Search found 30 matches

by Steve Killing
Fri Jun 07, 2013 8:13 pm
Forum: Choosing a Design
Topic: Solo Tripper 17 as double paddle canoe & seat placement?
Replies: 5
Views: 16038

Re: Solo Tripper 17 as double paddle canoe & seat placement?

Drastic, I just had this post brought to my attention – it seems you have been waiting for a reply for quite a while! A double paddle is not something I had considered with this design, but why not? Tracking straight is easier and with a lower seat the stability will increase. I’m not sure I would p...
by Steve Killing
Fri Jun 15, 2012 8:20 am
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: freedom solo blueprint question
Replies: 2
Views: 2184

Re: freedom solo blueprint question

Anthony, The seat location should be scaled just like the rest of the boat. That means all length-wise dimensions shown on the drawing would be increased by a factor of (12.75) / 12 = 1.0625. You can do the same with the thwart locations, although I thought about this for a bit - whether they would ...
by Steve Killing
Mon Mar 26, 2012 9:55 pm
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: Prospector Rocker???
Replies: 3
Views: 3542

Re: Prospector Rocker???

Hi All, I think we have very close to the same rocker that Mason quotes. There is, unfortunately, no standard way to measure rocker. That is why I decided to publish how we measure it so at least all the Bear Mountain boats will be quoted with a given standard and if you want to compare with other b...
by Steve Killing
Sun Feb 13, 2011 4:28 pm
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: New Solo Canoe - Freedom 15'3" and 16'2"
Replies: 84
Views: 651879

Randy, Interesting set of calculations, but you ended up with the right answer! Yes, my calculations get the center of gravity of the empty boat to be about 93” (7’ 9”) aft of the bow with two thwarts and a seat. There is, of course, lots of variation in how each builder planks the boat, applies the...
by Steve Killing
Sat Jan 08, 2011 5:07 pm
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: New Solo Canoe - Freedom 15'3" and 16'2"
Replies: 84
Views: 651879

Freedom Solo Seats and Thwarts

Randy, It is always a challenge placing the thwart in a solo canoe. Somewhere we need to stabilize the gunnels with a thwart to maintain the width of the boat and hopefully the planview shape of the hull. The best place for a single thwart is right in the middle – a bit awkward if you actually want ...
by Steve Killing
Wed May 27, 2009 7:51 am
Forum: Choosing a Design
Topic: Question about stable models
Replies: 9
Views: 10758

Hiawatha Stability

The stability factors presented are for the current shape of the Hiawatha. When it was refaired it was a small change that increased the stability marginally, but there was no attempt to change the general character of the boat. Those that build the boat love the aesthetics of the sheerline in parti...
by Steve Killing
Mon May 04, 2009 9:27 pm
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: Red Bird table of offsets
Replies: 2
Views: 2281

RedBird Offsets

Stephan, A couple of notes: This excerpt is from the FAQ's on this site about lofting boats from CanoeCraft... Q In the newly revised Canoecraft, my understanding from the text of the book is that the points are to the outside of the planking, however the points in the table of Half-Breadths seem to...
by Steve Killing
Mon Dec 01, 2008 4:29 pm
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: Freedom symmetrical stems?
Replies: 2
Views: 2024

Adam, I hadn't, up until now, compared directly the shape of the bow and stern stems. If you mirror, rotate and lower the bow stem shape it almost matches the stern. With that many changes to the bow stem to get it to match the stern shape I am not sure what the benefit would be. You certainly shoul...
by Steve Killing
Sun Nov 09, 2008 9:16 am
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: What Are The Alterations to Lines Of Bob's Special?
Replies: 5
Views: 2604

Bob's Special Hull Shape

The original Chestnut Bob's Special that we have studied has quite a substantial hollow in the waterlines about 3 feet aft of the stem. That shape widened out to a shoulder about 5 feet aft of the stem. We felt that if we left the shape unaltered, the curves that the strip planks would need to take ...
by Steve Killing
Wed Oct 08, 2008 2:48 pm
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: Seat placement on Freedom 15'3"
Replies: 16
Views: 6426

Seat Location in the Freedom 15-2

Hello All, The seat I have shown has its forward edge about 10” aft of the hull midsection. The empty boat will float a little bow down as its center of gravity is just 1/2” aft of the midsection. Paddler and hull together should float level as the combined CG of a 175 lbs paddler and a 40 lb canoe ...
by Steve Killing
Tue Aug 19, 2008 1:33 pm
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: Rocker Numbers for the Freedom Solo?
Replies: 2
Views: 1792

Freedom Solo Rocker

Moonman, Since various designers measure rocker in different ways, I'll describe my procedure. The points used to determine the rocker are at 90% of the waterline length - this gives a consistent distance aft of the bow and stern curvatures. For the Freedom Solo, measuring up from a baseline at the ...
by Steve Killing
Mon Nov 19, 2007 2:04 pm
Forum: Choosing a Design
Topic: Freedom Solo
Replies: 1
Views: 4121

Freedom Solo Specifications

We are hoping to have someone finish a Freedom Solo next season so that we can get some of the subjective reactions to the boat that you are requesting. I can give you the expected results, but real life reports are always better. The wetted surface of the 15-3” version is 22 sq.ft. and for the 16’ ...
by Steve Killing
Mon Jan 08, 2007 9:47 pm
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: True North XPD Kayak Plans - Correction
Replies: 0
Views: 13862

True North XPD Kayak Plans - Correction

Hello kayak builders, The True North XPD kayak drawings have a baseline that is out of position on the bow and stern station molds. I think those builders that have the plans have picked up on this, but I thought we should officially let you know. The distance from the reference waterline to the bas...
by Steve Killing
Mon Oct 02, 2006 9:57 am
Forum: Choosing a Design
Topic: freedom 15 or cottage cruiser
Replies: 2
Views: 5588

Freedom 15 versus Cottage Cruiser

John, The Cottage Cruiser and the Freedom 15 if compared at a common displacement of 400 lbs shape up as follows: Beam waterline - the Cottage cruiser has a little more curvature near the waterline so that even though the maximum beams are similar (around 35”) the waterline beam of the cruiser is 32...
by Steve Killing
Wed May 10, 2006 1:04 pm
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: Freedom 15' 3" and 16' 2" Solo - New Design Ready
Replies: 11
Views: 4746

A boat built for two

The hull shape of this solo boat would work fine as a tandem, but the pulled-in sheerline is not the best for seats near the ends of the canoe. If you are very small, and can handle a narrow seat it may be OK. A better small boat would be a boat designed for two like the Freedom 15, the Bob’s Specia...