The "V" Hull

[lowangle al]

I recently bought a kevlar Mad River Malecite and have been paddling it the last few days. It reminded me of how much I like a V hull. I think it is a great design feature. When paddled with the boat level I think it tracks better then it would without the V. I also think it carves better when leaned over, and has more stability when leaned then a shallow arch or flat bottom.

What are others opinions on the V hull and is any manufacturer currently making them?

 

[Chip]

The only V-hull I paddled was a MR Explorer. I paddled it solo and I didn't like it.

I guess my dislike stems from what I was taught and what I got used to. I learned to carve in arched-bottom boats by leaning and letting the rockered bottom carve a turn toward the side to which I was leaning. That's what I got used to. The MRE did the opposite, like a sea kayak, and I didn't like that. I guess I'm not very adaptable. The MRE wanted me to change, so I did--I changed boats.

 

[MrPoling]

I paddle a fiberglass Explorer. It is fine. I suspect the v helps stabilize the boat from rolling, but I don't know.

I know the v doesn't side-surf well.

I like shallow arch better.

I love the high quality fiberglass layup on my Explorer. It is wonderfully stiff, even without a foamcore or ribs.

 

[ABT]

The only one I’m aware of still in production by a major maker is the Nova Craft Bob Special.

I like the Mad River shallow V’s I’ve tried just as well as the shallow arches from Bell, Swift, or others. Just a different design, and one that seems to be just as effective. I enjoy it just for a change sometimes. Both my shallow arch and V hulls can carve when leaned inside or outside of the turn, some to more or less degrees one way or the other. The chine “hardness” also make a big difference for carving. My Outrage X has a very minimal shallow V, but harder chines that make carving on the inside much better, as is usually the case in WW boats. The Guide seems like it will carve either way. My Northstar Phoenix is shallow arch and really prefers carving with a heel to the outside.

I recently acquired a MR Courier and was surprised to find its V hull is noticeably deeper and less “shallow” than the Guide that ultimately replaced it. Surprisingly it still feels as stable as the Guide despite the deeper V, but it also surprisingly doesn’t feel slower even though it’s beam is two inches wider, plus it has better glide, and still has very good maneuverability. I have to wonder if the deeper V is part of the reason why .

 

[memaquay]

Interesting, I thought the Bob's special was a shallow arch kind of hull. Can't remember seeing it as a V hull.

 

[ABT]

Interesting, I thought the Bob's special was a shallow arch kind of hull. Can't remember seeing it as a V hull.

I think it’s a pretty shallow V. From what I’ve read, the main difference between the NC and the original Chestnut is that the NC is slightly narrower and has a shallow V whereas the Chestnut was slightly wider and had a flatter bottom. Been a while since I’ve seen one so maybe Glenn or someone that owns one can chime in on the Bob’s V.

 

[tketcham]

When paddled with the boat level I think it tracks better then it would without the V. I also think it carves better when leaned over, and has more stability when leaned then a shallow arch or flat bottom.

The shallow V design does work well to keep a canoe tracking, but I like the feel of a shallow arch better. The flats on either side of the V hull can feel more stable (secondary stability) when heeled but it doesn't seem as smooth and predictable as the curve and soft chines of a shallow arch. It's not a night and day difference, though. I didn't spend much time in the Mad River Explorer I paddled but did spend a lot of time in a Clipper Sea-1 canoe, which has a pronounced V-hull. It tracked so well that I rarely used the rudder.

I think a good integration of both hull features is the Curtis Northstar tandem, which has a subtle V along the keel line. I didn't notice it until I bought a light grey Redleaf Design cover for it and then the V stood out. I wonder if Dave Yost and Jim Henry discussed V hull designs. The Northstar tracks well for a symmetrically rockered 16' canoe and yet has that nice predictable stability when heeled. Not sure if the same hull design was carried forward in the Hemlock Eagle.

 

[Steve in Idaho]

The V in the Malecite does seem to help tracking, and it does have good primary stability when resting on one side or the other. Secondary stability is good when heeled up to a point, but then falls off before getting near the rail. Not as much though as some Wenonahs I've been in or my Solitude.

When poling the Malecite, I find that it turns better when heeled on the opposite side of the turn.

 

[lowangle al]

Yeah, it’s not a night and day difference and I don’t have another hull similar to the Malecite without the V for comparison.

The reason it carves better may have more to do with the shape of the stem then the V but my hunch is that it is both. Same thing for tracking. One thing I do know for sure is that I like the malecite. The one feature that I can surely attribute to the V hull is how stable it is when leaned. Those two flat surfaces make it easy to hold a consistent amount of lean compared with a rounded bottom. With a round bottom it may be easier to dial in the amount of lean you want, but with less stability.