Isfjord
Latest updated Sunday, December 04, 2011, 16 comments
Images | Particulars
Plans, Isfjord - 94 EUR
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Isfjord, as a type, was born on the southwestern coast of Greenland, grew up in England and is now a kind of world standard for demanding use on unprotected coasts.
Designed for technically advanced paddling, it has a small cockpit with a close fit. The rounded bottom and hard chines makes for an acceptable initial stability, a reassuring secondary stability and easy movements in a seaway. The kayak is very maneuverable and easy to roll, brace and scull in.
For touring, Isfjord is slightly slower than Norton/Thule/ Nomad (Lower PC and more wetted surface). It has also slightly less carrying capacity, while still sufficient for a week.
Isfjord tracks well, also in following seas and rough waters and surfs readily and easily.
The kayak can be built with small or large cockpit opening, with or without bulkheads and hatches (shown on the plans). Those interested in rudder or adjustable skeg will find descriptions of these on the plans also.
Particulars
| Length¹ |
546/484 cm (total/lwl) |
| Beam |
53/49 cm (total/lwl) |
| Draft |
12 cm |
| Cockpit¹ |
80x40 cm |
| Height¹ |
28/20 cm (in front of/behind the cockpit) |
| Weight² |
17-23 kg |
| Load capacity |
130 kg/130 litre |
| Speed³ |
7.4/10.7 km/h |
| Prismatic coefficient |
0.53 |
| Wetted surface |
2.12 m² |
| Drag⁴ |
1.66/3.21 kp |
| Stability⁵ |
3/4 (no load/max load) |
| Intended use |
Expedition and touring, coastal and open sea. Advanced paddling i rough waters and surf. |
* These dimensions can be adapted to suit personal needs or wishes.
** Depending on type of wood, equipment, care with epoxy usage, sanding etc. etc.
*** The speed numbers are based on mathematical standard formulas (175 lb paddler + 30 lb carco weight) and corrected from the kayaks actual performance om trials, on tours and in races.
⁴ Calculated resistance in 4 and 5 knots (at nominal load capacity).
⁵ Initial stability and secondary stability on a subjective scale, where 1 is very tippy and 5 is very stable.
Stability
The curve shows the calculated stability with a static load, and therefore of limited use for a real paddler. The part of the curve near zero degrees indicates the initial (primary) stability – the steeper the curve, the more stable. The part of the curve left of the peak indicates end (secondary) stability – the higher and wider, the safer you feel edging the kayak. The position of the peak shows also how much the kayak can be leaned without tipping over. The part of the curve to the right of the peak with rapidly decreasing righting moment is almost impossible to take advantage of.
Plans
The plan sheets contain the information needed to build the kayak/canoe. Station molds, stems and construction details are in full scale. For kayaks the recommended cockpit size is shown half scale with offsets for a full scale drawing and advice on altering the size. On the plans you will also find advice on how to shorten or lengthen the craft. Lines and construction drawings are in metric scale 1:10.
The illustrated step-by-step building manual is in Swedish only, but it is available online in english: it covers all steps in detail and will guide first-time builders through the project.
Plans, Isfjord - 94 EUR
Purchase
