PVC Pipe Canoe

[ancient kayaker]

PVC doesn't float in this part of the World, SG = 1.3; ABS (SG = 1.05) might in seawater. What else was in your sink, Australian beer?

ABS is probably better than PVC, it's lighter, stronger and tougher. I think it may be stiffer as well. PVC degrades in sunlight.

[alexlebrit]

Oh look at that, I'd never really looked at the PVC pipe in my house before, and I see it's got a foam core (well it's only for grey water) so of course it floats. I'd go for ABS though, it just seems to tear not shatter.

Then again why not a simple ply frame, I've been looking at a ply coracle on Hannu's Boatyard and it occrued to me the same basic method could be used for a canoe.

[TheRiffRaft]

PVC will work although it's heavy and expensive. Check out the "Riff Raft".....

PVC raft?

[rwatson]

Expensive is the main problem. I bought a metre of storm water pipe the other day, so that raft probably cost about 3 times what an all timber plywood raft with paint would have cost.

[TheRiffRaft]

Originally Posted by rwatson

Expensive is the main problem. I bought a metre of storm water pipe the other day, so that raft probably cost about 3 times what an all timber plywood raft with paint would have cost.

We were actually lucky enough to "aquire" the PVC for free. We did have to purchase the caps and elbows and they weren't cheap either.