Langford Canoe Tutorial

Short Course on Canoes

Design Elements
Two basic dimensional measurements, length and width, most affect a canoe's performance. Length governs potential speed, while width, particularly at the 4" waterline, determines stability, the wider hull giving more stability, at the expense of speed. Both of these factors, along with depth, determine maximum load and the wave action the hull can successfully deflect.

Initial/Final Stability
Initial stability is encountered when entering or exiting the canoe. Final stability is encountered in a weighted canoe which is heeled over i.e. tipping sideways towards the gunwhales, so that the water may even touch or nearly touch the gunwales.

Hull Designs

KEEL LINE
is the shape of the hull bottom from bow to stern.

Comparative Hull Shapes

A straight line keeps the canoe on track, but restricts turning. "Rocker" is the upward curvature of the keel line towards the ends, which allows for ease in pivoting, thereby enhancing the canoe's maneuverability, at the expense of tracking and speed. Thus, a Straight Keel Line or Slight Rocker is best for big lakes and calm rivers, while a Moderate Rocker gives the best "all round performance", speed and tracking balanced with turning ability, for those narrow, more challenging streams - a superbly versatile canoe. Heavy Rocker is best suited for white water canoeing where quick turning is imperative.

MYTH
"...a keel determines how well a canoe tracks".

In fact, it is the total hull design which determines this fact, and Langford's canoes do not have keels because our integral hull design is smooth and efficient, with the added bonus of not having a keel to "foul" on obstacles underwater. Most Langford Canoes boast shallow arch hull design, ensuring good tracking ability, seaworthiness, stability, and ease of handling, based on the rocker accorded each model. Keels are seen today on canoes to add strength, so the hull will not flex. These are older or less efficient designs.

SYMMETRY
A Symmetrical Canoe has identically shaped halves, the widest point being at the centre.
This makes for predictable behaviour, such as maneuvering in small rivers and streams.  Normally, initial stability is better in symmetrical canoes, and these models lend themselves to fishing, photography, and active occupants, such as children, and lake travel especially when loaded (when loaded equally a Symmetrical Langford will outpace most competiors Asymmetrical canoes)
An Asymmetrical Canoe has its widest point aft of centre.
This provides a longer, narrower bow and a shorter, more blunted stern. If built properly this should mean easier and faster acceleration, greater glide and tracking ability, and comparable stability depending on load.  Asymmetrical designs contrary to what most sales literature suggests reach load limits quickly and are more prone to the adverse effects created by weight. Always test paddle and choose carefully, do not fall victim to tainted or vested interest based descriptions of function or base decisions on measurements alone.

ABOVE THE WATERLINE
The sides of a canoe can vary above the waterline, from flared, to straight, to thumblehome (where the side actually curves back inwards before it reaches the gunwale). Flared sides keep water from rolling into the canoe as it travels through waves. Thumblehome allows paddlers better access to the water as the paddle can be positioned parallel to the keel line for an efficient paddle stroke. Many canoes combine these two shapes.

CAPACITY
This is the amount of weight a canoe will carry and still have (depending on design) 4-6" of freeboard at the centre. Other measurements of performance, such as safe load capacity, are subjective, and depend on the canoe's design, the experience level of the paddler, his/her judgement, and weather conditions. Remember too that should you take on water due to weather conditions, load is increased rapidly by an unknown amount. Always err on the side of caution when loading a canoe.  In addition to the weight the paddler should pay attention to the shape of the hull of their canoe. The shape of a Langford has been refined to best balance the many competeing expectations of different types of paddlers. The sweeping lines in our Prospectors and more importantly the Spray Rail found on most Langford models affords a measurably higher degree of safety in rough water, thus allowing a Langford to safely operate in conditions where other canoes with "similar" capacities should not.  And there are many other small features that help to better the function of canoes when weighed down with large loads. Please Note; most companies fail or purposefully negate to mention the odraft their hulls carry. Langford builds the safest shallow-draft, and high freeboard hulls possible, given the constraints of weight, price-point and material. Our true tripping and family canoes have been enjoyed by generations of paddlers for 7 decades.

FLOTATION
All of Langford's Vac-Fusion; Kevlar, Ultra-lite, and Full Carbon canoes contain model specific computer designed HD Cores, that form integral skeletons.  As with our sister companies in the power boating world (Boston Whaler, Campion, Doral) we are able to create ever lighter and more durable canoes.

The bench mark setting materials and methods employed by Langford Canoe offer both unrivaled structural damage resistance and a integral flotation component.  Thanks to annual evolution of the HD Core, that is based directly on use, there is no safer canoe on the market.

Quick adoption of trickle-down  processes from other industries, and the use of top tier materials was what allowed Langford to invent the lightweight class of  Kevlar tripping canoe and allows our company to continue providing the benchmark for comparison based function and durability.

WARRANTY

Langford's canoes are subject to a limited lifetime warranty.  If a product is marred by a manufacturing defect, the purchaser may return it directly to Langford Canoe Head Office in Dwight Ontario. The warranty covers parts, material and labour for all manufacturing defects. This protection does not apply to damage caused by improper use, negligence, normal wear and tear or damage sustained during transport. It is the canoe owners responsibility to transport the canoe to and from Langford Canoe Head Office in Dwight Ontario. It is recognized at time of sale that the transport and storage of any Canoe is the responsibility of the customer.  Langford Canoe reserves the right to repair or replace a canoe or it's components at the company's own discretion.

DISCLAIMER

People choose to purchase a Langford Canoe for many reasons, the number one reason is so that they can better explore their natural surroundings. Nature presents numerous inherent risks and challenges, which is why people choose to participate in paddlesports (canoe and kayaking) the level of risk is an inherent part of what allows one to challenge themselves freely.  In such an environment safety cannot be guaranteed.

Paddlesports (the use of canoes kayaks etc. ) as such are inherently dangerous.  Canoeing and Kayaking are sports that require a certain level of skill, intelligence, equilibrium, and athleticism,  that effects the users competency. Whether Novice or Expert it is entirely up to the user to ensure their own safety. There are many courses, electronic sources of information,  literature, groups and organizations that can assist the user in safer operation of a canoe or kayak. Finding these these sources of information is as simple as contacting a paddlesports retailer, visiting a search engine, leafing through a phone book, or attending a local library.

The user of a canoe and or kayak acknowledges that Canoes and Kayaks have historically been, and continue to be vessels that are prone to capsizing no matter the quality or condition of the canoe/kayak, the weather, or level of experience of the user.  As with any outdoor sport there are many inherent risks associated with the use of canoes and kayaks, risks that may include but are not restricted to losses or damages to property, personal injury, death.  These risks are omni-present with a severity that can only be lessened slightly through common sense and cautious approach to use.  Throughout the history of humankind Water has been and continues to be known as a foreign and alien environment.  Water provides many threats to Homo Sapiens and other non-aquatic adapted organisms, as such any operation near, on, or in water, should be treated as a potentially life threatening situation.

Although Langford Canoe always attempts to make canoes that are the safest that material and manufacturing methods will allow, all situations cannot be provided for. There is no substitute for constant education, and a cautious, approach to the use of canoes and kayaks at all times. Paddlers should always ensure their canoe is stored properly, that fasteners and components are tightened and inspected for wear, that gear is lashed or otherwise protected, that the weight of passenger and cargo is kept as low in the canoe as possible, and that proper equipment for the conditions is worn at all times. Unfortunately no level of preparedness can provide blanket protection against all situations.

Exclusion of Liability Langford Canoe makes no claim as to the safety of our products past or present. The user/owner of a Langford Canoe agrees that Langford Canoe cannot be held responsible for any injury, death, losses, costs or damages (whether direct, indirect, special, consequential or otherwise) that result from the use of our products.

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