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Canoe Selection Question - Trapper it is!

Posted: Tue Jun 09, 2015 5:17 am
by FirstinLastout
Hi Folks,

I'm close to pulling the trigger on plans for an open canoe as I'm looking for a canoe that can be used for tandem river/lake & coastal trips with myself and my wife as well as a spot of fishing and general mucking about.

I'm veering towards the Trapper due to liking the traditional lines but have a couple of questions in regards to it.
I was thinking along the lines of the Trapper 15 - 38; I assume that the 38 option offers greater stability & load carrying ability, but are there there other advantages or disadvantages with this over the less beamy options?

Also are more traditional Trapper more effected by wind than say the Sasquatch boats? Anyone got experience piloting both in similarly windy conditions?
Or perhaps I'm just over thinking it altogether....

Thanks!!

Re: Canoe Selection Question

Posted: Tue Jun 09, 2015 5:47 am
by jem
Narrower Trapper will move through water easier and be light. Sasquatch will perform better in water that's a little more choppy and it has a lower wind profile than the Trapper.

Re: Canoe Selection Question

Posted: Tue Jun 09, 2015 10:39 am
by FirstinLastout
Hi Matt,

Thanks for the reply.
Going by your response the Sasquatch would probably be the more suitable option as living here in the NW of Ireland there is seldom a wind free day so wind and chop is something we have to put up with.

However might the Trapper be a more stable option than the Sasquatch as a fishing platform?
Am I right in thinking that it also requires 1 less ply sheet (Trap 15-35) than the Sasquatch 16-33?
Less a couple of panels so also a slightly quicker build time??

Thanks Matt for your help!

Re: Canoe Selection Question

Posted: Tue Jun 09, 2015 4:34 pm
by jem
Correct on both.... more stable and less plywood required.

Re: Canoe Selection Question

Posted: Tue Jun 09, 2015 8:17 pm
by Mick
G'day FirstinLastout and welcome aboard.

I built the Sasquatch 16.5 X33 and it is still my favourite and most versatile boat.
I chose my Sasquatch for river and lake paddling and touring and she performs so well in that environment that I just can't imagine replacing her with any other design. When Mat says that a Trapper will move even easier through the water, then a Trapper must be a very good boat indeed.

In my opinion however, no open canoe is suited well to open water paddling so just a word of caution there.

Re: Canoe Selection Question

Posted: Sun Jun 14, 2015 10:24 am
by FirstinLastout
Thanks Mick for your response. Appreciate the advice, and great build btw.

Still looking for a local supplier of marine ply that don't charge an arm and a leg. Generally it's 4-5mm marine ply that's used, yeah?
I can get 6mm marine but I imagine this'll be way too heavy? ?
I can also get 4mm exterior grade ply, with glassing might this be an option? I'd wonder about possible longevity of my craft.

Re: Canoe Selection Question

Posted: Sun Jun 14, 2015 11:16 am
by jem
FirstinLastout wrote:Thanks Mick for your response. Appreciate the advice, and great build btw.

Still looking for a local supplier of marine ply that don't charge an arm and a leg. Generally it's 4-5mm marine ply that's used, yeah?
I can get 6mm marine but I imagine this'll be way too heavy? ?
I can also get 4mm exterior grade ply, with glassing might this be an option? I'd wonder about possible longevity of my craft.
6mm might be too stiff to bend.

the 4mm exterior... if it's from Home Depot or Lowes or similar, not a good idea. The outter veneer is paper thin and the inner plies are made from poplar or something similar which means it's brittle.

Re: Canoe Selection Question

Posted: Sun Jun 14, 2015 11:24 am
by FirstinLastout
Thanks Matt.
Won't be Home depot or similar as they're not over here in Ireland.

Re: Canoe Selection Question

Posted: Mon Jun 15, 2015 7:06 am
by FirstinLastout
Well that's that decided then, Trapper 15-35 plans just ordered. :D :D
Looking forward to receiving them and getting stuck in.
Thanks Matt & Mick, with a bit of luck I'll manage to get enough done to start a build thread before too long.
First things first is give the workshop a good tidying and clear some space in it.