Recently I had the pleasure of purchasing an original 10 to 20 year-old canoe. I estimate the age based upon my own experience (exact date unknown). The canoe is fast and efficient, especially when heeled properly. I used a sandbag to trim the canoe (photo included).
The Ottawa River is a terrific test-bed of both capability and endurance. This canoe performed very well on calm days and with winds up to 20km / hour. Once in a while the bow (behind me in solo position) would get blown about, but nothing that couldn’t be corrected for.
This “Jack’s Special” resembles most, in my humble opinion, an old-fashioned Chestnut cruiser (Kruger circa 1910 or similar), not a Chestnut Chum, which seems more rounded and soft lines!! It is 14 1/4 inches deep, 15 feet long and 33 inches wide at centre. The rocker is amazing (more in bow) and the tumblehome is very good. In a way, it also resembles a modern Esquif Prospecteur, with similar measurements, including a very good rocker, only all natural!
Personally I would always choose a natural canoe over a plastic one, but that is personal preference. I’ve paddled aluminum, royalex, fibreglass and kevlar composites, cedar strip, amongst others.
Hey Jack, welcome to the family!
Happy paddling!
