15' 6" x 29" Solo Canoe Plan - Larkspur

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Larkspur - Fast Touring Solo Canoe

This flat water solo canoe is designed for fast touring and light wilderness tripping. It is inspired by the Bell Magic/Merlin. Several variations on these lines have been done for folks who wanted some customization. It is the most popular solo canoe plan offered by Eskimo Tom's Fine Wood Watercraft.

The front third of the hull is quite narrow and is by definition a long fine entry. This boat was designed to be the kayak of solo canoes. The sides have been kept low and the beam narrow enough to be comfortably paddled with the double kayak paddle. It's low side profile reduces windage and it is fast when paddled with the kayak paddle.

The intended displacement is around 275 pounds, however the hull will hold up to 331pounds before reaching 6" of freeboard. The long fine entry parts water easily however the bow is slow to rise in the face of a fast oncoming tall wave. Keep this in mind when paddling this boat in conditions it was not designed for. I have designed several variations featuring fuller bow sections, one done at the request of someone who paddled frequently with their dog.

Hull Description:
Asymmetrical hull, long fine entry, shallow vee cross section, slight tumblehome center, followed by a fuller stern. Mostly plumb bow and stern for longest possible waterline. Maximum recommended capacity is 331 lbs for a minimum 6 inch freeboard. A customer's photo gallery for this canoe is located at http://www.twincityscenic.com/Gallery/main.php.

Specifications:
15’8” Length Overall x 29” max beam
26.5” Beam and 185” waterline length @ 250 lbs
27.82” Beam and 186” waterline length @ 331 lbs
Displacement Hull Speed: 5.27
Prismatic Coefficient: .51 @ 331 lbs, .50 @ 250
D/L Ratio: 40 @ 331 Lbs
S/L Ratio: 2.63 @331 Lbs
110 Lbs. Immersion per additional 1"
4.5" Depth in the water @ 331 Lbs. for 6" Freeboard


Weight: 38 pounds (without seat, 4 ounce glass in and out)
Bow Height: 15.5”
Middle Height: 10.5”
Stern Height: 12.25”
Bow Rocker: 1.75”
Stern Rocker: .75”

Construction:
10 “planks” of 4MM marine grade okoume ply, 4 ounce glass inside and out. Ash Gunwales & thwart. Cedar decks. You may make your own substitutions based on your experience. A heavier layup will result in a more durable finish at the expense of weight. You may want to consider 6 ounce glass on the exterior.

Cost:
Plans for the Larkspur are $85.00. I hop to have an Assembly Guidebook available for sale later this year. In the meantime I have a CD outlining every step in pictures available for $25.00.