Canoe questions....

[jds1]

I'll add to the praise of the Wenonah brand. It's not the model you're looking for, but I love my Spirit II.

Jeff

 

[chickenplucker]

Hey guys. Check out www.buffalocanoes.com. They bought some of the old Blue Hole molds and make outstanding canoes as well as run a rental service. They sell all of their rental fleet at the end of the season.:thumbup:

 

[j williams]

Chickenplucker, thats an awesome link. Ive paddled the buffalo, its a gorgeous river.

These are pics of the headwaters.

Only a 3 hour drive to them. I might just have to give em a ring!

 

[mckrob]

I use mine solo 90 percent of the time. I just sit in the opposite seat, which is more toward the middle and put all extra weight in the front.

+1 on this. I have a 13'10" York River fibreglass, 30+ years old. I solo in it most of the time with the canoe reversed sitting backwards in the front seat. It will handle two fully grown adults and two large portage packs easily (or a third person), I've had in on trips over a week and there was plenty of space, and it's light enough to be easily portaged solo. In the 25+ years I have been tripping I've never felt the need for a larger canoe than this.

Unfortuantely this canoe is no longer made, but if I had to replace it I would probably go for a Swift 15' Osprey or Algonquin or the Langford Prospector 15'

 

[dipbait]

I only have one photo of the Guide 147 . Got to love missouri smallmouth fishing.

 

[j williams]

Nice small mouth!! One of my favorite MO fish to take. That looks like a nice Canoe!!

 

[j williams]

I just noticed that the seats on this one is different than mine. This might be difficult to use backwards. I dont like those seats at all.

Edited: If the back rest are removeable or better yet ,reversible then there should be no problem.

Im sure something could be rigged up, or modified.:thumbup:

 

[j williams]

I like the basket type seats.

I left a message for Buffalo Canoes to call me back, I am looking at their 14ft tandem. Look like nice canoes, depending on their price. I might just get me a nice tandem, and make a trip down in september to pick up one of their used solos on sale. Excuse to pull some trout from the river too.

 

[Kismet]

If nothing else, get the Wen No Nah catalog...it is like a text on choosing a canoe...or it used to be. Should be a link on their website.

This is a 17'6" Solitude, if I remember correctly. FAST, but sensitive to change. The seat was attached to rails to compensate for wind and weather conditions. Think it weighed under 40 pounds. This is an early solo designed by Jensen. Think down-river canoe racing. Got it used and spent about a month taking off the olive drab latex paint the previous owner had applied...with a spatula, by its appearance.

WenNoNah also made a solo/tandem design...as the others have said. Think it was 16'6". Seemed to be a good compromise boat..of the ones available at the time.

Then, see what Dagger is offering these days. This was their Tupelo..a Nessmuk shaped 10ft boat in royalex or the like...under 30 pounds...very handy, but with carrying capacity of under 200 pounds. With a double-blade paddle, it was like a water bug...skooting quickly. Seat was a basket weave on the floor. With the dog in it, it went like this /, veering to whatever side she would put her head on.

Those are pool noodles shoe-glued to the side. Sponsons can easily be made, but I figured when you start out with a purple boat, what difference could the color of the floatation possibly make? Jet skiers and ski boats in the near-by lake would create waves that would have the Tupelo going down one wave as another came up over the bow.

As I recall, WenNoNah, and most of the others are using "formed" plastic boats now...some are very heavy.

Good luck. Be safe. Wear a PFD...always.


EDIT: On knee pads...note the closed cell foam on the sides of the Tupelo...needed cushioning when I braced my knees. Depends on how long-legged you are, I'd guess. Also..Craig's list might be good for some, but good stuff goes fast there. Now is a good time to check around at big dealers and see what they have in used boats, don't be afraid to negotiate...cash flow is slow this time of year, although most have some snow-related gear to supplement their Winter month sales.

Kis
enjoy every sandwich

 

[j williams]

Thanks Kismet, great advice.:thumbup:

So, from what I gather so far, a tandem will do ok for solos if reversed and sitting backwards in front seat(which now is the backseat or kinda towards the middle)

 

[k_estela]

I've been paddling for close to 15 years now and I can tell you solo in a tandem canoe is totally possible and easy with a shorter boat. I currently own a Wenonah Adirondack in Kevlar Flex Core and it is very manageable at 16'. Old Town makes a boat that is 14' called the osprey I've been looking at which is only 14' but has two hung webbed seats. The Old Town Pack is really popular but limited in its ability to carry only one person.

One recommendation, get some closed foam and rig yourself some knee pads. Kneeling close to the yolk just forward of the thwart is the way to go. Kneeling lowers your center of gravity and lets you feel the primary stability of the boat better with your hips. Get a longer paddle and learn the cross bow draw stroke. It is really handy in getting the front end of the boat moved to the paddling side quickly.

As far as tandem kayaks, only get one if you can move the aft seat forward. Most tandems have fixed in place seats and paddling in either the front or the rear is a pain. The tandems I've paddled from the rear with a weak paddler in front were beasts because I had so much boat to move around on my own.

When you get a chance, check out the Wenonah line. You'll really like the Adirondack. I've paddled it with my girl and on my own and it is a joy. Go with Royalex if you want a nice lightweight boat that is still fairly durable.

PT me or post here if you have any other questions.

Hope this helps.

Kev

 

[MrCoffee]

I always used a Bear Creek 14.5' canoe solo as well as with my wife. And I loved my Kayak for solo treks. If you'd like to read a couple of really good articles on the topic, check out the ones on Wildsurivive.com.

 

[PB Wilson]

Like Kismet said, check out the Wenonah catalog. Pay particular attention to the measurements of the solo canoes, especially the width at the widest point. Then you can compare their designs with any other canoe you may stumble upon.

I wouldn't bother with the short, fat boats that put stability first and performance second. They are great for kids on a pond, but are clumsy. These football-shaped crafts are also hard to paddle because you're always leaning over in order to make a stroke. The narrower ones are much easier to work with.

 

[j williams]

PB Wilson, good idea, I will check out that catalog.

Kev, thanks buddy. You know of any 14ft tandems with moveable seats? How would those foam kneepads Tile guys wear work, or are you talking of something differant?

 

[peripatew]

J Willy,

I grew up in Missouri and on the River. My dad had up to 15 canoes at one point (we sold some). We've had aluminum, royalex, royalite (R84), kevlar, and fiberglass. Nothing works like Royalex or the ABS stuff for Missouri. I've got two canoes right now with me in Oregon that we got in 1989 and used a LOT, and they are really beat up, but in no way that affects paddling, and they've easily got 10-20 years left in them. My dad just got an Old Town Charles River, which they say is a 3 layer polyethelyne (Sp?), and it already looks like our boats from 1989. Hopefully the wear is just the boat becoming ugly, and not a sign of what is to come.

I have Mohawk boats, which is now based out of Arkansas: http://www.mohawkcanoes.com/

If I were to have one all around canoe, I'd get a symetrical tandem. You can paddle most of these sitting reverse in the front seat without much trouble. The boat is wider here than where you would normally paddle, but I've never found it a bother. You can also load the front and paddle from the back, which is what I did on our recent float on the Jack's Fork river in SE Mo. We were paddling Old Town Discovery's, which worked alright.

I'd recommend checking out paddling.net. It's a GREAT site, and while there forum is old school, lots of really great advice.

Paddling.net also has a good classifieds area, I just sold a Wenonah racing boat there.

Get one now! You'll love it. And try to make it to the Jack's Fork river to canoe sometime. We just did a 30 mile stretch from Buck Hollow to Alley Spring. We've used Discovery Ministries: godm.org as a shuttling/guiding service for YEARS if you need any help in the area.

L!

 

[j williams]

I didnt know you were from these parts bro. Thats really cool! Thanks for the advice too. I will look into those Mohawks.

I plan on getting one with tax return this year. So just a matter of weeks before I will be buying. I wanted to get a few weeks head start researching what is best for what I want which is a tandem, that is short enough to make solo easy and possible too.

Where is Jacks Fork?

 

[mtnfolk mike]

we have wanted a canoe for years.. they're a bit on the pricey side though... the misses has a small kayak... so it would just need to fit us boys(3)... we have been trying to keep our eyes open for a used one...

 

[peripatew]

I didnt know you were from these parts bro. Thats really cool! Thanks for the advice too. I will look into those Mohawks.

I plan on getting one with tax return this year. So just a matter of weeks before I will be buying. I wanted to get a few weeks head start researching what is best for what I want which is a tandem, that is short enough to make solo easy and possible too.

Where is Jacks Fork?

Here is a google map shot of the river: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=....645203&spn=0.258072,0.683212&z=11&iwloc=addr

We floated from Highway 17 to Alley Spring. Around a 30 mile stretch. It's AWESOME! 400' bluffs and lots of caves and springs to explore.

It would be decent drive, but the water is calm and easy.

Also, you MUST float the Buffalo River in Northern Arkansas.

 

[j williams]

See post #30 brotha. Been there, one of my most favorite floats. Its just breathtaking down there.

Im gonna have to float Jacks Fork now!! Looks awesome.

The next time you are back here dude, give me a holler, and we can meet up.:thumbup:

 

[chickenplucker]

You guys are killing me talking about nice floats between bluffs. I usually paddle the Ogeechee River hear in Ga. Beautiful black water but everytime you round a bend the snakes sound like bowling balls hitting the water. Makes for interesting paddling. We have some good paddling in The Okefenokee Swamp as well. Seems to be a lot of paddlers here.:thumbup: