my canoe

[Bruce Morrish]

I have taken all the rocker out of the form we used to build a 16 and a half foot prospector(stripper). I want to build a boat that will be fairly stable track well and have lots of volume. I may go an inch shallower over all and 2 inches lower in the ends.
What do you think??????bruce_morrish@hotmail.com

[canadianstrippe]

The prospector model usually is very good in all the areas you are looking for.
It was a favourite among "prospectors" and hunters because it could handle huge loads, was stable, and good on long trips.
I would recomend sticking with a proven winner rather than going to all the work of building a modified plan and risk disappointment in the result.
Maybe you already know this and just want to improve on it's performance.
But this design is the result of many years of doing just that.
Taking out more rocker, as well dropping the ends down even more will definitely make it track straight, but don't ever think of taking it through any fast water where you need to maneuver.
And crossing an open area with a cross wind or even a head wind and you will not be able to turn that boat easily.
If you feel you need more volume, maybe extending the original plan out in legnth.
Instructions for this procedure are found in most strip building instructional books.
I have played around with modifying plans before too.
But sometimes the result is a real surprise.
That possibility must be realized before we commit ourselves to building an experiment.
I hope you find the boat your looking for!

[Noah's]

Don?t mess with Mother Nature or the shape of a Prospector. The have both been around for a long time