JEM Watercraft

First if you are new here I am the black sheep ,Howdy
Chucks canoe is awesome ,I had a chance to paddle beside him for three days and it is an awesome craft. Now coming from me someone who doesn"t like canoes that is a heck of a statement.
I can't compare the bs188 or what ever the numbers are,because all 9 of my boats have been laun. I have a tendency to be pretty rough on a boat and they have stood up well.
Ron
PS I know Matt I am going back to my corner

Ron does not baby his boats and they take a beating and keep on ticking just like the ad tells you for the Timex Watch. He is not gentile with his boats , no way and no how. Like he said , they are there for him to use and he does use them in some ways that might give you nightmares ... they did to me.

He drags them off the bank of the river , over rocks and runs rapids till the hang up and he has to go threw them backwards.

Up on the gravel bars by dragging them and all sorts of other ( what I call abuse) but they stay together for him and come out of it like a champion.

Heck , he only unloads enough stuff ( and he has plenty packed in them) so the boat can be picked up by two guys to toss it on a canoe rack on the trailer. Then what was taken out is put back in.

Darn he had one boat on a rack at his place and it was full of rain water from all the storms before the trip and that boat did not sag at all , just sat there on the rack like it was nothing..... I sure hope he drained it and flipped it over.

Chuck.

Thanks Ron & Chuck -

Yeah I'm new to these parts. This is my first build and I'm kind of blown away by all the info to take in. I'm in the process of reading a couple books and the wealth of info here before I start building. I just got back from Lowes and Home Depot (and a local wood work shop earlier) so far the only option I have available is 5.2mm (1/4") ply/luan (oak, birch, and something labeled sandeply). Any thoughts on what the final weight of a 12' Sasquatch made from this stuff would be? All other factors being equal I guess. I'd much rather find 5/32" or even 1/8" I think, but I guess you gotta play the hand your dealt.

what city and state are you in?

G'day Bloke!

and welcome aboard.

I have built one or two of Matt's fine boats too, both out of Okuoume and Luann and while the marine grade Okuoume is superior to work with, it is not necessary for a very good boat.

I would recommend you have a look at Matt's kit for whatever boat you decide on. You could actually end up saving money on the cost of the materials and also save yourself a heap of work.

Re Sasquatch, I built the Sas 16.5 and couldn't be happier with it. Truly beautiful boats.

I'm in Columbia, SC Matt.

Charleston - Marine Lumber Supply LLC, 2060 North Hopson Ave, 29405, 843/554-2425

They might carry it.