Paddling into 2014

Looks right to me. That is what I installed on my Guide when I ditched the factory hollow molded plastic seats and installed Essex ash and cane ones. I forget how long it has been.. three? Four years? They have held up fine. And the kit does include the cupped washers I was mentioning. And besides, whose canoe is this anyway? :D

These dowels may be easier to trim to length than the heavier trusses. Just be sure to seal the fresh cut ends during the install. You might even want to trim them for a slight foreward rake, 3/4" longer in front than back.
 
Codger_64 said:
You might even want to trim them for a slight foreward rake, 3/4" longer in front than back.
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Yes, this is what I was planning to do. The original brackets are set up this way, and the slight angle works well. Thanks for your help—again!
 
In today's canoeing news... the Guide and Morningstar sat on their rack today discussing which would be picked for this weekend's trip to the river. I am thinking it will be the Morningstar. Decisions, decisions.

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That's an easy decision. ;)
Codger_64 said:
In today's canoeing news... the Guide and Morningstar sat on their rack today discussing which would be picked for this weekend's trip to the river. I am thinking it will be the Morningstar. Decisions, decisions.

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Codger_64 said:
In today's canoeing news... the Guide and Morningstar sat on their rack today discussing which would be picked for this weekend's trip to the river. [/IMG]
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Assuming there's enough water, and scarring rocks were not an issue, to my mind, the answer would obviously be the Morningstar. So—I must be missing something. What is it about the heavy Guide that puts it in the running? More stable and/or relaxing?)

My canoe news is: I finally got the courage to shorten a Grey Owl Hammerhead paddle that was thrown in with a canoe deal a few years ago. It's a very nice wood paddle that's marketed as a Class I-III whitewater paddle. A lot of people seem to use it on flat water, too. Anyway, I finally shortened it a few days ago, and it all went fine. I'm throwing a couple coats of vanish on it before I try it out (hopefully) next week.
 
I'm out on the water a couple of times each week year round. Last week my brother and I took his Old Town on the Econlockhatchee river here in central Florida, from its first navigable point to the end where it flows into the St. Johns river. I live right on the St. Johns and was able to paddle to the house about 4 miles up river. This Saturday I put the Perception Catalina in at Playa Linda beach and spent some time just offshore. The time spent in a canoe or kayak does not count toward your allotted total :-)
 
Ah... like wimminks, each canoe has it's own personality. What the guide lacks in finess and maneuverability, it makes up for in final stability and durability. The Morningstar can't be dragged up onto a gravel bar and one will generally not stand up in it to answer nature's call. And moving ballast is definitely a problem. Self repositioning ballast being Jake. Now I can command him to sit in the center of the canoe and stay, but what fun is that for him? We both do better in the big Guide when he is along. But it may well be the Morningstar this weekend. His feet are just now recovering from the cuts and bruises acquired last weekend. I haven't bought him river boots yet. He runs like a mad dog when we land on a gravel bar for a break and loves to dig in the shallows for rocks. And unlike the gravel in the Arkansas Buffalo River, the gravel here is often fractured with sharp edges, not rounded and worn smooth.

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Sometimes I miss being young and agile.

[video=vimeo;94300981]http://vimeo.com/94300981[/video]
 
And in today's canoeing news... remember last year we discussed the fact that Polyone was going to discontinue making Royalex? Well one manufacturer of canoes that used the material is stepping up to the plate with an updated version of the material. Unknown at this point if production, when it begins, will be made available to the other manufacturers through purchase of sheets or licensing.

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ETA: From a posting on another forum, the President of Esquif answered my question:

jchasse: Yes we'll provide material to other manufacturers!
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mewolf1 said:
Isn't that how we got old and achey?
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Er... um... well... I broke my wrist, both bones below the elbow and the bone above, and my leg, but not in a canoe. For me it is more the mature realization that, "Hey! I could die from this!" that keeps me from trying this now. Last year's wipeout in the Sunburst was a sufficient reminder of that. I still like to watch the young guns strut their stuff though.

The river is running about 72 degrees now, the flow is a docile 502 c.f.s and 3.2' on the gauge. But with 40% chance of thunderstorms tomorrow, I'll be taking the Morningstar on Sunday with only a 20% chance of thunderstorms.
 
It was 80 degrees here and I went canoeing.

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And it rained on the river while I ate lunch. Luckily I had my cheepy plastic poncho in my drybox.

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The fish weren't biting but I caught and released a few.

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The wild multiflora roses were blooming and the poke salet was ready. Gonna cook me a mess of it. Googawdyaw!

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That looks like a beautiful river. I got out on the water today also. For Mothers Day, I took my 70 year old mom-in-law out in the new-to-me tandem for her first time ever in a canoe (and maybe ANY boat.) She seemed to have a lot of fun, and said yes to a possible future easy river trip.
 
Great! Always nice to introduce a "new" person to the relaxation of canoeing. The Buffalo was fairly uncrowded today. A small floatilla of rentals put in when I did and I let them go ahead of me. But as is often the case, we passed each other several times during the day. The last time I saw them was about a mile above the takeout. They were "powerpaddling" trying to pass me as I threaded through some shallows and riffles with switchbacks. They grounded their aluminum canoe in short order and sat there rocking it as if that would unstick it from the shallow gravel bottom. I made two more slightly technical eddy moves to get around downed trees in the curret, then looked back to see them broadside the trees and downstream stumps. They were chasing flipflops, purses, paddles, life vests and coolers the last I saw them.
 
panzertroop said:
Got a Old Town Guide off of Craigslist. So far loving it.
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Great! There were some things about mine that I didn't love but I fixed them in short order. The molded plastic seats I found very uncomfortable and replaced them soon with Essex ash and cane seats. Besides being uncomfortable, the molded seats are one-directional, meaning going solo I could not sit in the bow seat facing the stern, putting my paddling station closer to the center. I also moved the existing thwart and added a second one for stiffness (my Guide is the 167, a couple of feet longer than yours).

I do like the width and keel for when stability is an issue. Of course both reduce maneuverability. More apparent for a solo paddler than someone who usually paddles tandem. All in all, I've never regretted buying mine. I hope yours gives you good service too, and many good memories of time spent on the water.

Bicycle cable locks work well on these boats (to keep it from wandering off at home, on the vehicle or in camp). I use heavy logging chain and beefy Master locks on my rack at home, but you really have to be careful of the woodwork etc., unlike the vinyl coated cable. Did I mention that I have had a canoe stolen before? I hate a canoe thief.
 
You guys are making me so jealous I can hardly stand it. I'll be home tomorrow though and in the next few days I'll be heading up Drift Creek looking for Steelhead.:D
 
Paddle on Protourist! I am hopeing that you bring us plenty of pictures of canoe, river, fish and SWMBO smiling on the water!! And be sure she has a camera too. One of you has to get a picture when the canoe goes wet side up! :thumbup:

For some regulars on this thread, posters or just readers, be advised that there is a knife GAW in W&C. It is paddlecraft related, and nice knives are being offered. It is rumored that one or more might be, could be... a paddlesport specific knife, besides the grand prize of a Gerber FS knife. And Jarbenzas for the runnersup!
 
Codger_64 said:
They were chasing flipflops, purses, paddles, life vests and coolers the last I saw them.
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The question is—did seeing this make you smile? :)

Two friends in kayaks and I paddled a Class II, 7 mile section of the Casselman River this afternoon. This was a new piece of river to me, and wasn't sure what to expect, so I took the solo whitewater boat (Dagger Impulse.) Today turned out to be a beautiful sunny day, but with crazy continuous high winds. My kayak friends had those double blades and sat low and small against the water, while I may as well been in a sailboat. The wind was either blowing upstream or cross stream. It's hard enough to keep that little rockered boat going straight on a good day. Today I got to see lots of 180 degree views of the river. I'd be lining up for a rapid, and seconds later I'd be pushed backwards or sideways into the shore. It was a very long, frustrating and tiring couple of hours. If I could do it all over again tomorrow, though, I'd be there in a heartbeat. :)
 
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