Canoe Features and How They Affect Performance
by Canos Avontur
http://www.canoesadventure.com
Your first canoe can be challenging to pick out. There are
many styles and designs to choose from. Each design is for
a different usage. The right canoe for you is not
necessarily the right canoe for someone else. Before
choosing a canoe, consider how it will be used. Will you be
cruising down any white water rivers? How about paddling on
a quiet lake with friends and family? Are you thinking
about competing? All of these questions need to be
addressed before purchasing your canoe. Choose a design
that will meet most of your needs.
Length, width and hull shapes vary in canoes. The sides
also come flat, rounded, arched, flared, straight or
tumblehome.
The length of the canoe affects its directional stability
and its speed. The shape and width or beam of the canoe
determines the performance. A wide beamed canoe will carry a
greater load but will be slower, whereas narrow canoes are
less stable but have greater speed and efficiency. The depth
of the sides of the canoe affects the carrying capacity and
wind resistance of the canoe.
There are two types of hulls, symmetrical and asymmetrical.
Symmetrical designs have identical bow and stern ends and
can easily be converted to two paddlers. Asymmetrical
designs have a finer bow than the stern and are extremely
efficient.
Good initial stability is a feature of flat bottom canoes
but secondary stability is poor. Round bottom canoes are
initially not very stable but they do have excellent
secondary stability. Most recreational boats have flat
bottoms. These are designed for placid water conditions.
Racing boats often have round bottoms to minimize the
surface area which makes them travel faster.
A compromise between the flat and round hulls is the shallow
arch hull. This gives the canoe initial stability and
speed. This is best for experienced paddlers and works well
in waves and whitewater. It is the best canoe for all-round
performance but can be unstable for beginners.
The rocker of the canoe is the bow to stern shape of the
keel line. Heavy rocker gives extreme maneuverability but
little directional stability and is used for specialist
whitewater canoes. Moderate rocker has the bow and stern
raised slightly to improve the maneuverability of the canoe.
A canoe with a straight keel has excellent tracking.
Forward paddling is difficult with this type of canoe.
Tumblehomes have narrower beams at the gunwale which makes
changing paddling sides easier. People who solo paddle on
whitewater often use this design. Straight-sided canoes
are a combination of flared and tumblehome sides. This
allows reasonable stability while keeping the paddlers dry.
Most general-purpose canoes have this shape.
Understanding the basic of your canoe is essential when
purchasing a canoe. First decide how you will utilize your
canoe then narrow your choices down to two or three styles.
You can purchase your canoe offline at a department store or
online. Buying online can save you a lot of money
especially if you purchase from an online auction such as
Ebay.
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