Updated Friday, August 15, 2008 11:03 PM
Plans canoes - Fors 490, €94
images | information | lines | particulars | history
Fors 490 is a highly manoeverable and versatile canoe rapids and streaming water with two persons and touring gear. Long enough to combine elegant lines in the stems with large volume midships, it is easily paddled and safe in whitewater. The stems and angled sides without tumblehome keeps the canoe dry in waves and rapids with high secondary stability, and together with the curved keel makes leaned turns effective. The long waterline are perfect for speed and load capacity. The seats are closer to the center than for a guide canoe to reduce weight in the stem and stern. Fors 490 is a lively and fun canoe to paddle.
Images of Fors 490
Lines: Fors 490
Particulars: Fors 490
| Length: | 490 cm*. |
| Beam: | total: 89 cm. |
| Weight:: | 25 kg. |
| Displacement: | 400 kg. |
| Stability: | Mid (with high secondary). |
| Intended use: | Touring and day trips in streaming water and rapids. 1-2 paddlers with gear. |
* These dimensions can be adapted to suit personal needs or wishes.
I can also offer complete kits and professionally built and finished canoes. Please contact me for prices and terms.
Fors 490 - background and history
I have had several requests for a highly manoeverable canoe for white water. This is the result. 
Fors 490 has a slighly higher sheer than a ordinary touring canoe, to keep water out in rapids and stacks. For the same reason the stems are V-shaped with volume hig up, as are the freeboard: to reduce the risk of water over the sheer and to increase the secondary stability needed for leaned turns. The keel line is a shallow V and curved lengthwise to further improve turning. The seats are close to the middle to reduce weight in the ends, thus making for a softer ride in disturbed water.
A long waterline together with a narrow waterline beam gives a good touring speed on flarwater. The stiff wooden hull also contributes to speed. Fors 490 is long enough to provide good load capacity for two persons with a full camping duffel.
The strip hull is lighter and stronger than most materials and does well in whitewater - and if needed, even real damage is easy to repair.
