Hi! First time actually writing here, but I’ve read and learned a lot from you guys for the past week.
So the situation is simple but I guess the answer is not. I’m canoeing with my wife (180lbs) at the bow and myself (320 lbs) at the stern on a 25 years old Aventure 16’(from complast Inc, Quebec). The thing is that the canoe while being fairly stable (~39" wide in middle) seem to fucking want to split in the bottom. When the both of us sit, the middle is curving up.
If I build a seat a bit more close to the middle will it be more stable and less '‘curvy’?
What you describe, looks like the so -called “oil-canning” to me.
In very mild cases adding a thwart may help a bit.
But I doubt buiding the seat a bit more close to the middle
would solve the problem.
The honest answer is that you probably need a larger and stronger canoe. Your size is flexing the hull. I would consider something like a 17 or 18 foot aluminum canoe.
The boat is getting old and the weight is causing it to oil can. Throw a 5 gal bucket of water in the middle and see if it causes the middle to go back down. If it does then you have your answer. I am 30lbs lighter but have had about the same weight in my OT camper at one time and it did oil can some but not like your picture shows.
Your current boat is flexing a dangerous amount. IN an older canoe that is not good.
I have literally had the experience of an old kevlar canoe come apart and start to fold in half.
Find a stronger boat.
First time actually writing here, but I’ve read and learned a lot from you guys for the past week.
