PSB - Das Boot

Codger_64

Codger_64

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Just wondering how many of you have/use a small man-powered boat of some type. Canoe, pirouge, skiff, jonboat etc. I'm a lifelong canoe man myself. I have two right now, and lust for a third, new one before I go spinning off into eternity.

I've had quite a few of them in my life, and enjoyed some "most excellent adventures" in them in my youth, and all through life in fact. I have toned it down a bit though. Solo and tandem whitewater was a real adrenaline rush years ago. As I've gotten older, my canoing has gotten much tamer. No more rocket rides on rivers in flood stage, no waterfalls. For one thing, my current fifteen foot fiberglass canoe wouldn't stand it, and I don't think I could either. And my little Dagger Tupelo, all nine feet of it, does not make a very good submarine.

Remind me to tell you about my canoe, Opal, and how it got it's name.

Codger
 
Codger,

I am a canoeing, river running, fanatic, my current ride is a WeNoNah 16' Prospector. I am taking my Dad on his first Canoe trip this sunday, he is 66 and has never been in a canoe, should be good times.

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I have been in some really "good" adventures too, that is what I call them, my wife calls them near death experiences.:D Chris
 
runningboar said:
Codger,

I am a canoeing, river running, fanatic, my current ride is a WeNoNah 16' Prospector. I am taking my Dad on his first Canoe trip this sunday, he is 66 and has never been in a canoe, should be good times.

I have been in some really "good" adventures too, that is what I call them, my wife calls them near death experiences.:D Chris
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Shining times, I'd say. Be sure to not get so carried away enjoying the trip that you forget to take plenty of pictures.

My wi...my exwife felt the same way about many of the early trips I took her on. Each time she said 'never again', but the beyotch was game, I'll give her that. We went places that are nowdays common runs for "yakkers", like the Cossatott river. That is the "skullcrusher" in quapaw lingo. Or Caddo, I forget. Great features named "the cascades of extinction" and soforth. And also Big Piney river with Motherf***** falls, a boulder on the right, "Little Mother", and a house sized one on bottom left, "Big Mother". She got out and walked quite often.

Enjoy!

Codger :thumbup:
 
I actually grew up 15 minutes from the Nantahala and about an hour and a half form the Ocoee and spent lots of time on both. I now live in coastal Carolina and much calmer waters, class I and light class II, but I did run my favorite local river in flood stage and it was damn hairy, lots of strainers and wicked hidden currents. Chris
 
Those pictures look very much like the Saline River in Arkansas, one of my old haunts. And like the Buffalo river here in SW Tennessee, also like Indian Creek, my closest panfish stream. I haven't made it to the Ocoee or Nanty. Would love to some day.

Codger
 
Das Boot?

This is my SUB (Sport Utility Boat)

Grumman2.jpg


It works as a gas powered, electric (for the local no-gas-motor lakes), canoe, and row boat.

Since its a Grumman (maker of the Hell Cat), I dubed it the Swamp Cat.
 
Nice! I've had a couple of Grumman canoes over the years, but never a square stern.

Das Boot was an old movie about a German U-Boat. Quite an epic if you ever have a chance to see it. Even more real if you've ever had the pleasure to crawl through one of the tiny WWII era subs yourself. There is one tied up in Mobile Alabama. Batfish I think it is.
 
Codger,
Probably sounds odd, but ever since seeing the inside of a sub, I've managed to collect sub movies. Das Boot, U-571, K-19, Up periscope, Down periscope, Red October, Crimson Tide...

I got the Das Boot reference. Thats why I refered to my Grumman as a S.U.B. :D

EDIT - Man, I gott start being clearer in my posts. Thats twice today I cause excess typing for someone. sorry... again...
 
Haven't had a canoe for years now. Last one was a 19ft aluminum and I used to knock ducks/geese down with it. Like to get one again sometime. Used my canoe on flat prairie lakes. Could have farted and propelled myself across those smooth flat little lakes. No danger there, other than the noxious fumes.
 
I never had a canoe, grew up on salt water, tides, & waves.

Just sold my little 13.5 ft. Boston Whaler. Had great times in it.

Whenever I am near fresh water, lakes and rivers I dream of having a nice canoe, to go off paddling, and enjoy nature. Almost bought one when I was in usptate New York several years ago, but, didn't bite.

What are the different styles of canoes and their uses?? I know there has to be a rhyme and reason for the wide ones, vs. the long sleek ones.
 
Dang. I almost posted the history of canoe design here. I'll let someone less wordy explain it. Mewolf? Where are you dude? I seem to recall you knowing a thing or two about canoes?

Codger
 
Man that grumman is cool as Eskimo...well anyway very cool :o I can see how that would be very handy. As far as canoe designs there have been books written. We had a bad cold snap here a couple of weeks ago I ran the river wrapped up in a wool blanket it was very neat with huge icesicles hanging off the banks but I was very careful not to go for a dip. Chris
 
Around these parts, sea kayaks rule. Fast, light, seaworthy craft. You can pack for a week long trip and keep all your gear dry in three bulkheads [cargo holds] If you capsize, you can roll right back up again with practice.

A view from the top of Boston Light, Boston Harbor, MA Yup, I paddled there.:)
 
I grew up around skiffs, rowboats of all sorts like john boats, wood punts. I bought a canoe and took the family camping and canoeing all over the Maryland area when the kids were young. Had a couple of Old Town models, like a tripper. Then the tripper got heavier as I got older, plus the kids were growing up, so the Karen and I downsized to a camper. Then it was just the two of us, and we're not spring chickens any more so we went to kayaks for the light weight and easy transport. We have a couple of Perseption recreational kayaks, Swifties, that we paddle all over. We'll go out to Assateque Island and paddle out to the canoe-in camp sites for an over nighter, go on trips down the Potomac river above Washington, and theres local lakes like Black Hill Regional Park that we do wildlife watching on.

I've always loved small man powered boats that I don't need a trailer to tote around. Just plop it in the water and go. I'm intreagued by the Folbot and Klepper take down boats. I may have to try one of those. A "boat in a bag" is an interesting concept. The brits even used them to paddle up the river and plant limpet mines on ships in harbors.

Did I mention I loved small boats.:D
 
I am going to get a Kayak this spring for solo trips, I had narrowed it down to the OT otter or the swifty. Can you tell me how you like the swifty? What you don't like? would you recommend it?

I haven't been in a kayak in a lot of years, now there are so many different kinds it boggels the mind. Chris
 
runningboar said:
I am going to get a Kayak this spring for solo trips, I had narrowed it down to the OT otter or the swifty. Can you tell me how you like the swifty? What you don't like? would you recommend it?

I haven't been in a kayak in a lot of years, now there are so many different kinds it boggels the mind. Chris
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We had an Otter as one of our spare boats for company. We sold it to get another swifty.

The otter tracked better in the water, but it did not have as comfortable cockpit as the swifty. The swifty is a bit wider, with more room on each side of the seat for small duffles or gear, the seat was more adjustable for a range of back angles, and it was not as twitchy in rougher water. Plus the otter was heavier to lift and carry.

As much as I love Old Town canoes, I don't like their kayaks. Perseption, and the Wilderness systems Pungo line of kayaks, are much better designed for the same money. We like the swiftys enough that we have two extra now for when we have the grandkids or guests that we are taking out.

The only minus with the swifty is the short 9 and a half foot length of it. In open water on a breezy or windy day with a chop. it can be a wet ride if you don't have a spray skirt. Its not so good out on open bay or ocean. For lakes, rivers, inlets, its great.
 
Thanks a bunch, swifty it is I was already leaning that way, you just pushed me over the edge.:thumbup: It will mainly be a creek boat and not see too much open water. Chris
 
Codger_64 said:
Dang. I almost posted the history of canoe design here. I'll let someone less wordy explain it. Mewolf? Where are you dude? I seem to recall you knowing a thing or two about canoes?

Codger
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Cripes, don't you guys sleep?:D I gotts put some stuff together to answer this question.

I ran Bell canoe Works for 2 years, built and taught cedar strip building for 5(solos to 24' North boats) and fashioned a skin over frame kayak, but what I WILL do before I croak is build a Birchbark boat:thumbup:
Family life has all but stopped my white water paddling, but a guy gotsta pick his battles.:D Lookin to put together an ice boat these days, probably a DN.
nothing so satisfin as messin around in boats.
 
'Bout time you paddled you handbasket in here! Is sleeping all you do these days?;)

Send me a WIldfire to try out when you get time. I tried one years ago, but it was not made for the wind and waves of Escambia Bay where Bell had it's Demo Day, and it was a regrettable experience. "Feather in the wind" is a phrase that comes to mind.

Interested in traditional boats? I recommend "Bark and Skin Boats of North America" by E. Tappen Adney. I made a "single use" deer hide boat once and had a blast with it. Hickory withes for the gunnels, and a willow withe frame. Two green deer hides stretched over it and sewn down with split evergreen roots. I always wanted to try a bullboat, but they don't give away bison hides these days.

Thanks for popping in Mewolf!

Codger
 
Is sleeping all you do these days?;)
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not with kids around here.;)

Send me a WIldfire to try out when you get time. I tried one years ago, but it was not made for the wind and waves of Escambia Bay where Bell had it's Demo Day, and it was a regrettable experience. "Feather in the wind" is a phrase that comes to mind.
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A "Leaf on the Water" almost as nice as a bark boat.:)

Interested in traditional boats? I recommend "Bark and Skin Boats of North America" by E. Tappen Adney. I made a "single use" deer hide boat once and had a blast with it. Hickory withes for the gunnels, and a willow withe frame. Two green deer hides stretched over it and sewn down with split evergreen roots. I always wanted to try a bullboat, but they don't give away bison hides these days.
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Ive got this book and have read for years, if anyone is interested in tradish boats this is the bible. I'l look for the ISBN and edit it in.

not hte ISBNbut just as good.http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B0006BMG5A/ref=dp_olp_2/102-1011692-0976142
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