Build Your Own Wooden Canoe!
Hegarts is proud to offer canoe-building courses. During the course, you will build your own wood and canvas canoe – either a Prospector 16′ or a Solo Vildmark 14,5′—with guidance from Josef Hegart throughout the entire process. Once the course is completed, you’ll leave with your very own handcrafted canoe.
The construction takes place in Hegarts’ workshop, located in the idyllic mill community of Forsvik in Västergötland.
The course lasts nine days, usually divided into two periods (7+2 days) or three periods (4+3+2 days). Before the final building period, there is a longer break (just over two weeks) to allow the waterproof layer on the canoe to fully cure.
The Basic Course
Bring a friend or family member (or more!) and build a wooden canoe together!
Hegarts offers the basic course during selected periods, which can be found and booked via the website. You will be two or more people building one canoe under Josef Hegart’s guidance over nine days. These nine days are divided into two or three sessions. Once the course is completed, you’ll take your canoe home, needing only final surface treatment before it’s ready to be launched.
During the basic course, the workshop is lively, as up to two canoes may be built at the same time. If you have a preference for a specific canoe model, it’s important to book it early before someone else does, as the basic course is offered only a limited number of times per year. This may mean that Josef supervises two builds simultaneously. The course setup includes teams helping each other with certain steps where extra hands are beneficial.
Course Dates 2026:
June 30 – July 7, August 8–9
Solo Vildmark 14.5′ (available), Prospector 16′ (available)
Course Fees:
Prospector 16′: 35,000 SEK
Solo Vildmark 14.5′: 32,000 SEK
The price includes all prepared materials, guidance throughout all course days, as well as morning and afternoon coffee/refreshments.
Book the basic course here
The Luxury Course
In the luxury course, you are guaranteed exclusive access to the workshop and receive one-on-one guidance from Josef. You will be involved in multiple decisions along the way, from design and material choices to smaller details of your canoe. All canoe models are available to choose from, and the course dates are scheduled together with Josef based on your availability.
Once the course is completed, Hegarts will finish the final details of the canoe, so you can return to Forsvik to pick up a fully paddle-ready canoe.
Course Fees:
Prospector 16′: 45,000 SEK
Solo Vildmark 14.5′: 42,000 SEK
The price includes all prepared materials, guidance throughout all course days, as well as morning and afternoon coffee/refreshments.
For questions about the courses or to find suitable dates for the Luxury Course, contact Hegarts:
Phone: 0709-389715
E-mail hegarts@outlook.com
hegarts.com 