Symmetrical and Asymmetrical

[PaddleTime]

If you are seeing a wider section aft of the center, it is not a symmetrical canoe.

And thanks for verifying @memaquay - measuring these overhead views end to end on the canoe and finding exact center (not the yoke) on these canoes listed as symmetrical it looks like on some, the widest part is 2-4” rear of center (about the width of 2 yokes or so, max). But I suppose it is possible the photo is in some way not an accurate or up to date representation.

 

[PaddlingPika]

Canoes listed as symmetrical sometimes list different bow depth and stern depth. If the bow is taller that might make a view from above look asymmetrical even if the only difference was that the sides extended a little higher up in the bow. I'm certainly not an expert on canoe design, especially with regard to tandems, but it seems to me that a canoe might also be designed to be symmetrical up to the waterline but have differing amounts of flare or tumblehome along the length above waterline to optimize wave deflection and ergonomics of paddler reach at different locations. A picture from above would not look symmetrical but one person could call that asymmetrical and another could call it symmetrical. depending on whether they are talking about the overall canoe or the waterline shape.