New canoe design

Notch Farmer · #1 11-01-2009, 09:30 AM

Been using a prototype of a new fishing canoe I designed for a while now, testing the featues and scheming on improvements. I think I'll leave the basic design as is with a few refinements to the finish details. Gonna build a pretty one this winter and try to shave some weight to bring it in at about 70 lbs. (proto is a little over 100 lbs.).

It's a 14' canoe with 42" beam and a hybrid hull that is aimed at fishing rivers. I haul my wife and two Labs, no problem even when standing. I call it the "Drifter" and describe it as a drift canoe. Maybe some day I'll build them as a vocation.

Bfish · #2 11-01-2009, 02:38 PM

Do you row or paddle? Seems like with 42" beam it would be very slow to paddle. How much rocker does it have?

Very interesting. Thanks for sharing.

Notch Farmer · #3 11-01-2009, 06:56 PM

It could be rowed, I did a 12' version prior to this that I set up to row. Missed all the options available by paddle. I've been a whitewater canoeist for years and missed using the paddle. If canoeing isn't your thing, then a longer kayak paddle would work great.

I know it's hard to believe but the boat really isn't that slow and attains upstream well, especially tandem. This canoe has a shallow version of a tunnel hull in an otherwise flat botttom, helps water channel without drag and still leaves the canoe highly maneuverable which is what I wanted for fishing the rocky rivers we do like the Nolichucky or Watauga with no release. My seat in the stern is a 48 qt. cooler so I'm up high with lots of good leverage to move the canoe around. Even with wife, two labs, anchor, gear and me I'm still only drawing maybe 3-4" of water so it's not plowing at all.

As for rocker, I put about 6" out near the tips to aid in handling and prevent the crunch when dropping over ledges, etc. As with all boat designs enhancing one feature often comes at the expense of another. I wanted light weight(car-toppable), great stability, and maneuverability. It's a fishing machine.

sprringer · #4 11-01-2009, 09:15 PM

would love to see some more detailed pics...

Notch Farmer · #5 11-02-2009, 07:36 AM

I'm weak on computer skills but will try to attach some photos. Should be one of the hull nearly completed, wife and dogs in the bow, and at the boat launch at Twin Bridges on the Watauga.

sprringer · #6 11-02-2009, 10:05 AM

Very nice. Great looking boat, looks like it would be a stable ride for sure. Always wanted to build a canoe...

Bfish · #7 11-02-2009, 12:29 PM

Thanks for the pics. But I got more questions

Have you tried paddling it solo (hence the my earlier "slow" comment)? Also do you find the pontoon design makes it draft slightly deeper?

What performance differences do you see between the two versions?

Thanks.
Bfish, the curious one

Notch Farmer · #8 11-02-2009, 06:31 PM

I paddle it as much solo as tandem. Lately I've been poling it a lot while solo (no room for pole when the whole crew is along). Since it is a canoe designed for fishing rivers, speed was way down on my design criteria list. In fact some of the other features I put into it (like the "broken" chines) are meant to allow the canoe to stall or slow while in the current. Say for example when a fish is on or some serious rock dodging is coming up. That being said it is still a fairly "fast" river runner, the biggest indicator being the way it will attain upstream. If it were "slow" it would be most evident doing that type of paddling.

The slight tunnel hull feature isn't nearly as extreme as a pontoon, so it is essentially a flat bottom design and drafts accordingly. I did try to hold the volume and flatness as far as I could towards the end to save volume which equates to surface area and thereby bouyancy and crammed all the rocker into the ends so it only comes into play when needed (dropping over ledges, busting down wave trains, spinning into eddies, etc.)

I think if a person felt challenged to paddle it, a long kayak paddle would remedy any lack of skills. I just ain't a kayaker.

Thanks for your interest. I've had this canoe in my head for many years, and have finally gotten it on the water. My goal for next year is 100 days on the water. Might as well be fishing 'cause it's going to be even harder on the self-employed craftsman next year with the changes to the worker's comp laws going into effect. I may stay home at the shop and piddle.

wilhelm · #9 11-02-2009, 08:37 PM

What sort of material and construction technique did you use? It has the appearance of a strip canoe but in your center picture, you've obviously stitched it which suggests to me you are using some sort of panel with stitch and glue.

wilhelm