The
Townsend is a pure recreational canoe with a wide beam to provide
much stability. The slight V-bottom will aid in tracking. The "V"
is only 1-inch (25 mm) deep so with a slight lean to one side, you'll
maneuver just as good as with flat bottom canoe of similar design.
The V-bottom also eliminates the oil-canning effect common with
some wide flat bottom designs.
She
has a contemporary side profile that will be easy to assemble and
is well within the reach of a first-time builder. The bow entry
will slice into any minor wake you encounter and help tracking.
The low profile front and back will minimize being blown off course
by a strong wind.
This
canoe can be made from 3 sheets of 4' x 8' (1.2m x 2.4m) plywood.
One additional 1/2 sheet will be required to make a temporary frame.
This frame can be made from any quality of plywood so don't spend
your money on 4th sheet of high-grade material.
The
two compartments located fore and aft are multipurpose. They can
be sealed off and act as buoyancy chambers. Leave them hollow or
filled with buoyancy foam. (Adding foam will add stiffness and rigidity
to the hull.) The compartments will provide enough reserve floatation
to make it unsinkable. A nice safety feature to have.
A
builder could also incorporate hatches in the compartments and use
them as dry storage. The compartment bulkheads are a structural
part of the canoe. They can be replaced with an open frame of the
same shape but not omitted.
Add
bench seats, cane seats, or kneel right on the floor and you're
ready to go. Seats are easy to install but the exact length will
vary from builder to builder. Best to fit a cardboard seat pattern
first and then make your seats.
