International 10sq meter canoe

[Adamant]

Hi,
Im thinking of building one of these canoes for my son and would like to know if there's anyone on the forum who knows of them. I need plans and offsets and haven't found a source yet. I also need to know the problems I'm likly to run into with lofting and building it.
I also have heard that these are one of the most difficult boats to sail due to the complexity of the design and rig. any advice will help.

Thanks, Don

[Mike Simpson]

Here is a link to the association:

http://www.intcanoe.org.uk/

They ain't toys for tyros by the way!

[ 12-29-2005, 11:00 PM: Message edited by: Mike Simpson ]

[ingo]

Since 1969 all int. canoes are a one-design-class. Just read the class rules and build it. But there are very beautiful canoes from Uffa Fox, that are easier to sail (more stable) than the modern ones. Look at http://www.uffafox.com/ for example for plans for "Wake" from 1936 or "Brynhild" - a canoe for two with two planks.

I thought of building "Wake" but found no time yet. Takes maybe 300 hours of work depending on the building method. The plans are great and more information are available in Uffa's books.

[bainbridgeisland]

Originally posted by ingo:
Since 1969 all int. canoes are a one-design-class. I don't think that is exactly true. The hull shape is near one-design, by Nethercott. I don't see the hull as a true one-design because older hulls (of different shape) are grandfathered in. The deck and rig are controlled like a restricted class and have only broad limits placed on them by the rules of the class. Somebody on the Forum like Ben Fuller, with many more years experience in the class than I, could probably explain this better.

Here is a link to the IC class in the USA:
http://www.intcanoe.us/international_canoe/evolution/

[bainbridgeisland]

Here is a reasonable picture of an IC:
http://www.intcanoe.us/mygallery/mypics/Fleet/15/Bob%20Lewis%20wit%20de%20pink%20gloves.jpg
Lots of folks say these boats are hard to sail. As an experienced dinghy sailor, I found them hard to sail really well but otherwise not so hard.

[bainbridgeisland]

OK, sorry, Icouldn't resist posting a few more pictures of ICs.

Here is my old friend Del Olsen at the 2002 Worlds:
http://www.intcanoe.us/mygallery/mypics/Fleet/12/bristol-145-web.jpg

I was at the launching of Dels old boat and still have some pictures:
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid153/pf80a086e2a57ce45aed72b98c3c5ddaf/f59f8eb9.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid153/p2e8edf567ff4548a37bcd22beeccd262/f59f8eb6.jpg

[B. Parkes]

As the owner of one of the oldest IC's around, USA98 "Easy Rider" I can tell you that they are very hard to sail. They are even harder to right because you must climb over the side and kneel in the middle of the boat in order for it not to continue its roll onto the other side, after you have stood on the daggerboard and grabbed onto the sliding seat.

[bainbridgeisland]

Originally posted by B. Parkes:
As the owner of one of the oldest IC's around, USA98 "Easy Rider" I can tell you that they are very hard to sail. They are even harder to right because you must climb over the side and kneel in the middle of the boat in order for it not to continue its roll onto the other side, after you have stood on the daggerboard and grabbed onto the sliding seat.No doubt you are far more experienced than I am at sailing ICs but...

After sailing ICs a few seasons, I would say the boat is not that hard to sail. Most of my sailing was in the strong winds of San Francisco Bay. I am a very experienced dinghy sailor.

Upwind, tacking and reaching, the boat is stable enough. When the seat drops in the water during a lull in the wind, it bounces along over the top of the waves, giving me enough time to move inboard. In any kind of reasonably steady wind it responds to sheet and helm better than many dinghies. Because the crew on the seat is so far off centerline, the roll inertia of the boat is relatively high (for its weight and beam) allowing time to respond to wind shifts and variations in wind speed. The boat is long enough and light enough so that it doesn't pitchpole as often as other high-performance dinghies.

I rarely had trouble righting the boat after a capsize. Just undo the sheets (if still cleated) and pull on the centerboard. The seat acts as an outrigger, stabilizing the boat when first righted. I usually swam over the windward rail, just aft of the sliding seat. It is only 4-5 inches high, so this is easier than many dinghies. The only times I ever had trouble re-capsizing was after a capsize to windward. This happens on most high-performance dinghies. Foreseeing this, I always left the main cleated, held onto the centerboard for the ride and then uncleated the main and righted the boat normally.

It is hard to gybe an IC. Doesn't seem to matter if it is windy or moderate, doing it well takes skill. I found I could dependably gybe the boat after a dozen sails or so as long as I used very positive control. Surf down a wave, slide the seat to the new side, release the jibsheet, bear away firmly, grab all the parts of the mainsheet and slam the boom across (being sure to lean aft so you clear the boom), move out on the seat after the boom clears and re-adjust the sheets. I find it easiest to do this kneeling (some sailors stand but it is harder I think).

I believe anyone who can sail a 5o5, Fireball, International 14 and other such dinghies in strong winds will find an IC rewarding to sail. Even Hobiecat sailors seem to adjust to the boat. Experience on a trapeze helps the adjustment.

What I am trying to say is that though ICs have a reputation of being hard to sail, I disagree. Though not a boat for beginners, experienced high-performance dinghy sailors should adjust to the boat without too much trouble.

[bamamick]

then go to the Dinghy Forum and ask your question. Steve Clark posts there regularly and he knows more about these things than anyone.

And then come back here and tell us how it went. I bet that your son has a blast.

Mickey Lake

[Jay Greer]

L.Francis Herreshoff designed a IC. I have a set of plans for it that were given to me by him. The boat is both intriguing and innovative.
I would like to build it for an agile sailor who has gills. The plans dept at Mystic Seaport can supply you with a set if you are interested.

[Andrew Craig-Bennett]

Bainbridgeisland's comments are in line with those I received from experienced IC sailors here when I expressed interest in these boats.