Traditional Muzzleloading Association

The Center of Camp => People of the Times => Topic started by: Ppanepinto on October 13, 2013, 03:41:14 PM

Title: One man French Boats
Post by: Ppanepinto on October 13, 2013, 03:41:14 PM

Not sure where this should be, but I'm looking for some research help on what I could build as far as a one man boat for South Louisiana at or around 1750. I was thinking ether a canoe or a pirogue, but I can't do a dugout and I can't find anything on birchbark canoes in the area. Can someone point me in the right direction on where to look up some of this information. I was thinking about planking or strips, but the issue is what would be PC/H/C.

Title: Re: One man French Boats
Post by: sse on October 15, 2013, 10:58:04 AM

You might find some useful info here...

http://womenofthefurtrade.com/page20.html

Title: Re: One man French Boats
Post by: Voyageur on October 15, 2013, 11:53:57 AM

Try googling Pirogue, I'm positive you will get results. I was looking into building one and had gone as far as looking for plans. I remember finding a couple of sites......"Doc"

Title: Re: One man French Boats
Post by: Ppanepinto on October 15, 2013, 07:56:49 PM

I have plans for a pirogue, but I think it only dates back to about 1880. Thought about strip planking a rowboat/skiff out to 15 foot. The bullboats look like a cool idea, but being 300 lbs, it may turn into a soup bowl very quickly.

Title: Re: One man French Boats
Post by: mario on October 17, 2013, 08:51:09 PM

As far as the PC/HC issue:

You won't find info on birchbark canoes in LA because they weren't there. The BB canoe is a North Woods vessel.

Dugouts are obviously #1, but heavy and not very practical for 21st century folks (although I want one anyway when I move South).

You may simply have to fudge it a little and make a pirogue out of cypress planking or build a punt-type boat.

Mario

Title: Re: One man French Boats
Post by: Ppanepinto on October 17, 2013, 09:39:29 PM

Thanks Mario, I know someone that builds dugouts from recovered sunken cypress logs, but 1.) I want to do the work, and 2.) I can not afford one of his finished boats. The punt is something I will look into.

Title: Re: One man French Boats
Post by: mario on October 18, 2013, 07:58:05 PM

Out of curiosity, what does one of his dugouts cost?

Mario

Title: Re: One man French Boats
Post by: Ppanepinto on October 18, 2013, 08:47:33 PM

last time I spoke with him, around $4000-5000. The issue is the long drying time for the sunken logs.

Title: Re: One man French Boats
Post by: mario on October 19, 2013, 07:33:12 PM

All things considered, not terrible. Runs about the same as a good birchbark canoe.

They just found an 18-footer in Florida made of pine. Pine seems easier to find (and cheaper) than cypress these days.

Mario

Title: Re: One man French Boats
Post by: Ppanepinto on November 09, 2013, 09:33:48 PM

Think I'm going to go with this one:

Free plans to build an English Style Punts from an old children's book. (http://www.christinedemerchant.com/free-punt-plans.html)

what do you think?

Title: Re: One man French Boats
Post by: mario on November 09, 2013, 11:50:54 PM

Seems similar to the sketch I posted above.

Title: Re: One man French Boats
Post by: Riley/MN on November 10, 2013, 09:32:43 AM

Quote from: "Ppanepinto"

Think I'm going to go with this one:

Free plans to build an English Style Punts from an old children's book. (http://www.christinedemerchant.com/free-punt-plans.html)

what do you think?

I have that book! Loved the Ben Hunt stuff!