Larger Canoe: Tumblehome or Not

[Punkinhead]

If you decide to fish out of a canoe with three adults I highly recommend barbless hooks.

 

[PaddleTime]

If you decide to fish out of a canoe with three adults I highly recommend barbless hooks.

Always regardless. I’ve fished in boats with others in some very tight quarters before.

 

[Benson Gray]

Not all of these manufacturers provide capacity to freeboard specs

Be aware that there are different ways to measure capacity and you may find that not everyone is using the same formula. Some may use a simple length by width by depth formula, most calculate the volume of the canoe, others will actually load the canoe and then measure the freeboard in the water. No formula can tell how it will feel to you. The images below from the 1974 Old Town catalog may help illustrate this issue. Their 17 foot long Tripper model canoe was listed with a 908 pound capacity, their similar 17 foot long Carleton Square End model had a 690 pound capacity which dropped to 345 pounds if any motor was installed on the transom. Their 17 foot long motor boat had a 900 pound capacity. This is why they added in bold that "Old Town believes that a combination of the canoeist's experience, type of canoe, and water-weather conditions, rather than arbitrary formulas, is the best guide in such matters." This is one reason why I have encouraged you to get some experience and see what works for you. 'Your mileage may vary...'

Benson

 

[Black_Fly]

I’m not convinced the extreme narrow boats with tumblehome are all that desireable. Seems to make them a little rocky in heavy waves, the opposite of what you want. My Magic can make my behind pucker if I’m battling wind. I’m used to it, but I don’t remember having the same amount of trepidation and gnashing of teeth with more standard hull designs. That said, I don’t remember paddling a large canoe with excessive tumblehome.