Advice on which model is best for my needs?

[DanT]

Hello eveyone...I have been lurking for a couple weeks and must say I am impressed with what you guys are building. I have decided to give it a try myself.
I am by no means an expert wood worker but I do have some skills. I am leaning toward a canoe. Primary use would be for fishing on mostly small lakes around 200 acres. I would be by myself most of the time but would like the option of taking someone along on a occasion.
I am bit of an equipment junkie so I would probably be using an electric motor, have a couple tackle boxes, three or four rods, a bait bucket and some electronics. Any suggestion on what model would work best for my needs would be greatly appreciated.

[Oldsparkey]

Leaning towards a canoe then check out the Sasquatch ones Matt has , they are some sweet canoes. I paddle solo and have the 14 x 30 for my use and it is a sweetheart of a canoe.

Not just saying that , I have been in canoes for almost all my 67 years and this Sasquatch is the best one I have used. It's a little harder to make because it has 10 panels but if you can make a bird house from wood you can make one of these.
Not really harder , just takes a little more time to make it but it is worth it.

If you would have any questions there are a lot of folks on here to help you and furnish answers. The main thing is to understand the steps by reading the instructions and then not getting in a rush to build it but by taking some time to do that. When you understand the 1st step ( which is quite easy as with all of them ) then understand a few more down the road so you know where you are going and why things have to be done they way they are suggested.

It's not rocket science ... It's just plain old fashion fun , especially knowing what the end result is going to be. For me most of the fun is watching the boat come together and then the rest of the fun is paddling it. The beauty of it is that you make it the way you want it , a customized canoe for your personal use.

I'm sure more folks will have different answers about which canoe but that is how things work on here , all of us have our favorites. You have the difficult job of deciding which one is best for you.

Chuck.

[DanT]

Thanks Chuck. The Sasquatch and the Trapper are the two I was considering. I am 6' and 260 lbs. and my buddy is 6'-1" and about 235 lbs. what size canoe would you suggest?

[jem]

Townsend 15-32?

[hairymick]

G'day Dan and welcome aboard mate.

I built the sasquatch 16.5 and like chuck, I think she is the best canoe I have ever paddled or fished from. She is ideal as a solo tourer or as a light tandem day tripper.

Having read your post, and inparticular, the wieght you are planning on carrying, I would recommend the Big Trapper

http://www.jemwatercraft.com/proddetail ... d=Trap1538

A much easier build would be a Townsend but these Trappers and Sasquatches are something very special. Only we who paddle them understand just how special they are.

Read Chuck's build threads seveeral times mate then read the build instructions even more times.. If not sure, get on here or on Chuck's forum and ask questions. There are plenty of good people on both who will be only too glad to offer advice.

[DanT]

Thanks guys I think I have narrowed it down to either the Townsend, Trapper, or Sasquatch these are all great looking designs. Now I can see why most of you guys on this forum end up building a few different designs. All I can say is God bless my wife for putting up with me and what I am about to get myself into.

[jem]

She'll fuss at you until it hits the water... then she'll want to know when you'll build "yours".

[PiratePete]

She'll fuss at you until it hits the water... then she'll want to know when you'll build "yours".