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Freedom 17
a modern efficient tripping canoe
· Length 17'
· Maximum beam 33.4"
· Beam waterline 31.75"
· Beam gunnel 32.5"
· Bow height 19.25"
· Centre depth 13.25"
· Draft 4.25"
· Displacement 420 lbs.
· Wetted surface 30.15 sq.ft.
· Weight to immerse 143.8 lb/in
· Prismatic coefficient 0.567
· Weight 45 to 55 lbs
© Designed by Steve Killing
Steve Killing Yacht Design
The Freedom line of canoes are built in
high quality synthetic materials by
Bluewater Canoes, Guelph, Ontario.
The Freedom 17 features an asymmetrical hull with a slim bow, a maximum beam just aft of the
middle and filled out stern sections to reduce the resistance. The gently rockered profile lets the boat turn
with ease. Because of the slight tumblehome this canoe is a wonderful solo boat, but most of the time it
can be found heading off on canoe trips with two avid canoeists on board. A fast responsive tripping canoe
that's also easy to build.
Freedom 17 built at Ted Moores' canoe course.
COMMENTS:
I built a Freedom 17 and love the way it paddles. It's very fast,
but stable and carries a good amount of gear. I paddle it with my
girlfriend most often (I weigh 190lbs and she 135 lbs). We tried a
sliding bow seat, but it didn't really do anything, so I moved the
rear seat slightly foward from the plans in Canoecraft and we just
move around gear to trim out the boat.
We just took the canoe on a trip this last weekend with about 150
pounds of gear arranged in three packs and our fishing gear chucked
in where it would fit, and we out ran everything on the water,
including a empty alumimun canoe with a couple of beefy guys wanting
to race us.
I'v paddled almost every canoe from Old Town, Bell Canoe, and a
couple from Wenonah. Out of all of them I like the Freedom 17 the
best. A friend of mine has a Bell Northwind Kevlar, and he enjoys my
canoe more.
Everyone likes their canoes a little different, but the Freedom 17
carries the gear I need, moves fast enough to crank out the milage
(we've done 24 in a day with it), and the lines look good. I'd give
it a shot.
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Hello Steve,
Thanks so much for the reply. I appreciate hearing from you as a
designer and someone familiar with both boats.
After much research and talking/emailing, I THINK now that I am leaning
toward either the Freedom 15 or Freedom 17 from Bear Mountain Boats. I
had originally included the Kipawa and Mattawa from Green
Valley(designed by JohnWinters). I THINK I have decided to go with the
shorter boat because we are not really trippers or haulers for multi day
trips. Our combined weight is about 310(me 175, Laura 135) Most of our
flatwater paddling is day trips. I think the longer length will be
faster, but I am worried that without being loaded, it will be too large
of a boat, thus not performing as well as designed to perform as a fully
loaded boat.. we currently have an ABS Dagger Reflection 15 that we
enjoy for flatwater-a very nice boat. laura and I are experienced, so
stability is not a problem as some owners feel that the narrower and
shorter boats feel unstable. I do want a contemporary
design(asymetrical hull, slight shallow v, plumb and sharp entry
line,little or no rocker or upswept ends). All 4 of the boats listed
have the "look" that I am interested in.
Just for the record, we also are both American Canoe Association canoe
instructors and instructor trainers. We have lots of experience tandem
and solo on all types of water. This boat will be specifically for
flatwater daytrips.-we own 6 other ABS whitewater canoes, 3 fiberglass
racing c-2's and about 8 fiberglass and poly c-1"s. we have each been
paddling since 1982 together,
I have wanted to build a stripper for 20 years and feel that I finally
have the time and space to do it properly. I have just expanded our
workshop and am currently becoming semi-retired from our construction
company. I'm sure that I have the necessary woodworking skills and tools
to do a good job. I'm just having trouble finding or deciding on the
right boat design to build. I haven't been able to find anyone that has
any of these models so that I could paddle one.
I would love to hear any advice that you may have, whether on a specific
design or general info-we have paddled a lot, but I don't want to spend
the time and money to build a beautiful boat that we end up not liking
because of the way it paddles.
Thanks again for your interest,
Vann Evans
Steve Killing wrote:
Van,
For serious whitewater you might want to use your ABS boat and use the
stripper on the lakes. My favourite boat of the Freedom series is the
17 which we use here for one week canoe trips and day paddling with
either two or three on board. It has a lower than normal volume for a
17 and gets a nice turn of speed. If you are set on a shorter boat,
the 15 would be good with a bit less speed and easier to turn.
You are obviously above the average paddler in your skills on the water. I would still recommend the Freedom 17 as my first choice. It is not like a prospector with large volume that needs to be loaded. My wife and I are about the same weight as you (although not such expert paddlers) and doing day trips alone in the boat is just fine. Second choice would be the 15 - with the obvious benefit of easier to handle on the car, but not as pleasant to paddle in the water.
I might suggest that you visit Bryan Hansel's website. He has built many boats including the Freedom 17 from the Bear Mountain plans and likes the boat. He is at:
http://www.nessmuking.com/boats.htm and discusses the Freedom there. He likes it for tripping and soloing.
I am sure he would be willing to chat further by e-mail.
Regards,
Steve
Steve Killing Yacht Design
stevekilling.com
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The Freedom 17 is one of my favourite designs and the boat I paddle myself. We use if for day paddling on rivers and lakes and for one week canoe trips with two adults or two adults and one child on board. Slightly narrower than average it requires less effort to paddle. The hull is asymmetrical and planks ups very nicely. You can check out the specs on the website and have a look at the stability chart to get a comparison with our other designs. If you have done some paddling before you will be totally comfortable with the stability of the Freedom.
Cheers,
Steve
Steve Killing Yacht Design
stevekilling.com
All our full size canoe plans include the following:
- Full-size drawings showing the profile, plan and section shape of the hull.
- Full size plans for the mold stations.
- Full size plans for stem molds.
- The booklet 'Building a Bear Mountain Style Canoe'
- Epoxyworks newsletter
- WEST SYSTEM® technical manual
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