16" fiberglass Indian River canoe with no keel. Was garage kept and looks like it was worth buying at $150.
I also ordered the Canoe Rig book from CSM Amazon link.

I found a good deal 55 sf lanteen sail. Would this size sail be too big on my canoe?

Hi Steve, I think you're on the good way. 16 ft canoe is a very good size that can bring some gear and two peoples.

The book is definitly an investment, give feedback when you get it.

Unless you have skill in canoe sailing, my advice would be you have your latten sail reefed before you go sailing, if you don't have reef points already made, you should make it, it's easy...just wait Todd's book.

Usually, 45 sf is enough, but some experimented sailor use 65 sf sail.

As I said before, I use 2 outriggers, so my canoe becomes a trimaran and highly stable even in F5 wind condition, having one reef at main sail. Outriggers were homemade. I have a clip on Youtube describing how I did. See it there:
http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=LdKoXdL_PKk

Maybe Ed would bring some help here.