Hi all,
I'm casting about for a plan for my next boat. I want a solo canoe with a ~300 lb capacity. The Kite (http://www.greenval.com/kite.html) is compelling, but I wonder about those full-length chines, and whether scuppers are practical on it. Maybe its sibling the Osprey http://www.greenval.com/osprey.html) would drain better?

Does anyone have some insight to share? Thanks,
Lee

I don't think that chine would be too hard to build at all. To me the drainage issue wouldn't be a factor either, upside down, water is still going to come out.

The boats are identical the chine is just a cosmetic feature really, perhaps affording slightly better access to the water for paddling but the regular version is not overly wide. It will come down purely to your subjective ideal of good looks. Personally, I like the Kite version.

If you haven't already seen it, you might also want to check out the Steve Killing designed Freedom Solo on the Bear Mountain site. The same basic displacement as the Osprey/Kite, and a similar chine as the Kite. Also there are a few build threads explaining how builders went about stripping the chine.

Either way, you can't go wrong with a choice among those boats.

Moonman.

I have a stripped out Osprey in the garage as we speak. I will get to the glass next spring. I put an extra form in to make it a foot longer.
As far as the chine goes you build that part last, after the rest of the boat. This is from the notes section in the plans
CB