The
Eno is a river in North Carolina that traverses 40 miles of rolling
hills. For most of of it's length, the average width of the Eno
is only 50 feet. With the exception of a 5-mile stretch of calm
"backwaters", the Eno travels through almost constant
gently dropping terrain for a total of 250 vertical feet.
The
name of this canoe fits in well with what you'd find on the Eno:
Constant but friendly flowing water with many turns. The river is
often shallow in places so a lightweight canoe that can be easily
portaged over these spots is essential. The average builder should
be able to build a fully outfitted Eno under 40 pounds. A skilled
and careful builder can achieve about 37 pounds and still have a
very strong canoe.
At
13' x 28", the Eno fits into a category known as a "pack
canoe". A pack canoe is more like an open top kayak, with the
paddler sitting or kneeling on the canoe bottom. If a seat is used,
it is raised up just enough to get your heels in close enough to
stand up. Sitting higher may feel tippy to some paddlers so be sure
to test out a couple different heights before permanently installing
a seat.
The
Eno has slight differential rocker and an asymmetrical shape to
help maneuverability while maintaining a reasonable amount of tracking
for a canoe this size. If a builder likes the shape but wants better
tracking, the plans show how to add a small "tail" to
the stern. This hull, however, will never be mistaken for a touring
canoe! Since this a pack canoe, paddlers can use a double-bladed
kayak paddle and achieve some impressive speed and tracking.
Specifications
