SnowShoe
Arrow 14 versus Kayak
Here
is a modification of an early Geodesic Design. Actually it is a
stretched version of the popular Snowshoe 12. It turned out to be
a winner... worthy of a new set of plans. The SnowShoe Arrow is
offered for someone looking for a boat that performs like a sea
kayak without the weight and complications. It is not an ocean kayak
to cruise the Maine coast islands or to perform Eskimo rolls; however,
most kayaking is done in more protected waters.
Conditions
where a sea kayak will occasionally dip a deck in a moderate chop
are met with a different scenario. The Arrow’s relatively
high freeboard simply parts the water with reserve buoyancy.
Don
Deese of Georgia Straight B.C.,The first builder attributes the
surprising greater speed with less effort to the fact that the Arrow
draws so little water...2 1/2". It just skims the surface.
The boat challenges the heavy kayaks that hang in the garage for
being a pain to use, while Don is out in the bay paddling his 19
pound Arrow. By now you’ve probably figured out how the name
was derived...the Arrow tracks like it’s on a rail.
An
added versatility is derived by the addition of a second thwart.
Turn the boat end for end and now it is a comfortable double.
You
might be interested in reading Don's
letters about the boat in customer comments on this website.
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