PRODUCT DESCRIPTION:
| Design |
Touring Pirogue |
| Overall Size |
15' x 29" (4.6 x .74 m) |
| Estimated Hull Weight |
35-45 pounds (16k - 21K) |
| Capacity |
125 - 340 lbs on board. (57k - 154 k) |
| Intended Use |
Touring and recreational paddling & fishing in
calm flat waters, creeks, smallish rivers, and swamps. |
| Stability |
Comfortable for a novice paddler to relax and stroke
with ease. Intended for low seating position. |
| Cost |
Cost to build range from about $200 for a basic hull
to $500 for an ultra tough, very lightweight version. |
| Time to build |
25-40 hours |
| Required builder skill level |
Beginner |
ABOUT THE BUILDER
Mick, alias “Hairymick” has built 3 JEM Watercraft boats,
starting with a Swamp Girl, moving to a high performance fishing sit-on-top
kayak (Wadefish). His most recent boat this pirogue. He lives in Australia
and has been heavily involved in paddle craft all of his life, from
surf skis, to canoes & kayaks. Until recently, most of his paddling
experience has been in open ocean and surf conditions.
REVIEW OF BUILDING THE BOAT
This boat was remarkably easy to build. It requires only two 8’
X 4’ sheets of ply to complete the hull and there are no complex
or difficult shapes to measure or cut, no difficult bends or twists
to form in the panels.
Stitching and filleting was quick and easy. There are only three panels
to stitch together.
Installations of the rub rails or gunwales & mini-decks are likewise
quick & easy and are only limited by the builder’s imagination.
There are no difficult edge bends in the gunwales.
I intended to fish from this boat and to this end installed a keel
along the length of the hull. The boat in no way needs this for paddling
ease. My installation was only to reduce wind drift while fishing.
The bottom is layers of resin are graphite enriched to reduce scratches
and to make it a little more slippery to paddle.
. 
My seats are 7.5” above the bottom of this boat and make her feel
a little tippy. I would recommend the seats be no higher than 5"
above the bottom. (even lower if planning to use this for two people
paddling.) Having said that, my high seat works fine for me because
I like to sit high in a canoe and am used to boats that are a bit tippy.
Sit on or just above the floor and she is rock solid stable.
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