A Modern Sailing/Voyaging Canoe
Sylph is a modern version of a typical sailing canoe of the late 1800’s. She is built of composite construction utilizing carbon fiber, Nomex foam, Spanish Cedar, Sitka Spruce, Mahogany and Kevlar. I developed and built Sylph as a seaworthy sleep aboard sailing canoe harkening back to canoes of the late 1800’s. She has made open ocean passages to Pacific atolls, sailed lagoons, parts of the Great Lakes and cruised the Canadian North Channel.

The photo above was taken in the neolithic ruins of the water city Nan Madol in Micronesia. I explored this fascinating place by sailing canoe and swimming (mask, fins and snorkel) the waterways between islets pulling my canoe along behind. At night I slept aboard listening to the haunting sounds of this mysterious place, a place where only a shallow draft narrow beam sailing canoe could offer such an experience.

I built Sylph to be light yet very strong. The hull is carbon fiber in vinyl ester resin, the deck is Spanish Cedar with kevlar under making for a very strong structure. She features foam and air sponsons throughout making her unsinkable and easily righted for a quick sail away if capsized.

I built her her unstayed rig as a 3 pc carbon fiber ovoid shape mast with internal halyards and designed and sewed her sails to be a simple reef able sloop rig. Her head sail is on a furler making for the first reef.

Sylph is my favorite boat to sail of any I have owned. It is a thrill and far more stable than one might imagine. The thrill comes from being so close to the water at speed. The modern sailing canoe and sailing canoes in general for that matter tend to get a bum rap from sailors of other boats who just seem to know they have to be unstable. In my experience Sylph is very stable as some of the photos I have posted can attest. Certainly not for everyone but a hands down favorite for me.

I power Sylph with a two-piece double blade paddle when there is no wind. For close in work through mangroves or when exploring shorelines with branches I carry a single beaver tail canoe paddle.

Sylph is easily car topped and can be slept aboard with the on board tent. I utilize a small mountaineering stove aboard for cooking on board. The two cockpit covers slide fore and aft to add an additional 12 inches of living space. Every inch counts in such a small boat. Sleeping aboard is delightful as tiny wavelets tap and sing along the hull inches from my ears.

Thanks for reading!