It was suggested to me that the forms for a boat I'm looking at building could be adjusted to decrease the stern rocker from 2.75" to 1.5" Does anyone here have experience in doing that?

Having never done that I can not be 100% certain.
First thing that comes to my mind would be to extend/lengthen the shear line (top) of the form, which, when left in position, would push the keel down.
Do this proportionately along the number of forms necessary.

2.75" of rocker is quite a bit. That sounds like a river canoe.

I have made slight adjustments on rocker but not as much as what you're talking about. If you are just moving forms up off the strongback to decrease the rocker, you are also moving all of the parts of the canoe up and at a point your strips won't lay properly on the forms.

I think you need to keep looking for another model. What is it that you are looking at? I discourage anyone from changing things on a canoe (or anything in life) before you are fully knowledgeable about what your doing first.

Tom

I agree with tumblehome. You're not just changing the rocker when you move a station. I don't know all the ways it could screw it up, but I'm sure there are plenty. There will certainly be some plans out there that are closer to what you're looking for. Are the forms already made?

the half-moon

Thanks. I was really concerned about for all the reasons you mention.

I've been searching for a solo boat for a petite paddler. Charlie Wilson has suggested a narrow boat, no more than 28 inches maximum beam. I had pretty much decided upon the Northwest Solo Passage , which is a little wide for me, but then found Half Moon the from carrying places. its specs are so very close to Hemlock's Kestrel, which would work really well for me. the problem was those rockers.

I'm used to that rocker in my madriver explorer tandem, but its a much longer boat...

any suggestions?

I plan to adjust the forms on my next build as well. Mainly to get the same rocker as the Bell Magic. The specs on the Magic list the max beam at 29" and the Magic is considered to be one of the best solo boats available. It's a Dave Yost design so It doesn't get much better than that. So I would not let the 29" max beam be a deal breaker.

I plan to adjust the forms on my next build as well. Mainly to get the same rocker as the . You can see the specs on the Magic listed at 29" max beam. It seems that the Magic is considered to be one of the best solo boats available. It's a Dave Yost design so It doesn't get much better than that. So I would not let the 29" max beam be a deal breaker.

I know some of us blather about our Merlins all the time. The Merlin has a maximum width of 29" but there is a lot of tumblehome right near the gunwales so the width at the gunwales is 25" which is pretty cool.

There is a version of the Merlin called the Kestrel which is only 14' long. I've built it for women before including my Mom. It's basically the same canoe as the Merlin but all the forms are moved closer together.

I don't know which canoe is best for you but there are a lot of solo plans out there so take your time to pick the best one. It's part of the fun of building a canoe.

Tom

quote tumblehome:
There is a version of the Merlin called the Kestrel which is only 14' long. I've built it for women before including my Mom. It's basically the same canoe as the Merlin but all the forms are moved closer together.


Tumblehome,
Is there a plan for the Kestrel. Where would I find it?
If it's close to Hemlock's version, that would be a good fit for me.

I am enjoying the process of choosing the plan, but I also know that I can think a thing to death!

thanks,
vicki

Vicki,

Let me look around the shop and see if I have the plans. It might be a day or two.

Tom

Thank you!

Hi Vicki,

I did my research and now remember that the 14' Kestrel is the Merlin, except the forms are moved closer together by about 1" per form. It's that easy.

I bought my plans directly from the designer in 1994 and talked to him about this myself. So do your research on the Merlin and if it's something you like, I can send you a copy of the plans and you can build a Kestrel with it.

Tom

Tom, you know how my Merlin plans had two center forms the same size?
How 'bout using that plan but just remove one of the center forms?
Mine is 15' 11".
That would give Vicki a 15'-er.

I'm not sure, that might work.

I think with my original plans, if all the forms were 1" closer, it would make the canoe 14" I built the Kestrel two times this way. It looks just like the Merlin but is a little fuller in the ends.

Karl, did you get your fall trip in? I'm going once more next week before the lakes freeze up.

Tom

Tom - no, I didn't. Work and weather just did not cooperate.

ok. I just got my copy of tom moores' canoecraft in the mail from amazon. he suggests altering plans by moving the forms closer together or farther apart by an inch as you suggested. thanks again for that suggestion.

Karl, he also states that if you have a boat that's a little to long and and little too beamy, you can remove the center form altogether, as you suggested. that would take a foot off of my plan, giving me a 14' boat with a 29 1/2 inch max beam.

all this to say, he also suggests that unless you have significant paddling experience, it may be best to trust the plan to a professional design.

Vicki, on my Merlin, the two center-most forms are the exact same size. So, removing one only shortens the length, it doesn't alter the maximum width/beam at all. And I think that's important to the overal scheme.
Like Tom said earlier - we all praise our Merlins.
And there's a reason for that.
You might want to give those plans a look.