Moana Outrigger Sailing Canoe

I did a search here, but didn’t see much discussion on the topic. My son (almost 4) is obsessed with boats and Moana. He is determined that he needs to sail (and paddle) Moana’s boat.

I’m a mechanical/aerospace engineer and am ok with the idea of building something like this when he gets a bit older and can help. That said, I don’t have a ton of experience with this type of construction (or sailing in general, which we do plan to fix over the next few years)

I found the CLC Outrigger Junior kit, but he is concerned about being able to paddle that. I also found the Cape Falcon Kayak Outrigger Sailing Canoe, which looks like what he’d want, but it doesn’t look like it’s in their list of plans.

He wants to take it into a big storm with monsters, but I think I can convince him of small calm lakes instead.

I’m not sure what I’m looking for exactly. Other ideas to get him his “Moana boat”, other plans/kits I may have missed, encouragement to design something from scratch (we do have a few years before we’d start the build), etc.

What are the members thoughts on this type of boat and the feasibility of building something like it?

For a quick build, Gentry's Splinter. The Splinter Outrigger Sailing Canoe https://gentrycustomboats.com/boats/splinter.html
For a longer boat to take you both, one of Dierking's offerings, the Ulua for example. Outrigger Sailing Canoes https://outriggersailingcanoes.blogspot.com/

Gentry also has a specific canoe for kids your sons age, the Ladybug, ask him for the plans, they are not in the catalog (pictures at What's New? https://gentrycustomboats.com/Whats_New.html scroll down).
You could commission him to design you a dugout that looks just like the one in the movie.

P.S. You can also find a 7-10 feet piece of treetrunk from the local woods or landscaper and have a go at it with a chainsaw. A sunfish sail on two wooden poles and some branches for the outrigger and aka's, and it's done. If the chainsaw is much, other tools can do the job. Check youtube for dugout canoes.

At just 4 years old, your son’s interest may be temporary, so I’d not invest heavily into exactly copying the design from the movie boat.
Get a plastic kayak that can be rigged with outriggers and a simple sail, paint it to look like the movie version (thats what the movie people do) and go have fun!

I love Moana and have watched it countless times with my kids. It's much better than the typical garbage Disney pumps out.

Personally I am attracted to Gary Dierking's stuff. He's been making outriggers since the early 70s and plans for several different craft are included in his ~$20 book.

Ulua is closest aesthetically to Moana's boat, although smaller and more practical. There's nothing particularly skilled about the construction, just that the strip planking is a bit labor intensive. The Wa'apa is plywood and would be easier to build, but doesn't have the same aesthetic if that's ok.

There is an Ulua named Hoku Ula that sails out of Santa Cruz on the Pacific ocean. With a reasonable weather forecast, a wetsuit, a lifejacket and a radio it is certainly possible to venture beyond the reef.

tackingoutrigger.com -- tacking outrigger sailing canoes https://www.tackingoutrigger.com/index2.html

Skier,
What I would suggest is to build to an existing, proven design.
A design that is proven "good" and meets your wants / needs / desires.
Your chances of a successful outcome will go up astronomically.
Your son is lucky to have your "buy-in", don't squander it on failed attempts.
Best of luck and be sure he wears an approved personal floatation device (PFD).

Thanks for all the links everyone. I knew there has to be designs out there We’re looking at the Wharram Melanesia. Seems like relatively simple construction.

BlueBell said:

Best of luck and be sure he wears an approved personal floatation device (PFD).

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We’ve had him on boats and canoes already. He knows he doesn’t even get on a dock without a PFD.

waterbear said:

Personally I am attracted to Gary Dierking's stuff. He's been making outriggers since the early 70s and plans for several different craft are included in his ~$20 book.

Ulua is closest aesthetically to Moana's boat, although smaller and more practical. There's nothing particularly skilled about the construction, just that the strip planking is a bit labor intensive. The Wa'apa is plywood and would be easier to build, but doesn't have the same aesthetic if that's ok.

There is an Ulua named Hoku Ula that sails out of Santa Cruz on the Pacific ocean. With a reasonable weather forecast, a wetsuit, a lifejacket and a radio it is certainly possible to venture beyond the reef.

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Thanks, those look nice, but are a bit larger/harder to transport and seem like longer construction than the Wharram Milanesa. Maybe for the second one?

skier said:

Thanks, those look nice, but are a bit larger/harder to transport and seem like longer construction than the Wharram Milanesa. Maybe for the second one?

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They're not that different. Ulua can be made any length, while Wa'apa is made in 8 ft sections, so both can be made the same 16' length as Melanesia. Additionally, Wa'apa can be transported in sections and gives you two sizes in one, should you choose to build the center section.

The Melanesia is listed as being much lighter than Dierking's boats, but in reality it won't be much lighter. Both Wa'apa and Melanesia use the same 6mm plywood. Wa'apa appears to have more volume and thus more surface area, but it's probably warranted as Melanesia looks to sit too low in the water in some pictures. Melanesia's predicted weight is equal to only the plywood used, assuming the builder uses the lightest okoume so probably doesn't account for fiberglass, resin, solid wood, etc.

Dierking's book is on the Internet archive, so you can read it for free with a little googling.

Here's the 16' Wa'apa from the book


And in these pictures you can see Melanesia sits very low in the water, despite the occupants being young and not particularly heavy

Buy Gary Dierking's book on outrigger canoes whether you plan to build one of his boats or not, it is invaluable source on everything related to this type of craft.

In the meantime you can wait for Avoca outrigger canoe plans to come to frutition. Geared mostly to paddling but can take small downwind rig. Simple plywood build and lightweight at below 20kg.

Introducing the Avoca OC1 plywood canoe: The Outrigger I Always Wanted https://www.vintageboardco.com.au/blogs/wooden-paddle-board-builders-tips/introducing-the-avoca-oc1-plywood-canoe-the-outrigger-i-always-wanted?srsltid=AfmBOopPG_LGl6ATyRGg7IreOERBh1OLjvesf4g5JbJenSEL32By2pDl

I should point out that, for sake of accuracy, Moana sails shunting proa, not tacking outrigger
Checkout polish pjoa canoes. They have small shunting boats
PJOA Outrigger Canoes – Boats with soul https://pjoa.eu/

No, it's tacking, you can see that quite clearly in the scene where she tries to get past Te Ka. Around the one minute mark she sails into a cloud of smoke with the ama to windward and then sails back out with the ama on the leeward side.

CrazyRU said:

I should point out that, for sake of accuracy, Moana sails shunting proa, not tacking outrigger
Checkout polish pjoa canoes. They have small shunting boats
PJOA Outrigger Canoes – Boats with soul https://pjoa.eu/

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waterbear said:

No, it's tacking, you can see that quite clearly in the scene where she tries to get past Te Ka. Around the one minute mark she sails into a cloud of smoke with the ama to windward and then sails back out with the ama on the leeward side.

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You are right. It is odd how memory is playing tricks with you. I was sure I have seen Moana shunting in the movie.

CrazyRU said:

You are right. It is odd how memory is playing tricks with you. I was sure I have seen Moana shunting in the movie.

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waterbear said:

No, it's tacking, you can see that quite clearly in the scene where she tries to get past Te Ka. Around the one minute mark she sails into a cloud of smoke with the ama to windward and then sails back out with the ama on the leeward side.

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You’re both right.


Moana 1 seems to be tacking boats.




While Moana 2 seems to have a mix of shunting and tacking.





The Moana 2 boats are larger and while the kid wants one of those too, we’re going to start with a small tacking boat more like the first movie.

Igor said:

Buy Gary Dierking's book on outrigger canoes whether you plan to build one of his boats or not, it is invaluable source on everything related to this type of craft.

In the meantime you can wait for Avoca outrigger canoe plans to come to frutition. Geared mostly to paddling but can take small downwind rig. Simple plywood build and lightweight at below 20kg.

Introducing the Avoca OC1 plywood canoe: The Outrigger I Always Wanted https://www.vintageboardco.com.au/blogs/wooden-paddle-board-builders-tips/introducing-the-avoca-oc1-plywood-canoe-the-outrigger-i-always-wanted?srsltid=AfmBOopPG_LGl6ATyRGg7IreOERBh1OLjvesf4g5JbJenSEL32By2pDl

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Thanks for sharing my latest design Igor! The Avoca Outrigger a fun little outrigger, here's the building & paddling video on YouTube if you're interested.

Aaron_de said:

Thanks for sharing my latest design Igor! The Avoca Outrigger a fun little outrigger, here's the building & paddling video on YouTube if you're interested.

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You are welcome

It is a very cool design and I am looking forward seeing more paddling videos