12' merrimac?

[sdmcnamara2841]

Are plans available for a 12' merrimac?

[jem]

Not currently but I can look into it. Would a 12' Trapper be any more appealing?

[sdmcnamara2841]

You're right, a 12' trapper would be right on! I really like the classic lines. Does the trapper have tendency to heel at an angle on the water? I'd prefer a design that kept me pretty much upright . Also, please forgive what may be a stupid question but my canoe experience is limited to my Old Town royalex camper, do these boats oil can much? The merrimac looks to have a bit of a shallow v hull but I can't tell on the trapper. Thanks Matt!

[jem]

The Trapper is meant to be pretty stable but not so much it acts like a slow barge. If you stay within targeted payload ranges, it will be quite stable.

What's the weight range you'd expect to have on board?

Regarding oil canning, It shouldn't have oil canning issues unless you deviate from the recommended material thickness. But even then, the assembly instructions give details how to address that, if it happens at all.

[sdmcnamara2841]

I weigh 175 plus 80 lbs dog or son on occasion. So I'd say I'm looking to load no more than 250 - 260 lbs in it.

[sdmcnamara2841]

Matt -

After mulling over your available plans I think I'm gonna go with the 12' Sasquatch. That's a good looking boat and I think it'll suit me fine. Thanks for the offer on the 12' Trapper though.

[Oldsparkey]

Just an suggestion..........
I have the 14 x30 Sasquatch and it is one slick canoe. This last trip it preformed like a champion in some nasty waves and wind. Sometimes a person has no choice in the weather when paddling and camping.
It was loaded with a couple of dry bags and camping gear , a food box , camp chair and a couple gallons of water plus myself at 209 pounds.
Paddling in 50 to 55 mph winds , shallow water some rapids and some deep water I did not get a drop inside the canoe and it handled the waves really good. The more I paddle it the more I like it and what it can do.

I have been in canoes all of my 65 years and canoes of all descriptions and the Sasquatch 14 x 30 is the one i have been looking for all those years. It slips along with easy paddling and not a lot of it.

Chuck.
PS. I made it as a solo canoe.

[jem]

That will be a nice one as well.

[sdmcnamara2841]

Thanks Chuck. I think I may have seen pics of your boat and if so those are what helped me decide to go with the Sasquatch. I'm having a rough time finding a suitable plywood for this project in my area. All the threads I'm finding specify okume but that stuff isn't available here and it's $$$ online. I'd really like to use something cheap and readily available. Any suggestions on what to use from Lowes, Home Depot, etc?

[Oldsparkey]

Matt will have a fit but most of my boats have been made from the Luann both those places sell. The Sasquatch was made from a kit that Matt offers which has the Okuma in it.

You might check and see if you can locate a lumber supplier in your area that could offer different choices in the woods. I have one near my place "Prestige Lumber " and they will let me dig threw there stack of Luann to get the good boards to build a boat when I don't get a kit. 10 boats and only two of them have been kits with the wood included.

With a dealer in the boards you can check them out and get some without any voids in them. When I use them I epoxy saturate the wood with several coats ( after it is together) before glassing to get the epoxy into the wood fibers for extra protection. Then glass both the inside and outside of the boat. So far all of them I have made are being used , either by myself or friends that I have given a few of them to.

A boat sealed in epoxy and the fiberglass does last a long time when treated with respect and cared for. I store mine inside , out of the weather and check them after each use , repair any damage , if there is any and make sure the varnish is in good shape and not pealing. The varnish I use ( Z-Spar Captains Varnish or the Z-Spar Flagship Varnish, not the Mid Wax Junk) has never pealed on me unlike the Mid Wax crap has done. The varnish is the sunscreen for the epoxy and fiberglass.

As I like to say .. The wood is the form and the epoxy and glass are the strength ( the wood also helps in that ) of the boat. Basically we paddle a wood toned/colored fiberglass boat.

I am sure you will have a lot more answers to this question about the wood.

Chuck.