JEM Watercraft

Chaps,

As I haven't paddled many canoes I want to share my experience and see if what I found is what I should have found and if someone can explain why I'd be most appreciative.

Friday night I got the chance to paddle a 16ft Sasquatch and my Southwind for a very short run. The Sasquatch builder + his young daughter were in the Southwind and I was in the Sasquatch with my young son. I used his reasonably priced double paddle he used my cheap double paddle (first thing I laid my hands on).

Our passengers didn't paddle.

The Sasquatch kept good pace and seemed to keep up with the Southwind, would this be expected?

The Southwind turned and headed for the beach quite nimbly, whilst the Sasquatch had the turning circle of an oil tanker? Or was that just me?

I haven't broken the 10km/h barrier yet, but I will...

Before I start another build I want to make sure the performance of the next boat is similar in terms of pace/effort to the Southwind, I'm not really bothered if it doesn't turn as well.

This is so that I can paddle the Southwind with one passenger and Mrs Tor can paddle the other with two passengers across small lakes and up small rivers for picnics (max a couple of hours each way) and so that we can paddle "together".

Thanks,

Tor

Tor,
Which South Wind did you build? The longer one or the 15-30.

Jimmy

Knowing the lengths of each you're referring to would be helpful.

it's the 16ft Sasquatch vs the 15ft Southwind

Matt would know the differences better, but even with the Sasquatch being longer and wider and the South Wind being asymmetrical, the hulls look fairly similar below the waterline. I would expect them to run about the same pace. I have never paddled a Sasquatch, but the South Wind isn't all that nimble so the difference there might be mainly the paddlers. Some day I will probably build myself a Sasquatch. I really like my South Wind though.

I have the Sasquatch 14 x 30 and it will turn on a dime and offer some change , one sweet canoe for paddling between trees or around obstacles that like to get in the way when paddling/camping on a river.

Chuck.

The sas 16-33 is meant to be a solo distance tripper or short tandem. As a distance tripper, turning was not as important as tracking. It also has more of "skegged" entry and exit which contributes to straighter tracking. Finally, is wider and longer than the South Wind 15 so it will be harder to turn.

Thanks, that confirmed what I experienced and so I am much happier about that.

I double checked what plans I had and I've got the 14 ft version of the Sasquatch so Chuck says this will turn on a dime (or translated into pommie - turn on a sixpence and of course I believe pommie should be limey translating from Aussie into yankee but I digress)

So is this performance just because the 14ft boat is shorter or are there other characteristics which make it turn and what compromises are therefore made?

I like the tracking of the 16ft so I'm looking to make sure I build the right craft to support the Southwind carrying less experienced or young paddlers. 16ft is about the maximum I want to build due to transport limitations

Tor

The 14' will turn easier due to shorter length.

Much also depends on the load on board and paddler technique/skill.

G'day Tor,

Mate, I own both the Sasquatch 16-33 and Southwing 17'9",

I love them both equally and that is to say, that I LOVE them a lot. I paddle both with a single blade.

They are, however, very different boats to paddle. In calm conditions, I would call them about equal in speed and turning ability. Southwind very definately has the advantage when paddling into wind or chop.

Both of these boats were special requests for me, and the intent for them, as Matt has said was speed, comfortable paddling and extraordinarily good tracking, over manouverability. They both achieve this very well.

If you need maneuverability, I would recommend a shorter boat.