Length overall         17’ 9” (5400mm) Hull width                 18 ½” (470mm) Overall width             6'  7"  (2000mm) Draft                           8” (200mm) @ 400 Lb                                   (182 Kg) Displacement Hull weight               64 Lb (29 Kg)        Weight fully rigged      122 Lb (55 Kg) Sailing rig type        Tacking only Sail area                   65 Sq Ft (6.0 Sq M) Construction method      Strip planked composite The Ulua design broadly resembles the classic Hawaiian canoe with some differences. The round bottom, which is important in the surf, performs poorly when sailed to windward. I've added a pivoting leeboard for lateral resistance, that can be retracted when paddling or landing in surf.   A steering oar or rudder can be used instead of the traditional paddle for steering.  The Ulua hull has a little more vee in the hull than a traditional Hawaiian model, and this improves it’s speed and windward sailing ability. Watertight bulkheads in each end of the hull provide reserve buoyancy in the event of damage or capsize. Additional reserve buoyancy can be built in under the two seats in the form of foam blocks or hollow storage compartments. The hull is constructed with the strip composite method.  The ama can be either solid foam covered with fiberglass, or hollow and strip planked, with foam or plastic bottles inside for emergency floatation. The large ama is of sufficient size to support cargo stored on the iakos along with a crew member on the hiking seat. The sailing rig shown is of a modern Hawaiian type. The availability of fiberglass windsurfer masts allows for a very simple lightweight plug-in rig which can be  lowered entirely while at sea and stowed on the iakos. A brailing line folds the boom and sail up against the mast for quick furling, and avoids dumping the sail onto the crew. The Ulua can be paddled, sailed, surfed or powered by a two horsepower outboard motor. It can be configured as a single or double outrigger.  This canoe is capable of extended coastal expeditions, and can be car-topped to your favorite launching spot, or carried on its side on a trailer with the ama up in the air. The hull can be stretched to a greater length by increasing the spacing between the molds before the planking begins.  You can safely increase the hull length by 150% without any changes to the structure.

Plans for the 18' (5.5M) Ulua outrigger sailing canoe are now available to the homebuilder in strip composite construction.  Eight pattern sheets include full scale patterns for the station molds and stems. Three additional sheets show the sailplan and construction details.  An included CD contains additional drawings, full instructions, and a basic course in boatbuilding skills. The plans now include complete drawings and instructions for building a single seat paddling canoe (OC1) from the Ulua mold. All drawings are dimensioned in both Imperial and Metric units. The cost of the plans is US$110 plus $15 for air mail postage. Bank cashier's checks, Western Union, bank transfer, or PayPal  can be used. The cost within New Zealand is NZ$135 plus $10 postage.  Call for payment arrangements inside New Zealand. Gary Dierking Boatbuilder 1485 Long Bay Road Coromandel New Zealand Phone +64 7 866 8206 gary.dierking@gmail.com

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