Decisions, Decisions

[garyp]

Hello to all,

As many would guess I'm new to this forum. Nice community you've got going.

Now in a couple of months I have a milestone happening and am angling for a suitable boat (canoe or kayak) for a spot of fishing. I have a feeling it will need to be a tandem so the young bloke can come along. If it is a single I guess I'll be building a double and visa versa if it is a double. In either case I'm building something. Are we confused yet?

The dilemma with the single is do I build a Laker, a Freedom, an Escape, a Cape Fear (SI)? It's got to be a stable fishing craft and capable of a night or two's camping. I haven't even thought about a tandem yet!!!

So as you can see I've got a couple of decisions to make.

Cheers

Gary

[Darrells]

Stability and capacity. I would probably build the Touring Pirogue TV.

[hairymick]

G'day Gary,

Where and what sort of water are you hoping to use her in? ie inland river, lake or large estuary or off-shore.

Inland, skinny water, have a look at any of Matt,s pirogues or his swampgirl.

Larger water, my choice would be Cape Fear or Touring Pirogue (TV)

Open water, have a look at the south and North Wind series or ANY of Matt's superb sit on tops.

Laker is a brilliant little boat and I use mine for fishing all the time. You could allways build two

Any of Matt's canoes will also work well. Sasquatch 16.5 is a great allround boat. A superb solo canoe and even better, when set up for two. It will handle a chop well, is very stable and has hull performance that will leave factory boats available here in her wake My Sasquatch is now my wife's and my favourite boat. We have no trouble keeping up with most of the kayakers we paddle with or when Robin is feeling lazy, she can kick back, look glamerous (suck suck) up the front and I just cruise along at a very good pace anyway.

[garyp]

Thanks Darrell. I've often wondered abut pirogues. Might just do a test build.

Mick, thankyou too. I'm down around the Murray, Mulwala, The Ovens and few little creeks here abouts. The Murray can be big though most of my sojourns will be on smaller waters. But I will wait to see what happens (if anything) in a couple of months. In the meantime I've got a lot of planning and research to do. I'm starting to lean towards a Laker or Freedom for myself.

Cheers fellas

[hairymick]

Gary,

Have you built a stitch and glue boat before? If not, you might like to consider one of Matts Pirogues as a first build.

I have built the touring pirogue and recently bought the drawings for his 14-29.

Both of these boats are quick and easy builds and at the end of it, you will have a boat that will truly surprise you with just how good they are. I don't understand why boats of this kind are not more popular here. In short, they are bloody brilliant mate. About as fast as most of the mid range plastic sit on tops, half the weight and the load capacity of a canoe.

Do yourself a favour, consider a pirogue. for skinny water fishing, they just can't be beat and are surprisingly capable in bigger water too. Trust me on this mate. At the very least, your kids will love it. The Murray was made for pirogues as was just about every other Aussie backwater. I just can't imagine my shed without at least one pirogue in it. Feeling the need for a simple build right now.

[garyp]

G'Day Mick

We are building a prototype pirogue at work. We are using an Unlce John's design. My collegue and I are doing this with a view to introducing it as a project to our Boys' Ed group. These are guys with poor educational outcomes and low self-esteem.

As for myself, it might be a good idea to start with a stitched up pirogue.

Cheers

Gary

[hairymick]

Mate the UJ is a brilliant little boat too. I also built one with my "boys" at my work. it has never been wet and is just sitting forlornly (for now) on some racks in the shop.

Jem methodology is a little different to a UJ but no less easy. The 14-29 is dimensionally similar but with less rocker and no complicated stem blocks or ribs to cut. OK, they are not THAT complicated but I rekon it is easier to fillet the stems and put a thwarte in than make the ribs & such on a UJ.

I would recommend you take your UJ for a walk when finished. if you are not as in love with pirogues as I am, i will be very surprised.

For what my opinion might be worth, I reckon the Cape Fear 14 woukd probably suit you best of all the relatively simple builds. I have been resisting buying this one for some time now.

[tx river rat]

Garyp
I own one perow and it is a great boat.
But the T-V is an awsome boat just bye Matts tweeks on the perow design and one more seam n the bottom the performance really goes of off the chart. I own two lakers and the T-v and they will blow the doors off any perow flat bottom made. in speed(ease of paddlin) tracking the are awsome.
YOu owe your self one of these boats.
Ron

[hairymick]

Yep, The pirogue TV is a great boat. No question about that.

Swampgirl is a little slower, but way more stable and has genuine capacity for two. I am still giving myself uppercuts for selling my 'girl and my daughter still has not forgiven me.

[garyp]

Mate the UJ is a brilliant little boat too. I also built one with my "boys" at my work. it has never been wet and is just sitting forlornly (for now) on some racks in the shop.

Jem methodology is a little different to a UJ but no less easy. The 14-29 is dimensionally similar but with less rocker and no complicated stem blocks or ribs to cut. OK, they are not THAT complicated but I rekon it is easier to fillet the stems and put a thwarte in than make the ribs & such on a UJ.

I would recommend you take your UJ for a walk when finished. if you are not as in love with pirogues as I am, i will be very surprised.

For what my opinion might be worth, I reckon the Cape Fear 14 woukd probably suit you best of all the relatively simple builds. I have been resisting buying this one for some time now.

Hello Mick,

We are looking forward to putting a collar on the pirogue and taking it for a walk. I think the boyos will be fascinated and enjoy the project as well

Cheers

Gary