Hi,
Just thought
I would tell you how much I like my Snowshoe 16. I built it as
per the plans, except for the seats. I'm a fairly heavy guy (220+
lbs.) and while I usually do kneel when traveling, I built this
canoe for fishing, and I do like to sit while fishing. So I built
the seats out of 1x1 1/2 ash, half lapped the joints and caned
the seats w/ plastic cane from H Perkins (203-389-9501). I think
they are the only ones in the US w/ plastic cane. After seeing
the flex in the seats (3/8 or so ) when my 160 LB son sits in
it I'm glad I went w/ the ash and a bit larger stock size. I also
set the keel w/ #4 flat head wood screws. Except for these modifications
it is strictly stock, and I think it looks mighty nice, if I do
say so.
We just got
back from field testing it in the Adirondaks. We took it in 3
carries of the St. Regis chain and camped and fished. After making
the same trip many times w/ a Grumman 16' you can imagine how
nice the snowshoe was on the carries.
My only negative
observation is that it tends to be a bit "tippy" for
the first 5 or 10 degrees from vertical, even w/400 lbs. of crew.
It does not seem to want to tip any further and all and all is
stable after that. I did not try to push it but I hope to try
to swamp it some time soon.
Going in we
had it loaded with almost 400 lbs. of humans and 125+ lbs. of
freight. It handled like a dream. Even w/ just myself in it handles
better than any plastic or aluminum canoe I have ever tried. It
seems a lot more like a wood/canvas Old Town, except that it sits
a lot higher and picks up the wind a bit more. Surprisingly, it
is no worse in the wind than the Grumman. Maybe better.
All told a
delightful craft, I'm glad I built it, and expect to enjoy it
extensively.
Thank you
Kim Kolakowski