Élan
“The Élan felt just right from the moment I took my first stroke and heeled it’s gunnel to the water. It is rare to find a boat that quickly becomes an extension of the paddler. The Élan is just that kind of canoe. Responsive and easy to spin when heeled, it tracks very well and provides a stable and forgiving platform for beginners as well as experienced paddlers. The Élan is not only beautiful to paddle, it is truly beautiful in appearance. “
-Mark Molina, 2 time US Men’s Freestyle champion , Ft. Pierce Fl.
The Élan is an original Red River Canoe design. While it is a good choice for all round paddling it is primarily intended for Freestyle canoeing. Click to read more about Freestyle. To get information about plans for building your own stripper version, or to see photos of other home built canoes, click here.
The Élan was originally conceived to be built from 13' to 14' long with a 29" to 30" beam. The very first Élan was built as a stripper canoe in a canoe building course that I taught, and was built at 14'. My mould for building in wood canvas allows me to build it at 13'6" or 14". For a shorter, hotter canoe, see the Esprit. For a longer tamer canoe, see the Red Fox, or the Swift Fox.
The Élan has a very gentle chine area to provide a comfortable and predictable heeling action, coupled with a shallow arch bottom and very slight tumblehome. The end result heels precisely and stiffens right up as the gunnel approaches the water. This shape is continued through the forward sections in such a way as to produce a very clean waterline. There is 2" of rocker, measured at the heel of the stem.
The Élan is available with either a center seat or a center kneeling thwart, the front edge of which is set 4" back of center for proper weight placement. The bow thwart is set 32" ahead of the front edge of the seat. This is to allow for a positive spot for forward kneeling thrusts, or to be just the right distance to access a hanging a thwart bag.
| Length, maximum | 13'6"or 14' |
| Beam, maximum | 29.5" |
| depth, center | 12" |
| Depth, stem | 19" |
| rocker, at base of stem | 2" |
| side shape | 1/2" tumblehome |
| weight, average | 40 lbs. |
Design and performance: help in choosing your canoe
Details of the "Standard Build"
Want to customize your canoe? Check out the special features and options.
Prices and shipping information
Care and maintenance of a Wood & Canvas canoe
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| Mark Molina paddling the Élan prototype summer 1998, at Manitoba Pioneer Camp | The canoe building class that built the first Élan during the winter and spring of 1998 |
