Thanks for all the thoughts-- it really is mind boggling what ways to consider. Fortunately we know we don’t have a schedule to meet.
Pardon me while I ramble or click off while you can.
Probably the reason we would like to get going, is the rental options are very limited. There are 2 rentals just a couple of miles from the house in each direction.-- the next 50 miles south and the 3rd 60 miles west. There maybe a couple of others, but haven’t found them yet.
One area I really want to lily dip in and it would be lily dip in the true sense of the phrase is a spot right in town, We would launch at Sherman Park and paddle to near the International Bridge. In many spots you can be 100 yard offshore and still only 4 ft of water. But anyway, the area is being reclaimed as a wetland (sponsored by the university) and is becoming a magical. Sometimes the song of the Bullfrogs is so loud, that you can’t hear a city noises, yet you are right below the International Bridge with all its traffic.
We tend to be somewhat spontaneous on something like this–hence the desire to have our own boats. All over the area are boat launches put in by clubs, local communities and State and Fed park launches for gentle moving rivers. The little bit of experience last year was emotionally renewing. The emotion recalled the days long ago, when we would do some quick impromptu(but prepared) overnighters to sleep on the shores of the big lake and gaze at the stars and listen to the waves.
Guess its a question of what 1st boat to get that will allow us to be safe, have fun, expand our horizons, improve our skills not break the bank to much. Couple of K’s is where I would like to be at first. If we someday we get differant boats for more challenging paddles, such as crossing the Straits of Mackinaw, and as our skills improve—great.
As a PSA–while most everyone here has probably seen pictures the Mackinaw Bridge, it is truly a handsome, inspired design. We have crossed it hundreds of times, and each time we go around a corner it suddenly fills our vision and we can feel it presence. Its an amazing site, at least to us.
It is much nicer site going north into the UP but that is a Yooper thing. B)
Harry 0224-- not really sure how far Madison is from us, although the UP is as long E-W as the LP is tall N-S. so about 700+ miles. Its about 420 from us to Madison.
Shiraz 627-- Don’t know how long a 14’kayak and the trailer would be but I’m guessing taking the 14’ of the kayak and adding 3-4 feet of tongue on the trailer it would be 16-17. Add that to the 18 ft of the “road whale” van, would be one long beastie. We have the short wheelbase.
WamBamZam-- I think I did, as I looked at a couple of this type–but will check it out.
Ibepaddling–NE Wisc. Are you neasish Menominee/Kingsford MI-- home of the Flivver?
I should say I currently own eight kayaks, since no one is perfect for all purposes. Still if you are looking for light, portable, easy to store and don’t want to paddle for miles/win races… take a look at the Orukayak. They are sold at REI with a satisfaction guarantee. It claims to assessable and disassemble very quickly, and doesn’t require drying or (moderately) complicated assembly like other folders.
My personal folder is a Pakboat Quest, but it does take 25 minutes to assemble.
These are simple to build for hobby woodworkers. http://gentrycustomboats.com/NewHomebuilderplans.html
Light and probably 300-500 bucks finished. I built the Wee Lassie and it’s my favorite. Not as light as a Hornbeck but at the price difference I’m happy.
Those are really very cool. South of here, there are a couple of groups/school etc for boatbuilding and some of the kayaks and canoes I’ve seen are works of art. Maybe I should buy more than 1 raffle ticket this year, Will be heading there again in the mid of August for the antique boat show-- what class works of art. http://lciboatshow.com/
First look at the headline— I was figuring no big deal going commando
I was not real thrilled with the van purchase, but after 44 or so years there are certain things that you just go along with. It is easier, by a lot, to load the bikes in.
Car we got rid of was a 2006 Ford Focus wagon-- bikes no good-- and 14 ft kayaks would have been longer than the whole car---- but it came with a roof rack. That car was a sweet, reliable, inexpensive car to drive. But we have intentionally been a 1 car household for 7 years or so. Probably should have broken our rule.