Wee Rob or Macgregor

[Ed Armstrong]

I'm trying to decide between the Wee Rob or the Macgregor Canoe, both by Oughtred. My wife wants a kayak, but I'm planning on convincing her that a double-paddle canoe is a better choice, so that she has the option of taking one of the kids with her when she goes out. I also just like these two Oughred designs, and I've already built an Acorn, so I have familiarity with his plans and the glued lapstrake method. Does anyone know if the plans from our hosts are the most current? Comparing them to Oughtred's latest Design Catalog, they look very similar, though the Wee Rob sail area is 6 sq ft less in the design catalog than in the WB store. She wants a light boat that she can get up on the car top by herself, so the Wee Rob is currently more appealing, but the Macgregor, being slightly beamier, would be better at carrying her and one of the kids. Are there any other major differences between the two that will help make up my mind?

Thanks,

Ed

[skuthorp]

I've been sailing, paddling and rowing a decked 15'7" Macgreggor for over 9 years now and find it a beautiful and useful craft. Mine has the single balanced lug rig, in retrospect the 2 masted version would have been a better choice. I also lengthened the cockpit by 14" aft to make it more friendly to sail for 2 adults and gear. I am away for a few days, I did a search for relevant threads and you'll find other links within these threads.
http://www.woodenboat.com/forum/search.php?searchid=2681978

I can also reccommend the on line Canoe Sailing Magazine run by a forumite.
http://www.canoesailingmagazine.com/

[Steve Lansdowne]

MacGregor is wider and more of a sailing boat that can paddle, while Wee Rob is narrower and more of a paddling boat that can sail. I know you can build the Wee Rob in three different lengths, but I'm not sure if the MacGregor can be built as short as the Wee Rob's shortest length.

[BobW]

Looks like Wee Rob and the MacGregor lengths can overlap...

From the WoodenBoat Store Wee Rob plan description:

Can be built 12', 13'7", or 15'2" from the same set of plans.

From the WoodenBoat Store MacGregor plan description:

Beamier, but no less elegant than the Wee Rob, this more stable double-paddle canoe can carry sail better. Any of the three lengths (13'6", 15'8", or 17'3") can be built using the same plans.

Bob

[Ed Armstrong]

Thanks guys. Sounds like my wife would be happier with the Wee Rob, since she's more of a paddler than a sailor. I may build the sailing rig in the future, but for now, my goal is to have something she can use to explore creeks.

I am looking forward to building the decked rather than the open version, to try my hand at building a deck.

Ed

[Osborne Russell]

I used to paddle a MacGregor 15'7". Very nearly too wide for good paddling. The paddle bonks the side unless you hold it up, which is tiring. Use a thick padded seat to raise yourself up and/or keep the coamings low or absent at the paddling position. But those things are bad for sailing.

Sailing with more than one aboard is not recommended. Not even a dog.

[skuthorp]

ESPECIALLY not a dog! But I regularly sail with a crew, a woman without the use of her legs, but a great swimmer!

[Ed Armstrong]

Well, I ordered the plans for the Wee Rob from our host. Hopefully, in a month or two, I'll have some construction photos to show.

Cheers,

Ed

[BobW]

Good choice, Ed!

I look forward to watching you build the Wee Rob.

Bob

[Paul Kessinger]

You might want to look at a site I did some time ago on building a Wee Rob. www.geocities.com/pkessinger (http://www.geocities.com/pkessinger)

I just finished an Auk and will be adding that to the site.

I feel very safe in the Wee Rob on Long Island Sound, which can build quite a chop. In fact, as I mentioned in the site, I think I overbuilt and if I were to do it again, I would minimize decks and use even lighter plywood (okoume vs. sapele) at 4 mm to keep the weight down. Up and down off the car or a dinghy rack is okay, but carrying the dead weight by myself I'm only good for about 30 feet between rest stops. Next year I'm going to build a dolly.

I am a huge Oughtred fan. I probably haven't opened the geocities site in 6 months, but just looking at the Wee Rob in the opening photo brings back terrific memories of building this great design.

PK

[Ed Armstrong]

Thanks Paul. I've only spent a few minutes perusing your site, but it looks like a great read. Our tastes in boats are similar. I also love Oughtred's designs, and my prior (and first) build is an Acorn dinghy (aka Puffin), a cousin to the Auk.

I'll look forward to gleaning tips from your site as I progress in my Wee Rob build.

Ed

[mcdenny]

Paul, enjoyed your build commentary very much. You made it entertaining and nothing is more fun than building a new boat in your head (cheap too!)

[davebrown]

ed--i hope i can stop by and see your boat. i work from time to time in placerville.

[Ed Armstrong]

Hi Dave,

You're more than welcome to visit. It'll probably be a month or two until I start the Wee Rob; I'm currently working on a model of Paul Gartside's 22 foot cutter. I live off of Pleasant Valley Road about 5 miles east of Diamond Springs. Send me a PM.

Ed

[Songololo]

Hi Ed

My Wee Rob build is still in progress, started in August 2007, finished planking a few weeks ago and glued on the aft outer stem on the weekend ... funny how time just seems to fly on bye!!!

Initially I bought the WB plans and then upgraded them to Iain's latest version for a small upgrade fee. He has made a few changes, one of them being one less mold and IIRC one less plank per side. The quality of Iain's plans is really good and well worth the small extra cost. I'd need to compare the two sets of plans to see what else has changed.

Lance

[Ed Armstrong]

Hi Lance,

Thanks for the information. I know what you mean about timelines -- it took me 3 years to complete my Acorn dinghy (4 including the sailing rig). The WB plans for the Wee Rob should come tonight.

Ed

[GregX999]

What's the technical difference between a kayak and a decked canoe?

[Ed Armstrong]

Hopefully someone will chime in that knows the answer. My guess would be the shape of the hull. Also, in the kayaks that I've seen, the cockpit is much smaller (except in the "sit on" kind, which don't have a cockpit opening), so that you can fit a spray-skirt. I doubt that you'd be able to use a spray-skirt on the decked canoes for which I've seen plans.

Ed