Click to View the Full Thread

Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Gear Forum :: Shortening thwarts?!
 
Author Message Text
ozarkpaddler
07/16/2019 10:30AM
  
Well have done up to 2" on royalex and Twintex boats without a problem. Can't NOTICE a change in rocker, although it does change it in theory. Currently have gunwales on Pal pulled in about 1.5". Works well for me.
 
4Miles
07/15/2019 11:20PM
  
I read a review of the Esquif Echo where the poster states he narrowed the boat by 1 1/2 inches to get a tighter paddle station. Just curious if that is really possible. This is a T-formex boat, or may have been Royalex at that time in history. Either way it had wood gunwales.
 
4Miles
07/16/2019 02:07PM
  
Interesting. Had never thought of manipulating a hull like that. As usual, you guys have great information. Thanks for the insight.

 
sedges
07/16/2019 07:09PM
  
Bringing in the gunwales works best in old royalex canoes where the the hull is a uniform thickness and stiffness throughout. Some of the later products, especially from Dagger and Mad River had royalex sheets that had differential foam core that would expand to be thicker below the waterline and thinner on the sides. Pulling those in too much causes a lot of stress where the thickness changes. Probably would not be noticed until the hull gets slammed in a bad run down a rapids or pulling a loaded canoe over a log or beaver dam. Fractures can occur.


The same would be true for foam cored composite hulls. I would never recommend doing this to a composite hull.


Care needs be taken pinching hulls with straight keel(no rocker) for there is no room to flatten. Rocker hulls like Ozarkpaddlers Pal are ideal candidates.


I have no experience with T-Formex hulls. I have yet to even lay hands on one.
 
sedges
07/16/2019 08:03AM
  
MagicPaddler is correct. Pinching in the gunwales will flatten the keel line. Spreading the gunwales will create rocker. Results are unpredictable and sometimes damaging in hulls that have varying thickness and/or stiffness in the lay-up. Neither of these adaptations is a better solution than getting a boat that is comfortable for you in its original configuration. There are lots of solos out there with a diversity of design features.
 
DanCooke
07/16/2019 08:09AM
  
It will definitely change the rocker of the hull as well.

 
Flashback
07/19/2019 09:22AM
  
I'm on the same page as sedges:


Changing the width of the thwarts is NOT going to make significant changes, one way or the other.
It MIGHT result in damage to the hull.
Quick fixes typically AREN'T.
The problem is often the result of POOR boat selection.

Good looks, light weight, and a steal of a deal don't always equal a boat with the performance you desire. Test paddling a boat prior to purchase weeds out some of the " this is not what I want" issues. Increasing your paddling skills can also assist in overcoming some minor issues.

The paddler who thinks that one boat can be adapted for lily dipping on the city park lake, the boundary waters, and class 3 whitewater is sorely mistaken.

BOB

 
ozarkpaddler
07/17/2019 07:40PM
  
sedges: "Bringing in the gunwales works best in old royalex canoes where the the hull is a uniform thickness and stiffness throughout. Some of the later products, especially from Dagger and Mad River had royalex sheets that had differential foam core that would expand to be thicker below the waterline and thinner on the sides. Pulling those in too much causes a lot of stress where the thickness changes. Probably would not be noticed until the hull gets slammed in a bad run down a rapids or pulling a loaded canoe over a log or beaver dam. Fractures can occur.



The same would be true for foam cored composite hulls. I would never recommend doing this to a composite hull.



Care needs be taken pinching hulls with straight keel(no rocker) for there is no room to flatten. Rocker hulls like Ozarkpaddlers Pal are ideal candidates.



I have no experience with T-Formex hulls. I have yet to even lay hands on one."


Exactly, I probably should have been more specific. I would never ever ever do that to a composite hull!
 
MagicPaddler
07/16/2019 05:18AM
  
I think that will also change the rocker.