Just got an email from Northwest Canoe about their new Tadpole. A 30lb stripper? It has me intrigued for those solo trips I take where I stay at the Fall Lake Campground and daytrip. Anyone seen one or have an opinion on them?

Jim

Just a note about stripper weights:

I built a 36 # Merlin solo canoe that's a tough as nails. Here's what I did to make it lightweight.

1. I used white cedar instead or red cedar. It's 20% lighter in weight per cubic foot.

2. I used 3.75 oz cloth on the inside and one coat of epoxy. This took at least five pounds off vs. 6oz cloth with the normal three coats.

3. I used one layer of 3.75 oz on the outside with a second layer of 3.75oz only below the waterline. Not sure how much it saved if any but made for a very strong hull.

4. Kept the decks to just very small pieces and made the gunwales as thin as possible. The outwales are about 1/2" with rounded edges.

Tom

PS a canoe named the Tadpole is about as bad of a name for a canoe as I could dream up. Yuk!

I have seen the prototype, looks nice, very light. Dennis (owner of NWC)had it out last week on the Mississippi and says it paddles great,short quick, turns on a dime, loves to lean. Paddled it with a double blade and a straight shaft.
It is a small person boat. He is working on a larger version, coming soon.
I downloaded my plans Tues, printed Wed and will cut forms this weekend I hope. Building for my son(he is a 100 lbs). I told Dennis I was looking for something other than a WeeLassie to build, he said he had been working on a small peson solo.
CB


Tumblehome, I was present at the weighing of the boat, 30 lbs IS correct.

Cedarboy,

I have no doubt the Tadpole is 30# just wish they would call it something else.

The Salamander?
The Waterflea?
The Bloody gnat?

:)

What is the definition of 'small person'.

Jim

I would say 130-140 and smaller? Its only 12' 8".
CB

So did your sister make you swallow one when you a kid? Here's why we named it Tadpole.

Definition: young man

Synonyms: buck, cadet, chap, child, dude, fellow, gamin, guy, half-pint, junior, lad, little guy, little shaver, master, punk, puppy, runt, schoolboy, shaver, small fry, sonny, sprout, squirt, stripling, whippersnapper, youngster, youth

OK guys.... none of us qualifies as whippersnappers anymore. That doesn't mean you cannot build and paddle a Tadpole for yourself instead of handing it over to your kids. I weigh 180 which puts her close to the three inch waterline. Treat the canoe as a small freestyle day tripper and it will perform beautifully. (over)Load it with a #4 pack and Plano sports locker for a ten-day trip... now that would give fodder for whining about handling as well as the name.

Build one and rename it whatever pleases you. RC

So did your sister make you swallow one when you a kid? Here's why we named it Tadpole.

Definition: young man

Synonyms: buck, cadet, chap, child, dude, fellow, gamin, guy, half-pint, junior, lad, little guy, little shaver, master, punk, puppy, runt, schoolboy, shaver, small fry, sonny, sprout, squirt, stripling, whippersnapper, youngster, youth

OK guys.... none of us qualifies as whippersnappers anymore. That doesn't mean you cannot build and paddle a Tadpole for yourself instead of handing it over to your kids. I weigh 180 which puts her close to the three inch waterline. Treat the canoe as a small freestyle day tripper and it will perform beautifully. (over)Load it with a #4 pack and Plano sports locker for a ten-day trip... now that would give fodder for whining about handling as well as the name.

Build one and rename it whatever pleases you. RC