: What is tumblehome ? How is it measured and how does it effect the boat ?
: Thanks
: Dave M

Tumblehome is usually only used on canoes. It describes a bilge or waterline section of the hull the sticks out further than the gunnel if you compared them on vertical lines. This is usually a feature of a solo canoe. Tumblehome allows a solo paddler, who would sit near the center of the canoe, to place a vertically held paddle as close to the the side of the canoe as possible without hitting his knuckles on the gunnel. The closer a solo paddler can place his paddle next to the side of the canoe the straighter the canoe will track.

Canoes need to be wider for stablity since the paddler kneels, so a solo canoe with tumblehome can keep the paddler closer to the center of the canoe (for balance) and allows the person to paddle without reaching way out.

All the best,

Rob Macks
Laughing Loon CC&K
www.LaughingLoon.com