Hull Design

When we talk about canoes, how many of us really know how they perform and why? What is the difference between a straight or rockered keel line? Should I buy a flat bottom or shallow arch? Do I want flair or tumblehome? If all this sounds confusing, take heart, it is not as difficult as it seems. Canoes (like the wheel) have been around for a long time and while improvements have been made, the basic design has not changed. Sit back and relax while I briefly explain the basics of canoe design.

Lets look at the side profile of a canoe. The first item we are going to talk about is the keel line. This is the part of the hull shape that helps it go in a straight line (tracking) or allows it to turn. Take a look at diagram #1.

A straight keel line will help the canoe track on a straight course. If it is rockered it will allow it to turn easier and it will have less tendency to track. The more severe the rocker the quicker and easier it will turn. Length also has an effect. Regardless of its keel profile a longer canoe will track better than a shorter one of the same design. Simply put, the more of the keel line that is in the water, the more turning resistance there will be.

Next lets look at the shape of the bottom of the canoe. As a canoe moves through the water it literally must move water out of the way, pass through the void created, then replace the water behind itself. If this is not done efficiently, water builds up in front of the canoe. As this happens the bow tends to rise up and the stern sinks down. With the canoe in this position, you are actually paddling up a liquid hill, which is not the most efficient way to go about it. The shape of the canoe bottom determines how efficiently the waters are parted. There are two views we need to consider. The first being through the eyes of a fish looking up at a canoe on the surface. Symmetry. Take a look at diagram #2.

As you can see from the sketches a symmetrical hull is the same at both ends where an asymmetrical hull is not. Most recreational hulls are symmetrical. Asymmetrical hulls are generally found on higher performance racing and touring canoes. Notice how much more distance there is on the asymmetrical design from the point of the bow to its widest point located on the stern side of its center. Also take note of how wide the stern section is. The combination of the two allows the water to be spread apart with minimal disruption and keeps the canoe level for optimum efficiency. What we need to look at with either design are the entry and exit lines. Taper. A canoe that is full (wide) will be more stable, carry more weight and ride through rough water better than a narrow one. However a canoe with narrower lines will be faster and take less energy to paddle.

The second view of the canoe bottom is a cross-section of the part that actually sits in the water. There are several different shapes to choose from. Diagram #3 lays them out for us.

Before we discuss the different shapes lets go over some related terminology. Initial stability, this refers to a canoe that sits steady in the water and does not roll from side to side easily. Secondary stability refers to a canoe that can be rolled from side to side and back upright again with relative ease. Draft is how deep it sits in the water and efficiency is how smoothly it moves through the water. A flat bottom gives you excellent initial stability but generally poor secondary stability. It does not draft much water generally requiring just a few inches to float in. It is efficient a slower speeds but as the speed increases the efficiency decreases. On the other end of the scale a round bottom has poor initial stability and excellent secondary stability. It will draft deeper than the flat bottom generally the deepest of the 4 designs. It has poor efficiency at slow speed but as the speed picks up it becomes more and more efficient. The shallow arch and shallow "V" are somewhere in the middle. The length and width of the canoes come into play here as well. Wider canoes spread out their weight more than narrow ones therefore draft less water but they are also slower because there is more canoe to move through the water. Likewise longer canoes are faster than shorter ones of the same width because the length allows more gradual entry and exit lines.

Finally we need to look at the sides of the canoe. Diagram #4 gives us yet another cross-sectional view. This time we will concern ourselves with the part above the water. I have exaggerated the drawings a little to highlight the differences between the three shapes.

A flair sided hull will tend to shed waves away from the canoe as they ride up the side in rough seas and will ride up over waves rather than cut through them. It acts somewhat like a wedge, spreading the water outward away from the canoe. On the negative side it makes the canoe wider thus requiring the paddler to reach out farther to paddle. In contrast a straight-sided canoe will allow waves to travel straight up its sides. Some of the water ends up in your lap and some back in the lake. It will tend to cut through the waves rather than ride up over them. Tumblehome and rough water do not mix. It literally guides waves into the canoe. However it does have its place as it allows you to place your paddle close to the hull when paddling which is the most efficient way to do it. Something to consider along with this is the depth of the canoe both in the center (amidships) and at the ends (bow and stern). The deeper the canoe the more seaworthy it becomes in rough water. But the higher sides give more area for the wind to grab hold of especially at the bow and stern.

As you can see there are several things to consider when choosing the hull design of a canoe. First decide how you will use it and think about the conditions you will encounter (wind, waves, current, etc.). Pick and choose from the options discussed above to suit your needs. You may have to compromise on some but you can over come these with good paddling technique.

When you have got it narrowed down or even if you do not, visit a reputable canoe shop and talk to them. Make sure you test paddle several of the designs you are interested in. If they won't let you paddle them, then find another dealer.

HAPPY PADDLING!!!

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