New Member - First Build & Second Build | SouthernPaddler.com

New Member - First Build & Second Build

Joe Rugby

Member
Dec 21, 2017
5
1
54
Shenandoah Valley - Virginia
Greetings All!

Built my first pirogue for me best buddy up in Connecticut and delivered it 2 weeks ago, and tested it in a snow storm! Happy to report it worked like a champ!

12 footer modified from Bateau.com plans.
20171209_110102_resized_zpsdza46icb.jpg


I have now begun my second build and decided to try something "different". All of the plans I have seen pirogues are built sides down. I have decided to go bottom up.

#2 will be 14' long with 30" bean at the center butt join. There are battens attached along the edges that have a 20 degree ascending angle. Picture to come soon!
 

beekeeper

Well-Known Member
Mar 4, 2009
1,917
59
Nice boat.
Pirogues and snow, it happens but not too often.
Welcome to the forum. Please tell us more about the boats, this one and the next one.

beekeeper
 

Kayak Jack

Well-Known Member
Aug 26, 2003
13,976
171
86
Okemos / East Lansing Michigan
Welcome aboard, Joe. Some of the other fellows may try to pull your leg, or put over a fast one on you. But, you can trust me. Over 200 years ago, Cap'n Merriwether taught me to be honest, and I have been ever since.
 

Joe Rugby

Member
Dec 21, 2017
5
1
54
Shenandoah Valley - Virginia
Thanks Gents!

The pictured shell took me about 2 weeks to build. I added ribs and battens to the Bateau.com plans and shortened it as well, bit of over building as it was my first. Did not add the fiberglass but it does have 3 coats of epoxy! Learned an absolute load! Like DO NOT put on rub rails until the end!!! I also added a plastic folding seat picked up on amazon as he has a bad back.
 

oldbuffpilot

Well-Known Member
May 13, 2014
629
34
80
Central Kansas and Central Texas
Joe,
Congratulations! The pirogue smile is contagious. I also just finished another one, but the creek and lake are in Kansas are frozen so launch will have to wait. I'll try to put it on here in a day or two.
There are some good people on this site, thay have an abundance of good advice to pick and choose from. Well crap, I just ended a sentence in a preposition--- I'll bet Jack can fix it for me.

Andy
 

Joe Rugby

Member
Dec 21, 2017
5
1
54
Shenandoah Valley - Virginia
As promised here is boat number 2 under way. Trying to build from bottom up on this one...for no other reason than to see if I can.

Battens are ripped pine 1X2 and the corbels were a bot of a brain storm as a sort of ready made rib.

20171226_185734_zpsf3amw7fe.jpg
 

beekeeper

Well-Known Member
Mar 4, 2009
1,917
59
You will probably make it(from bottom up) work for you. Will it be easier? I don't know.
I also build different than "normal". I start with the floor, then chine logs, and then the sides, but with the floor up(supported from underneath) for ease of fitting. Check out http://www.gatorboats.com/
Two issues I think you might encounter are:
1. Fastening ( clamping, screws, nailing) the sides to the chine log. Awkward to reach with the boat on the table.
2.When the sides are fastened to the stems each end will rise. The floor will have to be bent to match them. May be hard to do with the boat upright and not secured in place.
Just food for thought. "You have to go to know.", so go for it.
 
Last edited:

Gamecock

Well-Known Member
Jul 17, 2012
161
6
Hey Joe, if you go back a few pages in pirogues you will find a build by ilbucksnduks. It's called My Gator Build and he started from the bottom up too. Dave.
 

beekeeper

Well-Known Member
Mar 4, 2009
1,917
59
You will probably make it(from bottom up) work for you. Will it be easier? I don't know.
I also build different than "normal". I start with the floor, then chine logs, and then the sides, but with the floor up(supported from underneath) for ease of fitting. Check out http://www.gatorboats.com/
Two issues I think you might encounter are:
1. Fastening ( clamping, screws, nailing) the sides to the chine log. Awkward to reach with the boat on the table.
2.When the sides are fastened to the stems each end will rise. The floor will have to be bent to match them. May be hard to do with the boat upright and not secured in place.
Just food for thought. "You have to go to know.", so go for it.

This is how mine looks. I fit the sides to the floor so I can control the amount of rocker I want. If you fit the floor to the sides then the sides shape determines how much rocker. Without plans or patterns I would not know how to determine what shape equals how much rocker.
IMG_2453.JPG
 

oldbuffpilot

Well-Known Member
May 13, 2014
629
34
80
Central Kansas and Central Texas
Joe,
I finally figured out I'm not smart enough to build like Bee Keeper and Seed Tick. I very much admire there ability to visualize and build it. Now I pick out a design from JEM and build it SS&G. Of course always tweaking it to suit my needs! Every year that goes by seems I need a lighter more stable boat.
As Bee Keeper said ..go for it.

Andy