Two Viola Sailing canoes, one in the Lakes District of the UK, the other in the Netherlands with a full video of how the builder used the boat as the basis of lots of experiments including a drop in eVolve electric motor for the Hobie Mirage mount.
AND full remote control …
Like a R/C model, but Full Size!
Viola Sailing Canoe on Lake Windermere, Lakes District UK – and a neat “velcro seat”.
This Viola was built by Joe Cummings.
The non standard rig was taken from a Topper.
Joe Commented about using the Topper Rig and Rudder on the Viola Sailing Canoe.
“I somewhat undiplomatically stole from a topper for rig (the old topper didn’t survive the procedure), though I’ve changed it since and there is now a mini traveller above and around the small transom. It works well size wise at 5.3m2, and with some messing around i did even steal the rudder mount as well. I figured for me in the uk it would make it easier to get replacement bits etc. :-)
Removable Velcro seat for Stable Canoes with Side Decks.
A neat idea. A piece of plywood around 9mm thick with stiffeners under. Check Photo above.
Put the fluffy side of the velcro on the deck and the spikey side on the underside of the canoe seat.
It works because the Viola is 40″ (metre) wide and has a stable hullform with flattened sections aft. It is happy sitting in this photo. Many narrower sailing canoes would go over in a small puff with a rig of this size and weight (and power).
It would work pretty well as a good weather seat for a double paddle.
Video – Viola 14 Sailing Canoe with Radio Control, Electric Motor and pedal power in the Netherlands
A full CNC cut of the Viola hull worked out by Wil, the builder and a Laser Pico rig.
Not to mention:
- Hobie Mrage Drive
- eVolve Electric Motor to fit the Mirage drive aperture
- Plug to seal off the hole in the bottom of the boat when pure sailing
- Full remote control – yes steering and throttle for a full size boat.
CNC Cutting of the Viola 14 Sailing canoe kit
Hobie Mirage Drive installation in a wooden sailing canoe hull or plywood dinghy.
You can see the slot for The Hobie Mirage drive. Most amateur efforts leave a gaping hole in the hull that messes up great sailing performance of this boat.
Here a neat installation and Wil has thought carefully about how to minimise the hole size. His sailing video shows he has thought carefully about a flush plug too.
A really neat installation. And he has thought about blocking the hole when going sailing.
There is a standard plug, but maybe a case of 3D prototyping in this case?
So a plug for sailing, a mirage drive for paddling and a Hobie eVolve electric motor all go in the same neat well design.
And it is integrated with the centrecase structure. But separate from the centrecase slot. Fuzzy photo … sorry.
With the Hobie Mirage Drive in place. The folding seat was designed by the first Viola Builder – Joost Engelens. The plan for the Folding Kayak/Canoe seat is available here.
The Video – live sailing and slideshow for the building of the Viola 14 Canoe and the Mirage drive setup
Video image can take a moment to load.
More information about the Viola 14 Canoe
Plan Information for the Viola Canoe is here
Our Other Sailing Canoes or convert a normal canoe into an awesome sailing outrigger
Viola Sailing Canoe Blitzes two RAID events in the Netherlands
Our other Sail Boat, Canoe and Motorboat Designs
