When seasoned builder Craig Hamm wiped down the final coat of finish on his new Avoca OC1, he wasn't just launching another homemade craft—he was stepping into an entirely new dimension of waterborne speed and stability. Designed by Vintage Board Co., this stitch-and-glue outrigger canoe was engineered to bridge the gap between lightweight performance and rugged utility.
But transitioning from six weeks of leisurely shop work to tackling white-capped 30 mph gales in the backcountry of Yellowstone requires a vessel with serious backbone.
With over 15 years of coastal kayak expedition experience across the Pacific Northwest and British Columbia, Craig knows what it takes to survive unforgiving water.
Swapping the traditional 17-foot sea kayak for the effortless load capacity and high-speed efficiency of an outrigger completely redefined his approach to expedition travel.
From whisper-quiet morning glides to hauling 80 pounds of camping gear—complete with a carefully wrapped bottle of 15-year scotch—across the windy expanses of Lewis and Shoshone Lakes, the Avoca proved that a DIY project can hold its own against nature's toughest elements.
Read on for Craig's firsthand account of building, testing, and taking the Avoca Outrigger Canoe into uncharted waters...
"After 6 weeks of leisurely building, I found myself with 4 days to trial a new boat before taking her camping. Over those days I was able to paddle nearly 30 miles in varying conditions from glass to 2-foot chop with +15mph winds.
First splash was Awesome; right out of the gate she was stable, fast and capable: I knew I'd made the right choice. I've built over the years several Pygmy and Chesapeake Light Craft Sea kayaks, this is a whole new category of fun!
The Avoca OC1 designed by Aaron at Vintage Board Company is a very, very capable boat.
I've spent +15 years exploring by kayak the Pacific NW coast of the US and British Columbia. She is the perfect project for a first-time builder looking for a Great fun boat or someone experienced looking for more.
My disclaimer, what I describe should NOT be attempted by a new paddler, put a few seasons under the keel first! Flip it many times and get good with your recovery skills, always wear a proper life jacket and carry a bailer or bilge pump.
A loaded kayak is obviously slower but more stable with high winds and waves . . . 6 days later...
It was with some reservation I launched with 80 lbs. of camping gear from the Lewis Lake boat ramp. The Yellowstone ranger inspecting my boat thought this was the first outrigger to venture to Shoshone Lake. She advised caution as winds were blowing 15-20 mph with gusts to 30 !
The Avoca again proved up to the task, cutting across Lewis with ease, full rudder authority on all points. The 3 miles of windy lake crossing was followed by a 3 mile portage up the Lewis River to Shoshone Lake. The boat pulled with ease, maintaining my footing and balance against a 5mph current proved to be the challenge.
Compared to the painstaking puzzle of loading and balancing a 17-foot sea kayak, the Avoca was a breeze. The hull swallowed up my camping gear and left a tempting amount of extra space; be mindful of max load. Camping gear + me totaled 280 lbs., including a bubble wrapped bottle of 15-year scotch lol!
Paddling an outrigger is NO comparison to paddling a kayak, and for all good reasons.
The stress of taking a break afloat, stopping to hydrate or taking a photograph is Greatly reduced. The reduced wetted area, narrow hull, make for faster cruising speeds and ability to cover more miles per day.
When the winds and waves kick up, that outrigger (ama) provides a serious peace of mind far offshore. Getting used to the ama being upwind or downwind does take some getting used to, a short learning curve.
The only real concern I had paddling 26 miles over 6 days was during the shortest milage day. We had to cross "the narrows", a less than 1 mile crossing with a cross wind of 15-20 mph and gusts to 30.
Thankfully the outrigger was downwind to prevent a flip, but the rudder was at its limit for effectiveness with the beam winds. VERY active paddling was required for directional stability, but it showed surfing with the wind to be incredible fun. For conditions like this or open water offshore paddling, a few more inches of freeboard would be good.
For recreational or fitness day paddling, for extended multiday camping trips, I don't think there is a better choice. Bang for the buck performance, for ALL experience levels, I don't think there is anything available to compare to the Avoca.
Plans provide an easy-to-follow build, and each page is 1 satisfying day of construction.
A few weeks of fun building and my Avoca took me backcountry camping at Shoshone Lake Geyser Basin Yellowstone.
Thank you and CHEERS Aaron, for an incredible and well-designed stitch-n-glue outrigger canoe!"
Craig Hamm
Granite Falls, WA
USA
Thank you for sharing your experience & images with us Craig, I love seeing our designs taken on amazing adventures! - Aaron
Key Takeaways from the Field
- Satisfying, Structured Build: A straightforward stitch-and-glue project taking roughly 6 weeks, designed so each page of plans feels like one rewarding day of progress in the shop.
- Superior Speed & Stability: The narrow hull reduces drag for effortless cruising, while the outrigger (ama) eliminates the tip-stress of traditional kayaks—making it easier to rest, photograph, and navigate open water.
- Expedition Capacity: Swallows 80 lbs of gear with room to spare, effortless loading compared to traditional sea kayaks, and proven tracking through 30 mph gusts on Yellowstone’s backcountry lakes.
- Unmatched Bang for Your Buck: High-end performance for both casual day paddling and multi-day wilderness touring at a fraction of the cost of commercial expedition craft.
Take the Plunge: Build Your Own Avoca OC1
Stop watching from the shore and build the craft that will take you beyond it. Whether you are looking for an approachable, confidence-building first project or you are a seasoned paddler ready for a faster, more capable backcountry boat, the Avoca OC1 translates simple shop time into extraordinary capability on the water.
A few short weeks of wiring and epoxying transforms a stack of plans into a lifetime of effortless cruising, backcountry access, and open-water peace of mind. Grab your tape measure, order your plans from Vintage Board Co., and make this the season you put your own boat on the water.
