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Good thoughts. While the advantages and disadvantages of previous builds (along with other boats) is always the consideration and process I have never sat down and put them on paper. Very likely to do that.

There's better mousetraps and best mousetraps and as I said I'm looking for the former not the later. Every step you take is better.

"Working" is all relative. Although it lasted many trips there are reasons the non-glassed 1/4 ply boat was turned into a couple book shelves. Just as there are reasons the luan boat is piled in an outbuilding covered in dirt. While the old ones worked it's time for a better mousetrap. I've...

Thanks for all the input guys! Age old question.....1/4 ply vs. Luan? I've built two boats, one with 1/4 BC ply, the other with luan, neither were fully glassed just taped seams and epoxied. The 1/4 was durable, able to bounce it off rocks and logs and remain intact. The luan? Wife, all 120lbs...

Good points. Max width is basically a known factor. I effectively solo paddle a 34-1/2" wide tandom canoe. Only occasionally banging the gunnels with my double paddle if I get careless. That's why currently I'm thinking 34" wide. I'm still torn on my "split". Part of me says to keep the bottom...

You are partially correct. You could say my preference is due to experience with canoes but it's all about comfort and effectiveness not about style. As I stated above, anymore then a couple hours on my butt and I'm hurting. Seats and/or thwarts high enough to kneel gives one options and...

If your question is why something high vs a traditional low seat it's for kneeling. If your questing is thwart vs just a higher seat a kneeling thwart is generally angled down to better conform to your bum. Seats are flat, perpendicular to the water. Just a comfort factor.

Thanks Chuck. Honestly one thing that pushed me away from pirogues and kayaks was the sitting on my butt as i got older. Regardless of all the seats I've tried about 2 hours on my butt, legs in front was all it can handle. Goal is to build a fishing pirogue that I can install a higher...

I've built two in the past, both 20 years ago and not worth salvaging, and am getting ready to start another for small water fishing. While not wanting a barge stability over speed. Generally speaking how might I address these aspects? Rocker? Previous builds both had around 4 inches total...

Hello all again. Have a question, not a boat question but along the same lines. My lastest project is a small camper. Similier to a teardrop but with a more modern design that I came up with. It's all built, sanded and all the screw holes are filled with Bondo. Now I'm ready for the top...

Ya, Ya, I know, I messed it up good. Oh well, it will work out. Here's the plan: For anyone not familier with Matt's Iroquois design it's a 5 panel canoe. I had messed up the bottom panel and the 2 upper panels. The 2 mid panels are fine. Being the rash and impatient type I have already...

Ok, I went it did it good this time. I have all my plywood cut, sanded, stained, voids filled and 1 coat of epoxy. I have the colors just right and the wood looking good. Time for the butt joints. I had looked at getting some plexiglass from Lowe's but instead I picked up some 1/4" glass that...

Great info Matt. What about poplar? I have a contractor buddy who has some 16' poplar stock around. Also, what color can I expect from epoxied poplar (i.e. yellow like pine, golden like oak or whiteish like ash, etc)? Think I'll try the wheat flour on my next boat. I won't on mine but the...

Dang it felt good!!!! Sun was out, daytime temps of 75-80, nighttime temp around 50. Water was cool and clear (for an Iowa river) and running a perfect flow. Every other time I/we have done the Skunk River it's been durring the summer and water has always been low and slow. Not this time, it was...

Anyone out there know how much difference there is in the weight between ash, red oak, cypress, white pine, etc? I'm planning on using red oak for my slotted gunnels, the outwales and the 2 thwarts on my canoe and was wondering what the weight difference would be over the other choices...

Found some Min-Wax water based stain at home depot for about $8/quart. I picked up 2 quarts in a "rosewood" color. We'll see if this works. Zeb, your boat does look nice in that walnut. I, too, am worried about my filets. Putty filets are not my strong point to say the least! I don't know how...

Hey Zeb, How did your stain work on the areas of your pirogue that already has epoxy on it? I figuered I'd have to do all the staining before I did any epoxy work. CB

Getting ready to start the Iroquois Take II. I do not want to paint it but I don't really like the color (too much orange) of pine ply with fiberglass and epoxy clear coat. I was gonna just tint the epoxy but from what I understand it has a solid color and doesn't allow for any of the natural...

As a matter of fact Scooter the bottom of my boat looks just like that. As a matter of fact, I saw your post of in the pirogue section last night while looking around. Your solutions definetly gives me options but I would more than likely need to put in 5 braces since my canoe doesn't have any...

I agree Matt. By the time I do anything to the existing shell I could have a new hull ready for tape and fiberglass. I think I'll just start over. I'll also keep the old shell around and may finish it anyway. No sense throwing it away just because of some warping. BTW Matt, the shape and...