Canvas canoe pack

[nigelp]

Made myself a canvas canoe pack. It's roughly 70cm high, 50cm wide and 30cm deep at full capacity which is around 100 litres or so. I wanted a portage bag I could if necessary get all my kit in and carry it in one go rather than struggling with an assortment of dry bags and loose bits.
The base has a double layer of canvas and all the brass buckles and straps are riveted though to the inner hand sewn leather reinforcements so should take a bit of weight OK.
Under the lid I have attached some D-rings so I can draw the sides and front expansion flaps in to keep loose bits in securely. I just need to make a tump strap, add a drop of canvas proofer on the seams and put some dubbing on the leather.

Nigel

 

 

[Shewie]

Wow, lovely job on that Nigel

Have you got enough bits left to make a matching thwart bag?

 

[bikebum1975]

Seriously nice work Bud very professionally done

 

[Kerne]

Absolutely lovely job! Just finishing another canvas/leather pack myself and, having seen the quality that people can come up with themselves on this forum, a certain well-known US pack company is highly unlikely to see any of my money!

 

[nigelp]

Thanks, kind words indeed.
I have about 3 metres of canvas left and plan to make a thwart bag, front portage/day bag and a water bottle cover.

Nigel

 

[Shewie]

Thanks, kind words indeed.
I have about 3 metres of canvas left and plan to make a thwart bag, front portage/day bag and a water bottle cover.

Nigel

Very nice, can't wait for the piccies

 

[Barn Owl]

Very nice pack Nigel.

 

[forestwalker]

Nice. I really must get the the tump fixed up on mine. Mine is similar, with a larger lid and sewn grommets for the side-flap closure lines. Did you put a map-pocket inside yours? I find mine handy.

Interesting, I went for an all stiched construction (double linnen canvas + backing leather), not sure which is stronger, just a technique I know better (and can fix in the field if needed), but takes a lot longer to make. I'm going to add some sort of "axe-holder" on the sides, in the form of a strap attachement point in the bottom and the compression strap at the top.

 

[SCOMAN]

Guys lovey job but where did you get your canvas from?

 

[nigelp]

Guys lovey job but where did you get your canvas from?

This seller on eBay. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/5mts-60-COTTON-waterproof-heavy-GREY-CANVAS-fabric-/140470896812

 

[nigelp]

Hi

I might put a map pocket on my front portage bag when I make it but when canoeing I use an 'Ortlieb' style map case anyway. I did consider sewing a well as riveting but will see how it goes and add stitching if necessary later on. I wanted to keep the pack as free from extra outer bits as possible so they don't get caught up when portaging or placing the bag in and out of the canoe.

I used a tump line on a previous bag I made for a Scotland trip an this proved to be essential for load and weight carrying over any distance and uneven ground. Quite amazing how it re distributes the weight and helps with this.

Nigel

 

[John Fenna]

That looks realy good!

 

[drewdunnrespect]

ausome is what that is and T, F, S

drew

 

[SCOMAN]

Perfect thanks Nigel

 

[sandbender]

That is lovely, you should go into business, ordering a similar pack from Duluth costs a fortune.

Some plans for constructing a canvas pack may be downloaded from here.

 

[forestwalker]

Hi

I might put a map pocket on my front portage bag when I make it but when canoeing I use an 'Ortlieb' style map case anyway. I did consider sewing a well as riveting but will see how it goes and add stitching if necessary later on. I wanted to keep the pack as free from extra outer bits as possible so they don't get caught up when portaging or placing the bag in and out of the canoe.

I often use a map case similar to the old Swedish army one when canoeing (but in leather), but the pocket comes in usefull for small and flat stuff. And I want at most two packs: I can live with a small day-pack as a "wannigan" in addition to the main pack, but I detest the 15 million bags meme.

In some ways I'm not an ideal portage pack user, since I like to organize my stuff, certain things in certain pockets on the pack, and the portage pack ruins this somewhat. Could be I need to use more and smaller waterpoof stuff sack inside it.

 

[nigelp]

That is lovely, you should go into business, ordering a similar pack from Duluth costs a fortune.

Some plans for constructing a canvas pack may be downloaded from here.

Excellent link. Thst the sort of pack I am going to make as a front portage bag

 

[nigelp]

I often use a map case similar to the old Swedish army one when canoeing (but in leather), but the pocket comes in usefull for small and flat stuff. And I want at most two packs: I can live with a small day-pack as a "wannigan" in addition to the main pack, but I detest the 15 million bags meme.

In some ways I'm not an ideal portage pack user, since I like to organize my stuff, certain things in certain pockets on the pack, and the portage pack ruins this somewhat. Could be I need to use more and smaller waterpoof stuff sack inside it.

Nothing worse than having lots of loose bits to gather up at the end of the day. I also collect firewood and other goodies through the day so end up with a scruffy looking canoe! I could add an inner pocket which as you say will be useful for the smaller items.

Nigel

 

[Tubbyfraser]

Really lovely work - well done!

Graeme

 

[country boy]

fantastic love the idea looks great