Phantom Racing Canoe
This undergraduate thesis project improves the physical performance of Canoe Sprint athletes by optimizing the dynamic shape of the boat deck while adhering to International Competition rules.
Research & Testing
The gunwale is the place where the athlete is most likely to make contact with the boat, either with his hand or with the paddle shaft.
By mapping each athlete’s stroke and layering them onto one image, a common or average curve can be found. This curve can be the base for the shape of the gunwale.
Findings
By reducing the line of the gunwales, the boat effectively becomes narrower without compromising the convexity of the hull. This allows the athlete to bring their paddle closer to the gunwale, without risk of causing injury by hitting their hand on the boat.
