I joined the WCHA specifically to cast a wide net in my search for a set of plans to build a 16' Trailcraft wood and fabric canoe. This particular brand was very poplar with the Boy scouts in the 60's & 70's and they ran ads in Boys Life, Fur-Fish-Game, and other magazines. In their heyday they sold plans, kits, and I believe some complete canoes. They were located in Kansas. Like a lot of people I always told myself that I would build one someday and now that I have decided it's now or never, I can't find any trace of Trailcraft and need some help. I always got the impression that hundreds of these basic canoes were built over the years and surely somebody has a set of plans out in the garage or up in the attic. If you can be of assistance please let me know. Thanks!
Trailcraft Canoe Plans
- Thread starter Toolman1
- Start date
MGC
Scrapmaker
Welcome to the WCHA and to this forum.
If you use the search feature on this site you'll find a considerable amount of related discussion.
Here's a link to a 2008 post that includes a referance to a 25 page instruction manual and a comment from Trailcrafts owners son....
http://forums.wcha.org/showthread.php?2731-Trailcraft-dimensions/page2&highlight=trailcraft
Treewater is the one who owns the manual. He still posts here fairly regularly.
The Trailcraft links seem to be deadends now....
Good luck.
Greg Nolan
enthusiast
Welcome to the WCHA.
If you are determined to build a Trailcraft for sentimental reasons, go to it -- but I think there are much better skin on frame canoes and canoe plans available today.
I built a Trailcraft kit canoe more than 40 years ago, when I knew very little about canoes and canoeing. If I were to build a SOF canoe today, I would NOT try to replicate that boat. I used it for taking a few day trips on the Housatonic River in Connecticut and similar waters, and a canoe-camping trip in Nova Scotia at Kejimkujic Park (which focuses on canoeing and canoe camping). The canoe was fairly crude, heavy, a bit tender, with none of the advantages that can come with a tender boat -- speed and responsiveness. I gave it away after little more than a year of using it. I remember that canoe somewhat fondly -- first canoe, first canoe camping trip, and I learned quite a bit building ans using it -- but none theless, I would not recomment it to womeone else.
Here are some sources for SOF building techniques and plans:
You should get your hands on Robert Morris’s book “Building Skin on Frame Boats” -- unfortunately out of print, and usually quite expensive in the used book market. But you should try your local library and inter-library loans -- this book is worth the trouble, in part because it contains plans for a nice SOF canoe.
Another book to get is “Fuselage Frame Boats: A Guide to Building Skin Kayaks and Canoes” by S. Jeff Horton.
Going back a bit in time, but still good, is Percy Blandford’s “Canoes and Canoeing” which is available used, and has plans and instructions for SOF boats -- his “Teal” looks like a nice canoe
Dave Gentry has plans and kits for three SOF canoes -- http://gentrycustomboats.com/NewHomebuilderplans.html
Look at Monfort Platt’s Geodesic Aerolite Canoes -- plans for a number of canoes are available
https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=geodesic+boats&* .
Kudzu Craft has a couple of SOF canoes on their list -- http://www.kudzucraft.com/web/
Dreamcatcher Boats has downloadable plans for a couple of SOF canoes --
http://boat-building-plans.com/boat-plans/
Check your private messages
Again, welcome to the WCHA.
Greg Nolan
WCHA President
If you are determined to build a Trailcraft for sentimental reasons, go to it -- but I think there are much better skin on frame canoes and canoe plans available today.
I built a Trailcraft kit canoe more than 40 years ago, when I knew very little about canoes and canoeing. If I were to build a SOF canoe today, I would NOT try to replicate that boat. I used it for taking a few day trips on the Housatonic River in Connecticut and similar waters, and a canoe-camping trip in Nova Scotia at Kejimkujic Park (which focuses on canoeing and canoe camping). The canoe was fairly crude, heavy, a bit tender, with none of the advantages that can come with a tender boat -- speed and responsiveness. I gave it away after little more than a year of using it. I remember that canoe somewhat fondly -- first canoe, first canoe camping trip, and I learned quite a bit building ans using it -- but none theless, I would not recomment it to womeone else.
Here are some sources for SOF building techniques and plans:
You should get your hands on Robert Morris’s book “Building Skin on Frame Boats” -- unfortunately out of print, and usually quite expensive in the used book market. But you should try your local library and inter-library loans -- this book is worth the trouble, in part because it contains plans for a nice SOF canoe.
Another book to get is “Fuselage Frame Boats: A Guide to Building Skin Kayaks and Canoes” by S. Jeff Horton.
Going back a bit in time, but still good, is Percy Blandford’s “Canoes and Canoeing” which is available used, and has plans and instructions for SOF boats -- his “Teal” looks like a nice canoe
Dave Gentry has plans and kits for three SOF canoes -- http://gentrycustomboats.com/NewHomebuilderplans.html
Look at Monfort Platt’s Geodesic Aerolite Canoes -- plans for a number of canoes are available
https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=geodesic+boats&* .
Kudzu Craft has a couple of SOF canoes on their list -- http://www.kudzucraft.com/web/
Dreamcatcher Boats has downloadable plans for a couple of SOF canoes --
http://boat-building-plans.com/boat-plans/
Check your private messages
Again, welcome to the WCHA.
Greg Nolan
WCHA President
TrailCaster12
Curious about Wooden Canoes
Hi, I am new here. This is my first post. Please let me know if I make any forum mistakes. It is my intent to respect this forum and your expertise.
I just bought a canoe at an estate sale. It was a bit rough and I didn't know initially what manufacturer it was. The auctioneer said it was a "Scanoe", part canoe, part skiff. I looked that up and thought it was a Coleman or Pelican. Then when I searched the 7 digit # on the side, a website said it was a Thompson. I still couldn't find any Thompsons that looked like it online. It had a 2002 Kansas Wildlife & Parks sticker on it. So I called them and found out a lot about it's registration history and brand.
It is a TrailCraft, made nearby in 1974 in Glasco, Kansas. The old owner said through the auctioneer that it was a kit that he built in 1974.
The side rail was hanging off and it's plywood transom was rotten. It is a fiberglass boat. I still don't know the exact model name, other than the brand TrailCraft. It is a 12 foot long, 3 foot wide boat with 3 seats. (see pics) It is yellow on the exterior with an burnt-orangish-yellow interior. It has a PVC rail on the side.
I reattached the rail today and removed one sheet of the exterior plywood transom. There is still an interior sheet of plywood transom that I will remove tomorrow. I plan to rebuild the transom plywood. It can take a motor once the transom is replaced. The Kansas Wildlife and Parks office said it previously had an electric trolling motor. It has no motor now. It has a square stern in the back.
I am interested in finding out more about it. I'd like to know the model name. I'd also like to find the original kit instructions for this model. Maybe there's an owner's manual for it online somewhere too? The front tip cover (not sure what it's called) is a white plastic sheet that has some chips. I'd like to find another one of those as well as any other original accessories for it to get it rigged up. After I refurbish it a bit, I plan to sell it. If anyone is interested in picking it up in Kansas, let me know.
If you can help me find the instructions for it, I'd appreciate it. I also would like to find a set of original decals for it. I have a picture that I found online of the original decals. I will post those later too.
Thanks for your help!
I just bought a canoe at an estate sale. It was a bit rough and I didn't know initially what manufacturer it was. The auctioneer said it was a "Scanoe", part canoe, part skiff. I looked that up and thought it was a Coleman or Pelican. Then when I searched the 7 digit # on the side, a website said it was a Thompson. I still couldn't find any Thompsons that looked like it online. It had a 2002 Kansas Wildlife & Parks sticker on it. So I called them and found out a lot about it's registration history and brand.
It is a TrailCraft, made nearby in 1974 in Glasco, Kansas. The old owner said through the auctioneer that it was a kit that he built in 1974.
The side rail was hanging off and it's plywood transom was rotten. It is a fiberglass boat. I still don't know the exact model name, other than the brand TrailCraft. It is a 12 foot long, 3 foot wide boat with 3 seats. (see pics) It is yellow on the exterior with an burnt-orangish-yellow interior. It has a PVC rail on the side.
I reattached the rail today and removed one sheet of the exterior plywood transom. There is still an interior sheet of plywood transom that I will remove tomorrow. I plan to rebuild the transom plywood. It can take a motor once the transom is replaced. The Kansas Wildlife and Parks office said it previously had an electric trolling motor. It has no motor now. It has a square stern in the back.
I am interested in finding out more about it. I'd like to know the model name. I'd also like to find the original kit instructions for this model. Maybe there's an owner's manual for it online somewhere too? The front tip cover (not sure what it's called) is a white plastic sheet that has some chips. I'd like to find another one of those as well as any other original accessories for it to get it rigged up. After I refurbish it a bit, I plan to sell it. If anyone is interested in picking it up in Kansas, let me know.
If you can help me find the instructions for it, I'd appreciate it. I also would like to find a set of original decals for it. I have a picture that I found online of the original decals. I will post those later too.
Thanks for your help!
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MGC
Scrapmaker
Hi, It does not look like you own a trailcraft kit canoe. This is a fiber-glassed hull that was layed up on a form. If the original owner assembled it from a kit, possibly it was a bare hull with the decks to install? Your initial thought that it is a Thompson may be closer to correct than Trailcraft.
If you plan to "flip" it, you should probably minimize the amount of work you invest into it as it appears to be relatively useable as is.
If you plan to "flip" it, you should probably minimize the amount of work you invest into it as it appears to be relatively useable as is.
The Hull Identification Number indicates that it was probably made by Thompson Composite Engineering in February 1974 (although TC Freeride is using the TCF prefix now). The page at https://uscgboating.org/content/manufacturers-identification-detail.php?id=12217 has more details,
Benson
Benson
TrailCaster12
Curious about Wooden Canoes
Thanks for the replies MGC and Benson. I appreciate it.
I thought the exterior looked really smooth and flawless. I was wondering because of that, if it was indeed a homemade kit. The exterior hull # looks stamped in too. The interior finish is rough and looks homemade though. I see no markings or badges at all inside. The Kansas Wildlife and Parks office said it was a 1974 Trailcraft 12' Motorboat.
It looks to have the TrailCraft decal imprint on it. That makes me think it's a TrailCraft.
When I searched that KA 102 FY # myself on Google, it brought up Thompson. The Thompson forum said it didn't look like a Thompson.
I thought the exterior looked really smooth and flawless. I was wondering because of that, if it was indeed a homemade kit. The exterior hull # looks stamped in too. The interior finish is rough and looks homemade though. I see no markings or badges at all inside. The Kansas Wildlife and Parks office said it was a 1974 Trailcraft 12' Motorboat.
It looks to have the TrailCraft decal imprint on it. That makes me think it's a TrailCraft.
When I searched that KA 102 FY # myself on Google, it brought up Thompson. The Thompson forum said it didn't look like a Thompson.
TrailCaster12
Curious about Wooden Canoes
Maybe the TrailCraft kits came with the exterior pre-formed?? This is a mystery! haha!
Did TrailCraft make any fiberglass canoes that were not a kit and were pre-molded?
From that decal imprint, I am leaning heavy towards it being a TrailCraft.
I would love to track down a pic of this model with the decal on it to verify.
If I could locate an original owner's manual and instructions, that would be awesome and helpful.
Did TrailCraft make any fiberglass canoes that were not a kit and were pre-molded?
From that decal imprint, I am leaning heavy towards it being a TrailCraft.
I would love to track down a pic of this model with the decal on it to verify.
If I could locate an original owner's manual and instructions, that would be awesome and helpful.
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