The merganser is designed for the paddler who wants the performance and light weight of a boat with the beauty of wood at economical prices. These boats are built from Okoume mahogany plywood for strength and natural good looks. The Merganser tracks well yet maneuvers easily with leaning. This boat is stable enough for the novice yet will perform for the expert. It has a relatively high forward deck to provide leg room and dry ride and a low rear deck for easy rolling. The Merganser is very fun to surf of wind blown waves, accelerating quickly to catch waves and zooming along in a comfortable and controllable way. The waterline is 20 inches wide on the merganser for efficient paddling. Flared sides provide comfortable secondary stability. The multi panel deck and recessed cockpit provide leg and foot room as well as an ergonomic fit in a sleek, low profile kayak.
Beam: 1 ft. 10 in.
Standard features: Available with foam seat, footbraces, flush deck fittings and knob closed hatches standard
Optional features:
Stitch and Glue Plans utilize plywood panels for both the hull and the deck. This is a simpler construction technique. Estimated build time is 60 - 100 hours
Strip Deck Hybrid Plans utilize plywood panels for the hull and and wood strips for the deck. People who enjoy woodworking and want to build a unique boat often choose this construction technique. Estimated build time is 80 - 160 hours.