How many canoeists do we have here?

J

jackknife

Joined
Oct 2, 2004
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As I've gotten older and a little more gimped in my right ankle from an old service injury, our hiking has shrunk more and more, and our small boat use has grown. Kayaks and canoe is our outdoors nature travel more and more, and it's occurred to me that chances are if the better half and I have an outdoor emergency, it's going to be out on the river or Chesapeake bay. Last summer we did more canoeing and sailing than ever before.

This has caused us to re think our emergency gear and all factors that go along with it. Of course, keeping things dry get taken to a whole new level on the water in a small boat. Fire making, shelter tools, spare clothing. We've put together whole different day packs for water use vs land use. The boat bag is of course heavier, since it lays in the bottom of the boat and not ride on our backs.

Any other small boaters here?


Carl.
 
I've got an Old Town I haven't used since moving to Oregon as I haven't found the time or someone I can canoe with. I grew up canoeing regularly and have done a week trip at Boundary Waters in Minnesota.
Since I don't canoe regularly enough to need have out thought in to it I don't think I can help with your questions about gear.
 
I have a single person Old town pack canoe. Love it. Use it all the time for fly fishing, paddling, you name it. I used to use a kayak all the time but I couldn't bring the dog with me nor could I put a pack in it for an overnight so I sold it and bought a single person canoe and it's been great the past few years. Weighs 20lbs, I can portage it easily to back country ponds etc...

This is it, great canoe if your a lone wolf like me.
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Nice canoe VT. The better half and I have a Wenonah kingfisher in Kevlar, weighs in at 38 pounds. It's insanely light for a 16 foot canoe, and since we've been doing much more canoeing in our senior age, we've gone to carrying more stuff than before. It's kind of funny, that after years of going ultra light so's not to carry a single pound more on our back than needed, with the boat it's easy to toss some extra stuff in. The hatchet that was too heavy for backpacking, now rides in the boat bag. Over nights we camp out in small islands in the river, and eat real steak from the cooler instead of freeze dried meals. :thumbup:

Well, I guess Lewis and Clark had a good reason to travel by boat! A better way to travel!:D

Carl.
 
I hear ya, I'm an avid backpacker but I love taking the boat and cooler and eating a nice slab of steak or venison when camping, not to mention the cold beer :)

I do dehydrate my own food though so I usually eat better than most on backpacking trips, I'm not a ramen for 3 days straight kind of guy. It's great to meet others camping and your cooking homemade bison chili 25 miles in the back country and they have been eating ramen and sardines for 4 days. I like to share though so I make friends!
 
My favorite mode of travel.

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And Jake's too. Much better since I ditched the molded seats and replaced them with ash and cane.

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I had one of those OT 14.4's a few years back when I lived in MO. Good boat but too light for windy days. And since I'm the best part of 250 lbs not really capabile with passengers. I've canoed for over 30 years, and built (or helped build) a couple dozen canoes; including a stripper I did in my apt one winter in WA. I miss getting out on the water, but it's been 5-6 years since I could do that; my job moves me around too much. Once I get settled into a permanent place a new canoe is on the top of my list.

I usually took a medium sized hard ice chest along. Coleman, with an air-tight lock. Makes for table, chair, float, etc. You can store anything in them. I also tend to use a kayak paddle when going single.

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The idea of a canoe as a near perfect survival vehicle has bounced around my mind quite bit over the years. Of course, my mind being what it is, there's a lot of room for bouncing around. But a canoe won't get caught up in jammed roads, requires no fuel, is quiet to paddle, can haul a lot more weight in supplies than your back, and if needed, can be sneaky on a dark night. You're always on the water, so that chalks off that problem. And the game I drift by don't seem to be spooked by a boat 25 to 30 yards off shore. I've had deer stand there and watch me drift by close enough for pistol shot range.

Carl.
 
We've got a 17ft Alumacraft and I absolutely love it. You can get places with it that no boat is going to go. It's a great way to spend a peaceful day.
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August West said:
I can not imagine not having a canoe, and probably never will.
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The only time I have been without one was when mine was stolen a few years ago. I replaced it last year. But I still find myself looking for another one to add to the livery, a "nostalgia canoe" like one I had way back when.
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I'm in the small boat club too Carl :D got a 12' Old Town, but I'm looking to upgrade to a 16'er. I'm thinking about posting her in the trade section (but shippings gonna kill me :D)
Hey Protourist...how sturdy is that aluminum model? There's a 'luminum 17' for sale near me, but I'm concerned how it would handle (occasional) bottom scraping.
 
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i don't have any pics but me and my dad found a canue in the garbage with no rim and a big rip down the side. we complelty rebuilt it and ride it all the time
 
I do enjoy personal watercraft, and I love taking my kayak out for multi-day river running trips. I currently sport a Pyranha Fusion, so the space that I have to pack is actually pretty comparable to my backpack, which keeps much of the superfluous equipment at home (the difference in extra space is consumed by my unpin/rescue kit and my fishing supplies).

The emergency supplies (fire making and shelter) that I would typically carry on foot are the same that I bring on the water, but I keep them in a heavy PVC dry-bag. I am a big fan of NRS bags and have been using the same heavy duty bags for over ten years without leakage.

Canoe camping can be extremely swanky, and I enjoy it. I'm an active ACA Canoe Instructor (level 3 whitewater), and I get the pleasure of introducing new folks to paddling and multi-day canoe trips regularly through my work with a large university.

I'm often in my personal kayak even on our canoe trips as a safety sweep
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Here's our load for a multiday trip in the Catskills
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Group of students on a three day trip on the Delaware R
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This is one of the reasons I love canoe camping, from my most recent "working trip" at Saranac Lake
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shockjockey24 said:
I'm in the small boat club too Carl :D got a 12' Old Town, but I'm looking to upgrade to a 16'er. I'm thinking about posting her in the trade section (but shippings gonna kill me :D)
Hey Protourist...how sturdy is that aluminum model? There's a 'luminum 17' for sale near me, but I'm concerned how it would handle (occasional) bottom scraping.
Click to expand...
I also have a too-small canoe that I need to sell, a Dagger Tupelo. I think you are right about shipping costs though.

I grew up with aluminum canoes ant they will take much more abuse than you might imagine. Wrapping one on a tree or rock is about the only way to destroy one. Occasional bumps and drags are no big deal. Rivets can be replaced and a broken rib can be welded.

Stickinc1 said:
i don't have any pics but me and my dad found a canue in the garbage with no rim and a big rip down the side. we complelty rebuilt it and ride it all the time
Click to expand...

Nothing wrong with a cheap or free canoe. I salvaged one that washed up after Hurricane Andrew, refitted it and used it for years.
 
Bell Wildfire/Yellowstone Solo. 14 feet of beauty and pure joy. I enjoy most things outdoors. Canoeing is the thing I enjoy most.
 
Over the last few years I've spent more time afoot and less afloat, unfortunately. I'm hoping to even it out a little more and get some paddling done. Not a kayaker but I do love an open canoe. The Boundary Waters have been on my to do list for quite awhile now.
 
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