Building and Combining Catamarans          Canoe Barges on the Colorado River

If motoring, mount a small platform to the middle & rear braces. Or, use a long (72") platform attached to front & rear canoe braces (shown below). If paddling, mount a small platform to the front & middle braces so that everyone can paddle on either side. Some canoes have middle brace missing and won't work with small platforms.

Tri-marans work fine, but fastening overlapped braces can interfere with chair placement and the braces may get stressed in rough water. Also, it doesn't come out even for carpooling.

This works well, but you may need to steer right. Tie tow-ables to the far right canoe for better motor balance. Catamarans are connected after launch using rope. Spacers between cats reduce splash-up in choppy water. Use binder clips (size Small) to fasten a towel or nylon fabric over the splash zone.

This combo works great. It's been done with a motor as small as 2.5 HP. Steering power weakens as your rig gets wider or your motor mount moves forward. Paddlers in outside canoes can assist with turns.

Safety note: Building a motor mount is not recommended unless you are confident in your abilities. Risk of injuries and/or loss of the motor. Hint: Motors are heavy and vibrate a lot.

Canoe Trip Overview	Equipment List
Canoe Dimensions & Tips	Building & Combining Catamarans
Buying Guide	Building a Motor Mount
Safety	For Geeks Only