Algonquin Canoe Store Algonquin Can¢ Canoe Design. ‘Small RecreALGONQUIN CANOE STORE 32 Years of Paddling Experience Tris sping of 1961, Bll and Wendy swift opened he doors of Algonquin Outfitters to serve canoe trippers in Algonquin Park. Founded on a policy of personalized service, Algonquin Outfitters has always supplied more than just canoes as thousands of paddlers have benefitted from their extensive canoeing and wilderness knowledge. Today there are over 500 canoes in the rental fleet and over 10,000 people make use of their services every year. More than 70% are repeat customers. This kind of loyalty is only earned by listening, learning, and responding to people’s needs and aspirations. Perhaps the most important lesson learned was that, you wanted lighter, easier paddling, more responsive canoes that made canoeing more enjoyable with less, work. The canoe industry, however, responded slowly and in 1985 we created a manufacturing division to make quality fiberglass and Kevlar canoes. The response to those boats was so overwhelming that we formed Algonquin Canoe Store in 1986 as a retail outlet to serve those who wanted to own the same canoes that they enjoyed renting. Since then we have expanded our selection to include canoes for every type of paddling activity - always with an eye towards quality and value and always with the goal of matching you with the right boat for your needs. In 1990, we took another bold step in forming Swift Canoe Company, a business dedicated to creating the most advanced recreational canoes in North America With the help of David Yost and John Winters, two of North America’s most respected canoe designers, we are well on our way to realizing that goal with twelve canoe models now in production and many more on the way. But growth hasn't caused us to lose sight of our objective - to provide you with the best canoe for your needs and make your canoeing experience the best possible. To that end, we have carefully selected the best canoes from other manufacturers to compliment our own line and we continue to provide the personalized service that is our trademark, (Our staff members are paddlers first and salespeople second. Each is selected for his or her experience, knowledge and desire to help our customers. They. do not work on commission and you need not fear being oversold. In fact, many people visit us just to talk with our staff about paddling and paddling destinations.Algonquin Canoe Store certainly don’t expect you to pay tt,$2000 for a canoe without it. We know from ‘nce how frustrating gfoeihg can be when the boat js to meet expectations and we g scenic Oxtongue ideal settRENTAL REBATE Ifyou find making a decision difficult in one visit, we encourage you to take advantage of our Rental Rebate Program. Under this program you can use a canoe over an extended period of time in the Park, at your own cottage, or on a trip of your choosing, If you should purchase or order a canoe at any time after the rental we will rebate up to four days worth of canoe rental charges to you. Please note that this rebate only applies to the purchase of new canoes ALGONQUIN CANOE DAYS Throughout the 1992 season, Algonquin Canoe: Store will be hosting “Algonquin Canoe Days” in selected locations across southern Ontario, Co- sponsored by local canoe clubs and outdoor organizations, they are open to the public free of charge. Up to 20 canoes and kayaks are provided for testing. I yourclub or organization is interested in co-hosting an “Algonquin Canoe Day” please contact us and we will list tin our spring newsletter. ALGONQUIN CANOE ASSEMBLIES In 1992 we are pleased to be holding two Canoe Assemblies. ‘The Spring Assembley will be held May 8-10 and the Fall Assembly will be held on, September 19th and 20th. These lively, informal gatherings bring together paddlers _ of all skills with the industry's most knowledgeable people, Demonstrations and instruction will be offered on camping, whitewater, flatwater, solo canoeing and sport paddi and representativ from major canoe ‘manufacturers will be on hand to discuss their boats. Events the weekend includi¥ dinner on Saturday night where you ean talk one on one with th: experts. ‘These events are held in conjunction with our annual spring and fal 0Canoe Design CHOOSING YOUR CANOE Many people are surprised when we tell them there is no “best canoe. In fac, to properly lt the needs, desires, and skill levels of all canoeists we would need thousands of different designs. Because this is impractical, every canoe is a compromise between the conflicting requirements of speed, . maneuverability, seaworthiness, stability, and special, needs. With so many variables, it is no wonder the canoe that seemed so perfect on the showroom floor can turn out to be a disappointment and unsuited to the buyer’s needs or skills. For all but the most experienced (and sometimes for them too), buying a canoe can be a confusing and unfortunate experience. To help you in your search, we have made this catalogue a condensed yet comprehensive source of information on canoe design, construction, along with the wide range of canoes we sell. This information, when coupled with a test paddle and assistance from our staff, will help you make the right choice. By far, the best source of information in your search for anew canoe will be the test paddle. No matter how knowledgeable a salesperson may be or how’ much one reads, the test paddle is the only way to determine if the canoe is really suited to you. Ideally, you should use the canoe for an extended period of time under the full range of paddling conditions. If this isn't possible, at least spend a good twenty or thirty minutes paddling at different stroke rates and doing basic turns and maneuvers. It is difficult to get a proper feel for a boat's performance in less time. Waterline End Shape Concave Tumblehome PADDLING EASE It is often thought that long canoes are the easiest to paddle. While itis true that the longer hull will have a higher speed potential, its greater wetted surface actually requires more effort at speeds typical of tripping paddlers. A more significant factor than Jength alone is the ratio of waterline beam to length. Ifthe waterline width is more than 19% of the length (36” for a 16’ canoe) the canoe will probably be slow but stable. If itis less than 15% of the length (28.5 for a 16’ canoe), it should be easy to paddle but tippy. End shapes also have a significant impact on. padclling ease. Canoes with slightly concave ends are most efficient at typical tripping speeds. As speed increases, the waterlines can become straighter but convex waterlines and/or very blunt waterlines will have higher resistance as well as be noisier when ploughing through the water. By far, the most important factor in paddling e: ‘wetted surface which is the immersed portion of canoe's hull. Low wetted surface means less fri with the water and, while itis difficult to comp the wetted surface of two canoes by eye, there a ‘some physical characteristics that contribute t surface area and should be avoided if at all These are flat wide bottoms, deep fine ends, very fine concave ends, and straight Keel lines, A surprising influence on paddling ease is the abov water shape of the hull, Tambleheme allows the paddler to direct power straight aft which is | efficient and comfortable at the expense of a wet tide and reduced seaworthiness, Flared hulls provi an added margin of safety and dryness at the n ek padaling on ny is best for you deper on your skill level, u per oral ise of the boat, andMANEUVERABILITY Experienced paddlers insist on canoes that respond quickly and precisely but for the novice or infrequent paddler, a hull that tracks well with a minimum of correction may be more desirable. (None of this applies to whitewater boats which must be maneuverable regardless of skill level). As a general rule, the straighter the keel line, the straighter the tracking and the slower the turning, The reverse, of course, is rue, Traditionally, the better recreational canoes have had a moderate amount of rocker to. compromise between tracking and maneuverabi Recently, new designs have evolved which have rocker forward and straighter keel lines aft. These boats combine the benefits of both straight and rockered hulls and allow a canoe to be fine tuned to meet very specific design objectives which can add immeasurably to your paddling enjoyment. The differences in handling and tracking may not be apparent over a short paddle but over several hours, they become significant. the past and still seen on some length keel, This feature was once needed to protect wood and canvas canoe bottoms. and sometimes put on cheaper canoes to provide rigidity and improve handling of poor designs, Keels are not needed on modern hills which are more durable and designed to track straight without the added resistance of the keel Canoe End Shapes =a 9 Straight Keel Cees Moderate Rocker ee Extreme Rocker _—“jumblehome STABILITY Stability is the tendency of the canoe to remain upright or to return to an upright condition after it has been heeled by wind, waves or other action. Traditionally, we talk about boats as being stiff or tender. Stiff means the hull is difficult to heel initially and has a quick jerky motion in waves. Canoeists would refer to such a canoe as having high initial stability. Tender means it rolls easily initially but increases in stiffness as the heel approaches the capsize or swamping point. Many people are of the impression that the stiff boat Is most desirable but such is rarely the case. Since so much of the canoe’s stability is a function of the paddler’s sense of balance, its more desirable to have a slow motion’ that is less affected by wind and waves and provides a. ood margin of safety, Experienced paddlers recognize the importance of final over initial stability and the canoe should. gradually feel more secure and comfortable as the Canoe heels - always giving the impression that it is working to keep you upright. This feeling of predictability increases the sense of control over the canoe and minimizes the tendency to overcorrect ‘with every wave. Flared hulls with gentle bilges are best at providing this solid feeling. In general, the more abrupt the turn of the bilge, the quicker and less secure the feeling.Canoe Design SEAWORTHINESS: Most modern canoes are safe in average conditions but the true test is when the going gets rough. To be seaworthy a canoe must be dry, maneuverable, have a predictable feeling as it heels and be capable of making headway against the waves. Above all, it should have no bad habits. Following are a few hull characteristics and their effect on the boat in more severe conditions, Full bows with convex waterlines and fine bows which widen abruptly about 2-3 feet aft of the bow will pound and make slow headway when being paddled into waves. Low sheers will take on water as will hulls with tumblehome. High bows and sterns will be blown off course easily and hulls with deep, Final Stability Reserve Stability Final Stability Reserve Stability ands are more prone to broaching when runnin; to turn in an emergency, which is particularly true of hnulls with a racing heritage that need to be heeled to the side to turn quickly. Hulls with extreme rocker can make it difficult for less skilled paddlers to keep on course when paddling across waves. fine If seaworthiness is a priority for you and you have average abilities, avoid canoes that have one or more: of these characteristics. This is not to say that some paddlers may not have a use for these features but ‘one should recognize their limitations and ramifications before spending hard earned money. CAPACITY Capacity figures are the most misunderstood in the canoe industry. They are usually based the weight a canoe will carry ar freeboard but most canoe:CANOE TERM GLOSSARY AMIDSHIPS - Halfway between the bow and stern, ASYMMETRICAL HULL - A canoe with one end that is fuller or finer than the other. Usually the bow is, finer than the stern ASYMMETRICAL KEEL LINE - When the rocker differs from one end to the other. BEAM, MAXIMUM - Width of the hull at the widest point. BEAM, WATERLINE - Width of the hull at the waterline when the canoe is loaded to it’s intended capacity BILGE - The area of intersection between the bottom, and the sides of the boat. It can be rounded or knuckled. CHINE - See BILGE, Called a hard chine when it is angular and a soft chine when it is rounded, CRUISING SPEED - The speed at which you travel at your normal stroke rate. DRAFT - The depth of the canoe below the water: when it is loaded EFFICIENCY - The ease of paddling at a given speed as opposed to pure speed. ENTRY & EXIT LINES - The forward and aft waterline shapes from the end to a point 25% aft or forward. FLARE - Hull sides that slope outward from the waterline. FREEBOARD - The distance between the sheerline and the waterline at a given load, HEEL - Leaning a canoe on its side while paddling. HULL - The shell of the canoe. HULL SPEED - The practical top speed of the hull. Tripping canoes can exceed this speed but only with big power inputs. LAMINATE - The successive layers or plys of material ‘comprising the hull ROCKER - The amount of upward curve a canoe's keel line has. Rocker is used to increase the maneuverability of a canoe. SHEERLINE - The gunwale line of a canoe. SYMMETRICAL HULL - 4 hull with bow and stem shaped the same. ‘TOURING - Day paddling and light camping trips of up to 3 days duration. ‘TRIM - The seats, thwarts, gunwales, handles, and handles of a canoe. Also, the level of the canoe in a fore and aft direction. TRIPPING - Extended trips in excess of three days duration. TUMBLEHOME - Hull sides that curve back towards the centerline WETTED SURFACE - The underwater portion of the hull OPTIMUM CAPACITY RANGES. CATEGORY WEIGHT RANGE, Small Recreational 260-420 Ibs, Touring and ‘Tripping 360-580 Ibs. 410-680 Ibs. Family Touring and TrippingSmall Recreational Canoes ———————————————e—e—eueS$SaSsSaaww—m5s Small recreational canoes are best suited for cottage and day padiling use. Easily managed by novices and children, they are responsive yet stable and their iow profiles are less affected by wind than larger canoes. They ‘re suitable for short camping trips with lighter loads and ‘make fine solo canoes for those who desire a dual purpose solo/tandem canoe. The canoes we have chosen cover the full spectrum of this type and, no matter what your needs, ‘one will surely suit SWIFT MERLIN Optimum capacity range 260 - 370 pounds The Merlin, is the high performance model of this section. Its unique asymmetrical hull provides instant acceleration and lon, extreme flare is the source o! y and its predictable and reassuring feeling at all angles of heel. For the solo paddler, the Merlin paddles: easily and maneuvers extraordinarily well. The Merlin appeals to a broad range of paddlers from the enthusiastic beginner to the skilled expert. Small, fast, and maneuverable, itis an excellent example of the modern performance canoe. SWIFT OTTER ‘Optimum capacity range 280 - 400 pounds New last year, the Otter is already becoming a cottage favorite. In many ways reminiscent of the early. Chestnut pleasure canoes, the Otter responds well to traditional paddling skills as either a tandem or solo. Because of its symmetrical hull with a soft bilge and . flared sides, a wide range of paddlers can enjoy this easy paddling and handling craft. An Otter in your camp is sure to mean a summer of fun. BLACKHAWK SHADOW Optimum capacity range 280 - 400 pounds ‘The Shadow is a new dual purpose canoe from Blackhawk. Straight tracking and with a smooth — predictable motion in waves it is an excellent choice for novice or large paddlers. The quality of workmanship and innovation of this Shadow is typically Blackhawk, Itis stable, forgiving, and seaworthy with ample capacity for short camping exursions, SWIFT QUETICO Optimum capacity 280 - 400 pounds ‘The Quetico is the largest and fastest canoe in this section. Its sleek hull and unique shape provide performance unmatched by any other canoe of its _ type. Full length flare gives a dry ride and a feeling: of security in the most severe conditions. Excellent for tandem and solo wilderness touring, the Quetico fills a long unrecognized need for a small handy canoe for smaller couples and those who no need for the higher volume canoes generally for touring and trippingSMALL CANOE OUTFITTING Canoe versatility is becoming increasingly importan to today’s paddiers and well over SOM othe geome recreational and touring canoes sold by us last year were outfitted for both solo and tandem use. This has been a significant inerease over previous years and reflects the growing sophistication of pac dies who recognize the importance of proper tim and comfort when the catoe is paddled solo, Unlike the traditional method of soloing from the bow seat facing the stern, Kneeling thwarts and center seats maintain level trim and the propet hull shape essential to good performance KNEELING THWART: In this popular setup, the angled kneeling thwart is positioned behind the yoke and, because the paddler is kneeling, Itprovides an aralleled feeling of control and paddling eificieney. Proper trim is achieved by stowing gear Troward in the canoe, ‘Because your weight is supported by both knees and buttock comfortable for long periods of time. Light and easily removed for tandem paddling, the kneeling thwart is our most popular fandem/solo package, KNEELING THWART & DETACHABLE YOKE: For more serious solo paddlers, we mount the kneeling thwart slightly behind the center of balance and remove the center yoke. This provides level trim when paddling without any gear. An easily detachable yoke (takes only a few moments to attach or remove) is available for the times when you will need to portage the canoe. Any of our yokes can be made detachable. CENTER SEAT: Mounted aft of the yoke, the detachable seat provides greater comfort over long periods of time as well as for those who prefer to sit. To achieve level trim, gear is stored forward of the thwart. CENTER SEAT & DETACHABLE YOKE: This setup provides level trim and comfort when paddling without gear. A detachable yoke is available. CENTER SLIDING SEAT: The most sophisticated solo setup, the sliding seat allows precise trim of the ‘canoe under all conditions and with a variety of loads, The normal tandem seating can be left in place, made detachable, or left out entirely. This arrangement is perfect for those whose primary purpose is solo tripping. A detachable yoke is available for portaging. ake, Algonguin Park Early moming, “ay