Ideas for designing a wanigan?

I have been looking today on the web for some ideas on designing a wanigan for the next canoeing season. I don't want to use wood, I would prefer plastic and something that I can pack up inside a canoe bag if I need to. I haven't found any wanigans of this type - they seem to be manufactured in the traditional wood style only it seems.

I am thinking of maybe a Rubbermaid container or a tackle box of some sort, but haven't found the ideal container yet.

Does anyone have any ideas on how to put together a complete compact kit that includes plates, utensils, spices, staples etc ?

TIA

I use a 30 litre barrel with a harness that I can portage on my chest with another pack for shorter trips. it will hold all my food,spices,dishes and pots. After the first day or so even the stove. It is bomb proof. I have never hung my barrel and have never had it bothered. The top acts as a prep table or as a seat or card table. They are air tight and will float.And you can toss them around or in a canoe as they are virtually indestructable. They are available at Trailhead or Algonquin Outfitters and are not that expensive. Many dealers carry them now so check around. For extended trips I use a 60 litre or 1 of each. I also use them to carry my clothes and sleeping bag and personal gear. In the worst conditions my gear is dry as a bone.

The barrels I use are much better than olive barrels or the screw top models and they are clean,never been used. they are originally for shipping chemicals and are used and were tested on the Nahani rivers. I got my first ones almost 12 years ago and they are in perfect shape. Trailhead is the best source to start. Black Feather was the ones who introduced them. I have try many other things and always go back to the Vlack feather barrels.

I agree that the ones Trailhead, etc sell are great. I haven't looked at the prices recently, but I recall them being upwards of $80 for the barrel and a harness. Is that about the same ballpark now? What volume are the barrels?

Thanks, Alex

That sounds about right. The small one are about 30 litres. The big ones are more and twice the size. I have 4 big ones and 3 small ones. I have never been able to wear them out. They keep going and going and going.....

Have been on hols, catching up and have some thoughts for you: the barrels are good, but more than a wanigan for two. One of my paddling buddies had a good idea, a simple plastic dishpan in a small gym bag that conatined the basic kitchen materials, etc. It kept the dirt and grime and soap off everything else, had handles for carrying, and sat nicely on top of the canoe pack across your neck during portages. Olive barrels provide a way of keeping your food from 'infecting' your other gear with animal attracting aromas, and keeping the pieces to portage down to a manageable quantity. But face it, what you are prepared to carry, can afford and will accept in light of your personal style are really what decides what you wind up with. 'Keep the wet side down.'

You might want to consider using wood strip technology similar to that used to make wood strip canoes. Here's a link to photos of my most recently built wanigan. http://www.flickr.com/photos/92931344@N00/sets/72157618553705282/
The beautly of this technology is its ability to allow you to make the shape fit your boat.