Pirogue Build

[David Palmer]

Hey folks! I've done a lot of searching through this site about different pirogue builds. I built one several years ago, but didn't like how squirrely it was.

Watched a video on www.pawpawspirogues.com yesterday and would love to build one like his.

Is there anyone among us that has owned one of Paw Paw's Pirogues, or better yet, has anyone ever built a pirogue similar to his?

Here's to the possibility of floating in dew later this year!

Grace and peace,

David

 

[Bob B]

David,
that is a nice site and a good overall view of his ideas about what he likes in a Pirogue. I have never built one but it is very similar to the small skiffs we build here. Also very similar to the 10 hour canoe.
If you want to practice the build start with a model using cardboard or model ply.
That will show you how the panels bend and rake the ends up when you push out the flare in the middle.

I would encourage you to fool around at full size in cheap 1\4 inch luan ply if you dont have a plan you like for sure. It is low cost and will bend just like good ply or solid board stock sides like the cypress he uses. Glue it with PL2000 or indoor outdoor yellow glue and nails into the 3\4 square chine strips and bow and stern stems. If you want to use up that half can of house latex in the garage paint it on.
(Back in the early days of this site Mark did just this to prove that it would float)

Heres why. Every boat I ever built I always learned something I would do a bit differently next time. Make what you think it should be and float it in shallow, safe, warm, summer water and see if it works. Then cut it up and build the one you now know you need out of the good stuff that isnt quite as cheap. With the assurance that you know how it will act in the water.

Not so easy with a bigger more complicated boat but a snappy weekend with a Pirogue, esp after that beauty you built already.

 

[CraigS]

I built a Uncle John's Pirogue back a few years ago, 1/4 luan and epoxy/glass. It has had many miles put on it in 6-7years that I have had it. Its lite and easy to handle, the Wife won't touch the canoe any more she alway has to have the Pirogue!

 

[Nate Hoyt]

All pirogues are very tippy. It is just part of the game. The little 12-14' paddling designs are the most unstable because they are so narrow, but if you sit down to paddle, they aren't too bad. Pirogues that are designed for paddling, like the Paw Paw design, always have a lot of rocker. I like a ~14' pirogue for paddling. If you mostly push pole, you will want a pirogue with little to no rocker that is a bit longer. We use Ron Chapman Shipwright Inc ~16' pirogues (the King model) for push poling. By pirogue standards, they are very stable. As someone mentioned, all the cheap canoe/6 hr canoe plans are good options. Any flat bottom "canoe" is the same thing as a pirogue. Gator Boat Co has a plan that I like. Uncle John's General Store has another very good plan.

Nate

 

[Neal Haarberg]

I agree with the build it for cheap attitude. I built one and just used house paint on it. It lasted for about 5 years before it deteriorated to a point where it was unsafe. I would not build one again for myself. It just didn't really fit my needs to well so I was glad to do it on the cheap and it didn't feel too bad to cut it up. Plus the other up side for building a small boat like that, that may not last for many years is you get to build another on even sooner!!