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Thought I'd throw this open to ideas. At work I've stupidly got myself involved in a boat building competition. The others are building coracles, but I've had an idea for a short canoe/kayak that you carry over your backpack. So around 5 1/2 - 6ft in length. Light (maybe carved from polystyrene with a coating) Kayak Oar in two pieces that sits in the ice axe/walking stick slots which the canoe hooks onto. 

 Despite an internet search I can't see that anyone has done anything quite like it before.

 Has anyone seen anything like this before?

Take a look at packrafting online. Perhaps you could look into how they are made. That is kind of what you are looking for I guess. Also look at podcast Bob's podcasts from several years ago as there was a podcast or two about packrafting and some Yank's trips up the coastal region of USA somewhere towards the northern end (vague but it was several years ago that I listened to it while at the gym).

Second selway for plans. There are a lot of plans around for making canoes. Stich and glue is probably the easiest and quickest method, certainly for beginners. I remember when canoeing mags used to do build your own articles. The only one I read was the stitch and glue method. Looked relatively easy to me.

I once met a Nick through a climbing and a canoeing club who made canoes and paddles to sell. It was a sideline but I guess he would have loved to go full-time. They were works of art from the examples I saw him paddle. He matched the wood pieces from one side to the other so it looked right if you know what I mean. I think he even made a seakayak. The paddles were good too, both canoe and kayak paddles. For anyone who paddles either type of boat a wooden paddle feels warmer than any other in winter.

Thanks for the tip about Packrafting. I'll check that one out.

 I'm actually thinking of using my skills base from scenery making to make it out of polystyrene and then either a resin or water based coating as poly isn't actually water tight!

 The problem that I have is that most canoe designs are too long to be carried in that manner, so it's more if a shorter design would work but with the increased boyancy from the poly.

 I thought that it would be a great idea for walking in the lakes where you simply jump into it when you get to a tarn!

I think the pack rafts are generally inflateable rafts but I think you can get ones where they are small enough to carry on top of your sack. I'm sure I saw a photograph once of a guy carrying one on top of his sack and it was a kind of short beach raft shape. Kind of like the cheapo ones you can buy at seaside resorts that people end up getting rescued from out to sea after getting caught in rips.

It will be interesting in what you do come up with Richy. I would suggest a kind of coracle shape but not the round ones more of a oval or two semi-circles with a straight bit in the side. Afterall if you can get enough bouyancy into a small shape you only really need to be able to sit in with your pack and paddle a while. I've seen something where a guy practically overflowed the little raft it was so small. IF you get the bouyancy I reckon it doesn't need to be much bigger than you are when sitting down, even your legs could stick out a bit over the edge. I guess the aboslute limit is determined ultimately by your height. I mean the raft must be no longer than twice the height from your shoulders to say 1 foot off the ground (for clearance while walking on rough terrain). The pack could extend over your head and shoulders by the same amount as below but ideally not really. This is assuming you rig it to be carried at halfway up the boat/raft.

Interesting idea though.

Not really much use for you as the bet is about a boat, but you can buy a drybag rucksack that is designed to be carried as a rucksack on the ground but as a floatation device  when swimming (located lower down on your body when swimming). I'm sure it was invented by a guy who liked to walk and swim in the lakes. Sort of like you want to do with paddling. Walk through the hills but when he hit say coniston he would swim accross.

Ah yes now I think i've seen the chap who does the walk swim thing.

 The irish tend to go for the more elongated straight edge style, but thats more for a rowing skiff type of craft.

 You've got very similar thoughts to mine in terms of shape and size. Currently I'm thinking of using a very dense rigid foam for the underside of the hull with a more boyant expanded polystyrene for the bow, stern and sides.

> I thought that it would be a great idea for walking in the lakes where you simply jump into it when you get to a tarn!

I'd do a quick calculation on the volume needed to provide enough buoyancy, and then see how big the foam would have to be.  It might be a little cumbersome...

As for waterproofing, you might put a waterproof fabric skin on it.  Or use a self-skinning expanding foam.

The stuff on the Alpackaraft does look great, perhaps more suited to longer trips on the water where your doing 5miles or more on it between camping areas. However I HAVE to make it from scratch as part of the bet.

 I think captain paranoia is right about needing some boyancy calculations. I was working on the basis that if its a solid block which has a bow and stern shaped into it, then a dip for you to sit with the walking pack bungee'd onto the bow 'deck'

Due to my scenery making days I'm pretty up on coating the poly to make it waterproof, so it might not have enough boyancy, or it might tip over. but it won't leak!!

The more we discuss this Nick, the more I think I should just cheat the bet and sub contract out the build to you!!

 Your right about the beam, I was envisaging something where the side walls are 3-4inches thick rather than a canoe style 6mm or so.

 I'm going to have to educate myself about buoyancy calculations...

You can start the buoyancy calculations quite simply. One litre volume displaces one kilogram of water. You, plus kit and boat, will weigh say 100 Kg. (Make corrections if you are much lighter or heavier.) Therefore the underwater volume of your boat will need to be 100 litres. You then want the sides to be sufficiently above water for water not to slop in and soak you.  Alternatively accept that you will get wet and make something like a surfboard with a total volume of at least 100 litres.

I hope this puts you on the right track.

Ah no see this is why I love this site. You throw an idea out there, ask for advice etc and there's somebody with some good stuff to throw your way.

 I'm going to have to do some careful number crunching as given that I'm a second row rugby player at 6ft 3in tall and 111kg.......

 Great picture Franco, where is that to?

What about something like a float tube like anglers use? you wouldn't have any stability issues with one of those.

Heres one

How about a hinged contraption? I once saw a two man sea kayak on a roof in two parts. It had a lip on one that went over a slight recess on the edge of the other half with a bulkhead on each half so it was watertight. It wouldn't need the bulkhead since you sit on top byt it would be easy to make a two parter up I'm sure. It just means there is weight further from your centre of gravity when carrying it on your back. Of course the split could be off-centre so the part furthest from back is lighter.

It is probably harder to get a rigid packraft to work at the design stage than an inflateable one. Might be easier for you to put together once sufficient design has gone in based on your experience though. An inflatable could be madee more canoe-like though which is a better paddle. I do think the coracle is a good light design for a rigid, small boat, just don't expect to paddle it quickly. A simple sculling stroke is needed for those buggers off the front that is. Yo can make them rigid or tarred fabric over a wooden frame. I guess tarred cloth over a frame that can be collapsed is a reasonable design to build too.

I do like your bet BTW. Is it to be the first to paddle across some water a well? YOu mentioned the Lakes, perhaps you muight appreciate a few local OMers to cheer you along on your maiden voyage. A bit of support and a safety kayak too?

Ah well I've started working for the Theatrical chandlery I once mentioned as I got friendly with the owner after chatting to him in the shop and the world of scenery making and events draping has fallen into the black hole that opened up when the recession hit, he offered me a job, i took it as being self employed sucked last spring!

Anyway the long story short is that the bet is to run from his tradestand at a boat show in Beale Park by the Thames, to the lake (about 150 yards) then its a lap round the lake, get out and then first back to the stand!

But I really fancied doing something a touch more ambitious and of more use to me. So the idea struck of having something so light that you could carry it as part of a multi day summer pack and combine walking and paddling.

 Also I've been in a corracle and they are horrible to try and go anywhere in. (ok if flouting downstream is it's limited use) and i did a fiar bit of canoeing when i was younger.

 I'll certainly be trying to post a picture of what odd contraption i come up with on here for everybody to laugh!