Stability

[Goats]

I have a friend that I want to get into paddlesports. My problem is that he is scared of "tippy" boats. What would all of you consider to be the most stable solo boat I could build for him?

[hairymick]

G'day Goats,

A lot depends on where your fried wants to paddle and the type of waters he would be likely to paddle in.

Sheltered waters - have a look here, - canoes

http://www.jemwatercraft.com/proddetail.php?prod=SG

or here

http://www.jemwatercraft.com/proddetail ... d=Iroquois

or here

http://www.jemwatercraft.com/Sasquatch.php

Or pretty much ANY of Matts other canoe designs.

If a little more kayak oriented,

have a look here,

http://www.jemwatercraft.com/FreedomCompare.php

or here,

http://www.jemwatercraft.com/SouthWind.php

or here,

http://www.jemwatercraft.com/proddetail.php?prod=CF

I have built a swampgirl, sasquatch and southwind of this list. I find all of them superbly stable and true delights to paddle - each in their own right.

I stress that these are my own preferences only - for what I like to do in my boats. For what my opinion might be worth, I think all of Matt's designs will prove to be very stable but this is a relative thing.

I am 6' tall and weigh around 200 pounds and have been using paddle craft all of my life. Each of us has our own wants and needs in a boat and each of us is built differently - with different levels of co-ordination.

Based on the very little information you have provided, I don't think your friend would be disappointed with any of the above designs.

Hope this has helped a bit.

[jem]

Cape Fear

[jem]

Thinking about it, we need more info to determine which would be the best.

Paddler experience, intended use, type of waters to be paddled in, expected load on board, etc.

Now there one cooking that just might the king of stability. But SOMEBODY ... who shall remain nameless......... mick ......... needs to prototype it.

[Goats]

Thanks for the responses. I was thinking about the Sasquatch 12-33 for him. The waters we fish are 90 percent still water lakes(river impoundments) and 10 percent slow flowing river. He has no paddling experience at all. If the 12-33 will float low enough I think it will be solid as a rock. For myself, I have plans for the T-V and I am going to build a free laker first. I would be very interested in something along the lines of a 10' to 12' sot with a beam around 33". Thanks again for your help.

[Goats]

The 14' Iroquois looks like a very good option as well.

[jem]

The 12-33 would be ok if, like you said, he had the proper payload on board.

[LEE SCHNEIDERMANN]

Having very limited experience in the kayak form of paddlin', I give a vote to the Freedom. Mine is 99% complete and the day I got to "sea trial" her, she exceeded ALL of my expectaions.
In fact, my gentle bride,(who hates canoeing) has confinscated this first boat, and told me I needed to build one for myself!
Isn't it fitting that the woman I surrendered my first "freedom" to has taken over my hopes for a second!
Gayle Saers said it best, "I am Third"


Lee

[Goats]

Now that's funny! My wife can't swim and doesn't even trust a pfd. I on the other hand was in the water so much when I was young that I could have passed for a fish. I am trying to decide if I want to build the laker first or the Pirogue TV. The one thing I don't like about a canoe is that a double paddle gets too much water in the boat. If some of you that have built the laker could tell me if the cockpit is small enough to keep out alot of the paddle water I would appreciate it.

[tx river rat]

Laker 13 seem pretty dry to me.
Ron