Our canoes are measured from one end to the other (Tip to Tip) which you will find is the industry standard method of measurement. All legitimate manufacturers of recreational vessels follow this standard. It is also acceptable to measure a canoe along the length of one gunwales, (without the end cap/deck) which some builders may do.
The reason that every manufacturer measures this way is because the length of a vessel at the water line will vary depending on the amount of weight you have in it. Unless it is a rectangle or square box there is no way to accurately determine the length at the waterline without knowing how much weight will be applied. The length of a vessel will not determine how much weight it can handle, if it will paddle efficiently or require a lot of effort to move, if it will be maneuverable, safe, or stable. The design of the hull along with many other factors will determine this. Also, because a canoe is long does not make it a good choice, nor does it provide higher capacity, stability, or make it safe to paddle.
The rocker on a canoe will vary depending on which model you choose, however most of our canoes have a minimal rocker anywhere from 1 to 2″. They are all ideal for flat water paddling and some mild to moderate moving water, however none of the canoes we make are designed for, or would make a good choice for any extreme white water.
Our canoes are full sheet construction built with a dynamic diamond core system and vinyl resin system. The exterior gel coat however is a modified polyester gel coat. Chemically speaking, gel coats are not compatible with Epoxy resins, which is why all epoxy canoes appear slightly translucent. Kevlar degrades with exposure to UV & UV stabilizers can not be added to an Epoxy which makes it slightly less then ideal when it comes to Kevlar.
Our canoes are built by hand due to environmental concerns. We have been using this method for over 16 years, and I think you may see a lot of manufacturers follow suit very shortly.
Here is a link to our web page which details the reasons; http://www.holycowcanoe.com/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=17&Itemid=24
More important, the materials we use in the construction of our canoes were specifically engineered to work with one another and offer the flexibility, UV protection, and durability to match and work with the Kevlar material.
For more help on deciding what canoe is best for you email us at sales@holycowcanoe.com
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