: Greetings, Time to start thinking about a canoe for my wife (that's what she
: wants, can't talk her into a kayak). Purchased Canoecraft by Ted Moores,
: and after looking at the off-set tables, I'm a little confused. There is a
: Table of Heights and a Table of Half-Breadths. The Table of Half-Breadths
: makes sense to me, and when I draw them out, gives the shape of each
: section. What about the Table of Heights?? and the info for the stem??
: While I'm planning of ordering plans for the canoe we (she) want to build,
: would like to try lofting and to understand it. Can anyone please help?? I
: reread the lofting chaper in Nick's book, and while it makes sense to me,
: the table in Canoecraft doesn't. Thanks in advance for any help. -- Greg

Greg,

If you plot the station molds using only the half-breadths, the forms will not be as true in the flatter sections amidships, and likewise if you use only the heights offsets the sides wont come out quite right. The beauty of lofting is that if you draw a side view and a top view of 1/4 of the canoe, (symetrical hull assumed), you are then able to set your stations at any interval you wish, In retrospect I wish that I had done this with the MicMac I built last summer, the boat would have gone togeather faster and have been a lot less trouble to fair out, (the plans in David Hazens book are on 2' stationing). You can pack a ton of stuff in a canoe, stand up, move around to trim for wave and wind, conditions. There are sseveral excelent books on the subject of lofting, I'll check out the library today and post some of them for you this evening.
Bob