*Weight of hull:
Hull weight will depend on skill of the builder and chosen build materials. Achieving
the lowest overall weight will require the best materials and a highly skilled
builder.
The
Merrimac is designed to be more maneuverable than our other recreational canoe,
The Townsend.
With
the moderate rocker, slight V-bottom, and tumble home side panels, moving this
canoe through turns and currents will be easy and fun. The side panels also require
less leaning to reach the water allowing for easier and more stable paddling.
The
Merrimac can be made from 3 sheets of 4' x 8' (1.2m x 2.4m) plywood. One additional
sheet (actually less than 1/2 sheet) will be required to make temporary frames.
These frames can be made from any quality of plywood so don't spend your money
on 4th sheet of high-grade material.
The
frames are spaced so the builder has the option of making them permanent and construct
1 or 2 compartments located fore and aft. The compartments can be left hollow,
filled with buoyancy foam, or be used with an access hatch for dry storage. The
compartments will provide enough reserve floatation to make the canoe unsinkable.
The
frames can be completely omitted from the final hull construction by using mini-decks
(also known as breasthooks) at the bows.
The
required gunnels provide the needed stiffness to the hull and allow you to hang
seats or mount fishing rod holders.
One
thwart is required at midship. Check out our Free
Portage Yolk Plans. You'll have the thwart and a way to carry your canoe
all in one piece.
Add bench seats,
cane seats, or kneel right on the floor and you're ready to go. Check out our
Customer Service Forum
to see some different seating ideas.
Built
with the stitch-and-glue method, our designs require no complicated techniques.
Everything can be done with simple hand tools.
We
make great efforts to keep our plans simple. No experience reading blue prints
required, no base lines to refer back to, no adding up dimensions to get the one
you want. Everything is laid out for you in an easy to follow, step by step manner.
A
first time builder who carefully follows the detailed instructions provided in
the plans could build this canoe with good results.
Always wear
your Personal Floatation Device!
