Isalo (From Forest & Stream, March 16, 1892)

Courtesy: Dragonfly Canoe Works

British "Sharpie" Canoes

The accompanying illustration, which we reproduce from the Model Yachtsman and Canoeist, shows a very curious type of canoe and canoe-yawl which has come into use in England within the past three years, and which is obviously of American origin so far as the governing principle of the design is concerned.

This canoe and others of her type, though differing in details, are very similar to the Red Jacket which Mr. Clapham took to the 1886 meet at Grindstone Island and Used in connection with his weather grip. The Red Jacket was wider, about 5ft. beam to 16ft. length, and she had only about half as much dead rise, but with her nearly vertical sides, each of a single plank and her rounded bottom she was essentially similar.

In the following year Mr. Paul Butler had several craft of like model but of canoe dimensions at Bow Arrow Point, and the Vesper men brought others at lake George in 1888, but though they made very cheap and good canoes, they showed no phenomenal speed, and have disappeared of late years.

Some of the British sharpie canoes, on the contrary, have shown great speed compared with the other types of small craft, and the type is now an established one. The present boat, Isalo, is one of two built last year by H. Finn, of Isleworth-on-Thames, her dimensions being 16 x 29½ x 10. The weight of the hull is 80lbs., centerplate 25lbs., rudder 7lbs. She has a sliding seat which when closed does not extend beyond the beam of the canoe.

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