Isfjord
Latest updated Monday, February 5, 2024, 41 comments
Images | Particulars | More about | Background and history
Plans, Isfjord - 125 EUR
Purchase
Isfjord, as a type, was born on the western coasts of Greenland, grew up in England and has long been 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 make for acceptable initial stability, 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, even in following seas and rough waters, and surfs readily and easily.
The kayak can be built with a small or large cockpit opening, with or without bulkheads and hatches (shown on the plans). Those interested in a rudder or adjustable skeg will find descriptions of these on the plans also.
Particulars
| Length¹ |
546/484 cm (overall/WL) |
| Beam |
53/49 cm (overall/WL) |
| Draft |
12 cm |
| Cockpit¹ |
80x40 cm |
| Height¹ |
28/20 cm (in front of/behind the cockpit) |
| Weight² |
17-23 kg |
| Displacement/volume⁶ |
130 kg/320 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 (initial/secondary stability) |
| 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.
⁶ Displacement is kayak + paddler + load. Count off the kayak weight to get the load capacity.
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 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 - 125 EUR
Purchase
Minimum window dimensions to get your kayak out from the workshop:
54x34cm
More about Isfjord
Isfjord is an excellent touring kayak. The volume is less than in Nomad/Najad/Thule but adequate for week-long tours, provided you travel reasonably light. The touring pace is slightly more than the hydrodynamical software predicted.
A potential disadvantage is that Isfjord is so much fun for surf and wave play that it may be hard to get on one's way. When in a Njord/Nomad/Najad you might push through the shore breakers without much excitement and head off, in Isfjord you will be severely tempted to go back in and have another go, and another. A semi-submerged flat rock beckons for a flyover on a passing wave and a narrow slot between rocks must be surfed – just because it is there. It is hard not to become an expert paddler in Isfjord.
At the same time, Isfjord is a good kayak for beginners interested in learning new skills. Initial stability is quite good, and even a new paddler will quickly find safety and comfort in waves. Secondary stability is slightly better than in Kavat and Nomad. Rolling and bracing are easy in Isfjord – the low aft deck makes leaning back comfortable and the arched deck gives a positive popup at the surface.
Isfjord tracks a little better than Kavat and may need a little leaning to turn sharply – practice your low and high braces.
Isfjord – background and history
The main inspiration for Isfjord, designed in 2001, is the traditional west Greenland kayaks from the late twentieth century. They were held to be exceptionally good hunting craft – maneuverable, fast and easily handled. Like most European and American kayaks Isfjord has been adjusted for our conditions. We do not hunt sea mammals off an unprotected coast in the Arctic – we go for trips and play in waves. 
We have longer arms and legs than the Inuits and we are not used to sitting with straight legs under an extremely low deck.
Isfjord's deck is therefore higher, especially in front of the cockpit, affording considerably more load capacity and more room for knees and feet. It is also longer and beamier. The sheer is slightly straighter to reduce the windage – a development noticeable also in the later Greenland kayaks.
But I have kept the original proportions, the volume distribution, bottom shape etc., to keep as much as possible of the behavior and feel of the original. Still, Isfjord is no historic replica, but a modern interpretation of a very successful arctic kayak.
