Fors 490
Latest updated Friday, August 25, 2023, 15 comments
Images | Particulars | Background and history
Plans, Fors 490 - 130 EUR
Purchase
images | information | lines | particulars | history
Fors 490 is a highly maneuverable and versatile canoe designed for 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 keep the canoe dry in waves and rapids with high secondary stability, and together with the curved keel makes leaned turns effective. The long waterline is 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.
Particulars
| Length |
490 cm* |
| Beam |
89 cm total |
| Weight |
25 kg** |
| Displacement/volume⁶ |
375 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.
** Depending on type of wood, equipment, care with epoxy usage, sanding etc. etc.
Plans
One sheet (DIN A1 size) contains the information needed to build the canoe. The station molds and stems are in full size – the lines and construction in metric scale 1:1.
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, Fors 490 - 130 EUR
Purchase
I have had several requests for a highly maneuverable canoe for whitewater. This is the result. 
Fors 490 has a slightly higher sheer than an ordinary touring canoe, to keep water out in rapids and stacks. For the same reason the stems are V-shaped with volume high 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 challenging waters.
A long waterline together with a narrow waterline beam gives a good touring speed on flat water. 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 severe damages are easy to repair.
