Considerations to take when purchasing a canoe.

Canoe selection is based around the primary usage of the canoe. The following characteristics, materials and features should be considered.

The shape of the bottom of the hull affects primary and secondary stability, with a flatter bottom allowing more primary stability and less secondary stability. Inversely, a more rounded bottom provides less primary and more secondary stability.

Rocker refers to the degree of curve in the hull from bow to stern. The more rocker a canoe has the more manoeuvrable it is, but this detracts from the tracking and speed of the canoe. A canoe with a lot of rocker is best suited for use in moving water due to the necessity of manoeuvrability, while a canoe with little to no rocker is better suited for flat water due to its enhanced tracking and speed capabilities.

Length is a key consideration when purchasing a canoe. Longer canoes offer better tracking and a faster hull speed. Shorter canoes are better where manoeuvrability is key.

The width of the canoe influences stability and efficiency. A wider canoe will provide a more balanced feel, but sacrifices some of the speed capabilities. A narrower canoe provides better speed with a less balanced feel.

The depth of a canoe influences carrying capacity as well as comfort level. A deeper canoe will keep the user drier and increase carrying capacity while lengthening the reach the user must take to paddle efficiently. Shallower canoes tend to be less effected by wind but offer less protection from water.

Asymmetrical hulls differ in shape from front half to back half. Symmetrical hulls have identical front and back sections. Asymmetrical hulls have finer bows and are wider towards the rear of the canoe allowing for better speed. Symmetrical hulls allow the user to paddle them forwards or backwards making them ideal for solo users.

Keels are structural members that assist in tracking. Some users find that this provides a minor hazard as the protruding keel can come into contact with obstacles in the water and offset the track of the canoe. Canoes with keels tend to be of lighter weight due to less material being required to support the hull. Canoes lacking keels require slightly more material for hull support, adding to the weight of the canoe.

Nova Craft offers hull materials in three broad groups; composites, ABS and polyethylene. Our family of composites includes fiberglass, Kevlar, Kevlar/Spectra and Blue Steel. Our ABS canoes include Royalex and Royalex-Lite. Our polyethylene construction is called SP3. Composites, such as Kevlar, provide a lightweight, smooth gliding, faster canoe with good strength. ABS provides more of a long lasting, tougher material that is ideal for rugged conditions. SP3 is a three layer plastic that is incredibly durable, being ideal for rugged usage with limited maintenance required.

Nova Craft offers gunnels black anodized aluminum, heavy-duty vinyl or traditional white ash. Each type of gunnel has its own unique characteristics. Our aluminum gunnels are very stiff and light. Since they are black anodized they do not turn your skin black like untreated aluminum can. They are quite durable and require very little maintenance. Vinyl gunnels are extremely tough and flexible. These are the typical choice of whitewater paddlers who need a more robust boat. Because they are so flexible they can take severe bends and bounce back. Vinyl gunnels are virtually maintenance free. Ash gunnels are light, strong and flexible. They are also very traditional looking, aesthetically pleasing and feel nice in your hands during portages. Ash gunnels have the added bonus of making composite canoes quieter than when they are trimmed with aluminum. Ash gunnels do require a little maintenance as they need to be treated with tung oil a few times a year as a preventative measure against mold and rot. They are also very easy to repair with a little sandpaper and elbow grease.