Frequently
Asked Questions
Click on
a question.
What
is a pirogue?
A
pirogue is a canoe-like water craft originally used by the Cajuns
in the swamps of Louisiana. They were designed to get into extremely
shallow water, like swamps and marshes, but can also be used in
lakes or rivers. Pirogues were invented by some of the craftiest
outdoorsman, the Cajuns, and hunters and fisherman still use them
today.
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What
are the pirogue's specifications?
| Length |
13'
- 9" |
| Beam |
3' |
| Sides |
11" |
The
Cajun Secret Pirogue is 13'-9" in length. This length is
big enough to hold two men, yet still small enough to navigate
even the most remote backwaters. At the pirogue's widest point,
it is 3 feet. The sides are 11 inches high.
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How
is the pirogue constructed?
Basically,
the pirogue is constructed in a 3 step process. The sides are
cut out, they are attached to the bow stems, and the bottom is
attached. Check out pictures of the
pirogue being constructed here.
There are other small steps such as attaching chines, adding seats,
trim, etc., but some of these are optional.
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What
type of plywood is used?
Depending
on how much you want to spend, you have a few options when buying
the plywood. The cheapest way to go is to "scarf" or
join two pieces of smaller plywood to create a larger piece.
Click
here for an explanation
on how this is done. Click
here to view pictures of the scarfing process. This
is done with exterior grade 1/4" plywood, which can be bought
at any home improvement center or lumber yard. If you use two
pine pieces, the cost will be about $30, fir pieces will be about
$50. If you decide not to scarf two pieces, a 14' sheet of marine
quality plywood will cost approx. $98. This can be ordered from
Robichaux's Lumber Yard (see below).
Robichaux's
Lumber Company in Raceland, Louisiana
Phone: 985-447-7035
(shipping
and handling, approx. $50)
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What
advantages does a pirogue offer over a canoe?
Unlike
canoes, pirogues have more of a flat bottom which allows them
to get in water as shallow as a couple inches, even with a heavy
load. This allows them to get to fishing holes and hunting spots
where an ordinary canoe cannot go. The pirogue is more stealthy
and low profile than a canoe. The two removable bench seats are
another advantage that the pirogue has. One or both of the seats
can be removed, depending on your needs, and the space is freed
up for storage, etc. The Cajun Secret Pirogue is also made of
cheap and easy-to-find materials, which can be assembled easily.
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How
much does it cost to build one?
The
estimated cost of building the pirogue is approximately $125 -
$300, depending on if fiberglass is used, quality of wood, etc.
For the one long piece of plywood needed, you can scarf
your own out of two pieces
of 1/4" exterior grade plywood like you would find at your
local hardware store. The more expensive option would be to buy
a 14' piece of marine plywood from a place like Robichaux's.
Scarfing is much more economical, and two sheets of plywood will
cost between $30 and $60, depending on what kind of plywood is
used. A 14' sheet of marine plywood from Robichaux's runs about
$98. For more information on the plywood, click
here. For more information on
scarfing, click
here.
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What
can I do with my pirogue?
The
better question is, "What CAN'T I do with my pirogue?!"
The pirogue's amazing versatility makes for a large number of
applications. If you do any type of hunting or fishing, you must
own a pirogue. Is the river too shallow or too narrow to navigate?
Not for the Cajun Secret Pirogue. This boat can almost float in
mud! Do you need to get the boat to a remote put-in spot? The
light weight of the pirogue makes it easy for one man to drag
or for two men to carry.
If
you are not an outdoorsman but have always dreamed of building
your own boat, the Cajun Secret Pirogue is a dream come true.
It is a simple yet solid design, and also very affordable. The
plans are easy to understand and include many large diagrams.
The boat can be built in a short period of time. The design is
also very elegant, not like some pirogues I have seen. Your friends
and family will be impressed with such a good looking boat, but
you will know that it was deceptively simple to build.
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What
do customers have to say about the pirogue?
"I
want to thank you for a quality set of plans that have led to
the making of a beautiful and functional boat. I am an avid canoeist
and sailor. This spring I had a fellow canoeist and friend from
South Africa come to my home on the coast of North Carolina for
a six week stay. In addition to our "on the water" activities
we decided in advance to build a small boat while he was here.
After considerable cruising of web sites we decided on your plans
based on another builders recommendation and on the appearance
of your finished boat...(read
the rest)"
Thomas
Hill, Stonewall, NC
"This
thing is contagious! I have the typical battery of boats, but
not one that I can take when I have a few hours to kill with the
flyrod, and throw in or on top of the truck. The cost of your
boat saves a lot of dollars that can be used for duck hunting
and fishing stuff. Take care, Gene."
Gene
Walk, Alabama
"I have been debating building your pirogue or a stitch and
glue canoe. The canoe would only allow one person(me) to get in,
so I think I would prefer your boat, since someone else could
go with me in it. I think your design is excellent, and the construction
looks very easy."
Jeff
Jouett, Texas
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How
much are the plans?
The
plans are priced very reasonably at $19.95. This is the lowest
price you will find a quality set of plans for anywhere. On
top of that, I give free shipping on every order!
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What
is included in the plans?
The
plans include detailed text instructions, a materials list
and full page diagrams. They give simple, step-by-step directions
that make it very easy to follow. You don't need to know any
special woodworking lingo or have advanced math skills to
be able to successfully build this pirogue.
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How
do I order a set of plans?
To
order a set of plans, simply click on the "order"
link in navigation bar on the left-hand side of every page
on this site. Or scroll down to the bottom of this page and
click the "Order Now" text.
Ordering
with a credit card:
At
the order page, click the "Buy Now" button. This
will direct you to our credit card processing company, CCNow.
Select your shipping, and click the "Pay and Finish"
button at the bottom of the page. Confirm your order information
and click "Secure Checkout". This will ensure maximum
security when processing your personal information. Clicking
"Standard Checkout" is not insecure, but "Secure
Checkout" provides the highest level of protection. Now,
fill in your address and credit card information, and click
"Submit This Order" at the bottom of the page.
Ordering
with a personal check or money order:
At
the order page, scroll down to my name and address. Make the
check out for the appropriate amount depending on where you
live.
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Why
does it say CCNow when I go to order?
CCNow
is the company that I use to process my credit card orders.
CCNow is a reliable, reputable company that has over 50,000
clients, is a member of the online section of the Better Business
Bureau, and has been praised in national publications such
as the New York Times.
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Is
my credit card information secure?
The
credit card processing company, CCNow, is a large company
with state-of-the-art encryption technology. With the method
that they use for processing, there in no safer way to buy
online at this time.
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How
long will it take for my plans to arrive?
If
you order online, your order will be sent the next business
day. So depending on where you live, an online order will
take anywhere from 3-5 days to arrive at your doorstep. Checks
will obviously take longer, due to the time the check is in
the mail.
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Do
you accept PayPal?
If
you would prefer to use Pay Pal instead of our normal credit
card ordering, please contact
me(nick@cajunsecret.com) via email.
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Do
you have a question that I can answer for you? Feel free to contact
me(nick@cajunsecret.com).
Order
cajun pirogue plans and let the good times roll!
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