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Help with a canoe

Joined
Apr 27, 2020
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Location
Rochester NY
Hi folks,

Can anyone help me understand the "thwart" in the bow of this canoe?

I know there has been mention of canoe sailing - is this for the mast? I don't recall ever seeing this.

Thank you!

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KO, is this a canoe you have bought, or are thinking of buying?

Grumman made three different kinds of keel, as shown in the brochure in Benson's link. The most common ("standard") has a T-shaped cross section, essentially it's a long skinny fin extending about 1-1/2" below the bottom of the canoe.

Grumman also made a shallow draft or "shoe" intended for river use. It's a shallow D-shaped cross section perhaps 1/2 to 3/4" below the boat's bottom.

The sailing rig could be fitted to hulls with either keel. I've never seen a Grumman with the bulb keel, but AFAIK it could also accommodate the sailing rig.

The leeboards are mounted on a separate thwart that can be clamped to the gunwales. In theory it can be moved fore or aft to achieve a balanced helm. With all the sailing parts in place, there is not much room for a passenger.

There were also two different size sails. The 1975 brochure shows only the 44 sq. ft. lateen sail. There was also a 65 sq. ft. sliding gunter; perhaps it was discontinued by 1975.

The Voice of Experience says that 65 sq. ft. of sail on a skinny canoe hull makes for a tippy boat. Sailing this rig is not for the faint of heart.

I removed the sailing thwart from my Grumman for general river use. IMO it would make it difficult for the bow paddler to bail out in the event of a capsize. This thwart was attached with stainless steel screws. After 40+ years of galvanic corrosion, I had to destroy those screws to remove them.
My Grumman also came with a cam cleat to hold the main sheet while sailing. I removed that as well. Belaying the sheet on such a tender and over-canvassed boat is a bad idea.
 
I have one with the sliding Gunter sail, but the fabric is torn and at the end of its life so I need to make a new one. It is low on the the project list however..
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Jim
 
Boatman, too bad that your sail is worn out. It looks like it has seen a lot of use. OTOH, your sail area is reduced and you won't be overpowered.

ACA sells the 44 sq. ft. sails, price not specified. https://americancanoe.org/competition/teams/recognized-disciplines/canoe-sailing/You might be able to reuse your gunter spars, or make your own from aluminum tubing or even wooden closed poles.

The sleeve attaching my 65 sq ft sail to the gunter yard was torn, but not as badly as yours. I repaired it with a scrap of heavy polyester canvas, and also tried to add reef points. I'm not a very good sailmaker.
 
Yes I’d say it had a hard life, but I never actually used it. I saved it from the dump. I really do need to find or make a new sail.
Jim
 
Thanks, it’s been a favorite since I first heard it in the late 1970’s. Turns out I married someone half Norwegian. Been to Norway a couple times, visiting family, cousins etc. it is an amazing country and would go back at a moments notice.
Jim
 
Thank you everyone - I knew they were sailed but never assumed there would be a thwart for the mast..

UCanoe, thank you for the keel info. I am trying to find a 17 or 18 footer with that shoe keel but no luck so far.

Thank you all!
 
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