How many canoeists do we have here?

desmobob said:
Yup... I have a Bell Northwind (Black Gold layup), a Bell Magic (White Gold layup) and a Mad River Eclipse. (I also have a Wilderness Systems Pungo 14.)

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Stay sharp,
desmobob
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Nice boats to be sure. The Magic is fast as hell!! Northwind is a "Two Moose" canoe:) I'm a bit biased tho.
Bit of a David Yost design fan.
 
Love to paddle.

My Wenonah Spirit II.
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What is this "por-tage" thing? Is that where you run out of water and have to canoe up rocky trails? :D And this is something you do on purpose? :confused:
 
mewolf1 said:
We're tougher than most round these parts Codger.:D
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Makes me want to dig out my Garrison Keillor tapes and listen to furriners talk funny!

Welcome to Lake Wobegon, where all the women are strong, all the men are good-looking, and all the children are above average. - Garrison Keillor
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:D
 
I've been following this thread with great interest. Now that I've moved away from D.C. and up into Pennsylvania I want to get a canoe (when time and money allow). I've never done it, but I bet it would be great fun to take multi-day trips in a canoe and camp on the shore in the evening...
 
A good used canoe is but a small investment. Or you can rent one in many places. Then if you like it, read a lot of reviews and buy one. American Canoe Association affiliated clubs all across the country hold paddling clinics now. And there are a bunch of books and movies available. Or better yet, hook up with a few friends who have some experience. Back in the day there were few clubs in my area of the country. I learned to canoe at a military academy in the early '60's. But it was something I found that I loved and have continued to do the rest of my life. I can't recommend it highly enough.

PENNSYLVANIA

Conewago Canoe Club
York, PA
(717) 764-5834
www.conewagocanoeclub.org

Lehigh Valley Canoe Club
PO Box 20194
Lehigh Valley, PA 18002
(610) 559-9595
www.enter.net/~lvcc

Philadelphia Canoe Club
4900 Ridge Ave.
Philadelphia, PA 19128
(215) 487-9674
www.philacanoe.org

Three Rivers Paddling Club
110 Atwood St. Suite 154
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
(412) 242-4562
www.threerivers.org
 
Duzzy said:
I've been following this thread with great interest. Now that I've moved away from D.C. and up into Pennsylvania I want to get a canoe (when time and money allow). I've never done it, but I bet it would be great fun to take multi-day trips in a canoe and camp on the shore in the evening...
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In the mean time, order some catalogs from the major manufacturers. Most have great information on the different hull designs and materials. Canoes are like knives... there are different shapes and building materials; some are "general purpose" and some are specialized. To get the most satisfaction and enjoyment, you'll need to have an idea what would best suit your needs.

I bought my first good canoe from an outfitter who rented canoes for serious outings. It was far cheaper than a new one, and it was so much better than the cheap, flat-bottomed fiberglass canoe I had been using, it was a revelation. I enjoyed it SO much more, in following years I bought two more new, high-end canoes to complete my fleet.

Educate yourself now so you'll be a smart buyer later!

Good paddling,
desmobob
 
I had found a few of those places, but not all of them so I appreciate the new leads.

Once I get my life more sorted out I intend to pursue it more vigorously--but right now I have other priorities (chief among them getting my left hand as functional as possible after a work injury). In the meantime I've been looking up canoe forums, browsing Craigslist, and reading what I can.

Thanks for the help though. Although, I am hoping to find someone who canoes in the SAR group I'm applying for membership with.
 
I got my newest canoe off of Craigslist, like new for much less. I don't have a canoe club near me but I read the forum of the Arkansas Canoe Club all the time. Those guys and gals are very active and helpful. A couple of manufacturers are members too. The thing about canoing is... you can make it as strenuous, heart-stopping adrenelin pumping or tranquil and soothing as you wish.
 
..... and for the love of pete, learn all you can about how to paddle. Lots of folks through the years have crowed that, "I've been canoeing for years, I know how to paddle". Fact is that they most likely learned all they know on the first trip. I am not trying to be condisending to anyone, just that paddling is so much more enjoyable, and less painful with good technique. You'll just plain have more energy left at the end of the day for fishin.:)
 
mewolf1 said:
..... and for the love of pete, learn all you can about how to paddle. Lots of folks through the years have crowed that, "I've been canoeing for years, I know how to paddle". Fact is that they most likely learned all they know on the first trip. I am not trying to be condisending to anyone, just that paddling is so much more enjoyable, and less painful with good technique. You'll just plain have more energy left at the end of the day for fishin.:)
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Good point. :rolleyes: In my years of canoeing, I remember only been one person who got in a canoe with me who truly knew how to paddle!

I highly recommend you buy Bill Mason's book, Path of the Paddle. There is a ton of great canoe knowledge shared there and it might be the best canoeing book there is.

Good paddling,
desmobob
 
I highly recommend you buy Bill Mason's book, Path of the Paddle. There is a ton of great canoe knowledge shared there and it might be the best canoeing book there is.

Good paddling,
desmobob
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That's the one:thumbup:
 
I certainly don't paddle in textbook style, but my style works and is relatively effortless and it includes variations of all of the classic strokes, often one transitioning into another. IMHO, if my paddle is making noise or slinging water, I am wasting energy. I can't walk 100 yards anymore without pausing to catch my breath, but I can easily paddle four miles before stopping for a drink of water and a snack. In fact, I get more winded loading and unloading the canoe than I do paddling. I almost take the paddling for granted anymore as I find water reading skills more challenging, selecting the right line across a shallow shoal, setting up a drift to avoid being swept into obsticles, catching (or avoiding) an eddy.
 
Codger_64 said:
The thing about canoing is... you can make it as strenuous, heart-stopping adrenelin pumping or tranquil and soothing as you wish.
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I think that I will start with tranquil and soothing. Right now, with my limited knowledge I'm thinking a 15-16 ft. canoe like the Old Town Discovery 169 would be a good starter canoe for what I'm interested in. Of course I don't really understand what any of it means yet, but straight sides, moderate rocker, and semi-round bottom seem to be the most popular "average" choices.

Thank you to those who suggested the book. I'll have to look into it.
 
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