Sounds good
I will give it a try… I have also started to collect milk jugs… Good thing my kids drink about a gallon a day…now I don’t have to waste all of those stupid jugs…lol
Tommy
Fishing boat?
Since this boat probably came from Cabela’s, has a MainStream label (Confluence Holdings’ value priced line), and is 37 inches across the beam, am I correct in assuming that it is probably a big flat bottomed fishing canoe?
Won’t that make it even more difficult to paddle from the center?
That is is
It does have a pretty flat bottom. The center side says Mainstream with Dagger below that.
The front is Cahala 15 or Cahaba 15.
solo paddling a tandem
a) I agree with C_Brice. Get yourself a good 9 1/2 double bladed canoe paddle (available from both Caviness and Carlisle)
B) make yourself a seat that will sit on the floor of your canoe. You have the advantage of being able to lower your center of gravity (if you are a big or tall guy).and you can adjust the trim of your boat for whatever the prevailing conditions are. You can make it to the exact height you are most comfortable and stable at, and slide it back and forth to whatever position you like!
Not all that big
Before I bought one of those dropin seats I let the 3rd person in the canoe sit on one of those soft folding campchairs. would that work in the center? any suggestions on a good paddle?
I am 6ft about 150lbs… so I am about average size.
Tommy
Try this seat
If the sides on your canoe aren’t too high this seat might be great:
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0032741017836a&type=product&cmCat=search&returnPage=search-results1.jsp&QueryText=canoe&N=4887&Ntk=Products&Ntx=mode+matchall&Nty=1&Ntt=canoe&noImage=0
I’m thinking of getting one for my pirogues
CB
Nice Chair
That is a pretty nice chair. I am going to do some testing after work tomorrow to see what setup works best.
Tommy
Pics
Here are a few pics of the Canoe.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/TCXJWAGONEER/Easter2007102.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/TCXJWAGONEER/Easter2007101.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/TCXJWAGONEER/Easter2007100.jpg
Tommy
I’ll bet you a dollah
that you find it easier to paddle and control from the bow seat facing the stern. Too wide and short and flat to be very stable or effective paddling from a center seat. Besides, then you have to deal with removing the yoke. My yoke is made to be easily removed and it is still a pain in the a$$.
-rs
Shouldn’t have any problems paddling
from the bow seat solo, except when the wind is blowing. Then, you need some weight to keep the “bow” down, or at least kneel to help control the canoe. I have no problems soloing from the bow seat my 17.4" Mohawk as long as the wind is less than 12 or so mph.
OK…
Sounds good… any thoughts on what Canoe it is? also I have started to collect Milk jugs for Ballast.
after some solo practice I would like to run some of the local WW… only 2+ and down really.
does anyone have a good gear list for paddling that setup with the canoe pictured?
Tommy
I’m not a white water kind of guy, but
do know if running white water, I’d be kneeling. Don’t know about the brand, Dagger and Mainstream became part of Confluence. It was my understanding Mainstream was Perception’s lower line, Perception is also a Confluence company. Maybe Mainstream was part of Mainstream at one time.
Thanks
I would kneel if I was white watering… I had good success tonight kneeling as well as turning the canoe around and using the “Bow” seat. after some recomendations from here I have my snap in seat right behind me when I am kneeling to rest my but on. and when on flat water I can sit up in it and paddle sitting… Right now I only have sports knee pads and they worked ok, but I would be interested in hearing other options.
Tommy
I use packing sponge
in my “non-outfitted” canoes. It cushions the knees and soaks up the water, then I squeeze it out as needed. My outfitted oc-1 has foam pads glued in place, to go with the saddle and footpegs, but a piece of sponge about 1’x 2’ suits me fine for general paddling. glad to hear you got out and experimented. It’s what works for you that counts.
Outfitting…
Daggermat,
what all do you have in your “outfitted” canoe? that is the direction I would like to head…
did some more testing today as well. It was really windy and I found that with no weight in the bow I was really blown around. I have some milk jugs ready to fill up.
Tommy
No it isn’t
"outfitting" is a term, in this and most cases, used for whitewater canoes. In my instance, which is typical, it means a center saddle instead of a seat, with grooves locking the legs into position, footpegs to lock in the feet, and large enclosed airbags fore and aft. This style is not comfortable for rec. canoeing, in that you can’t move your legs. The ends are kept light for turning quickly, all the weight is in the center of the canoe. For rec. canoeing, I use my Swift with a kneeling thwart, sponge on the floor for my knees, a paddle and a pole. This allows a comfortable day on the water, some kneeling, some standing, a lot of kidding the kayakers locked into their cockpits. When the outfitted boat is used, I share their pain.(but it’s fun)
Outfitting
I guess I was looking at more of the rec setup. I will not be running enough white water to go all out with the saddle and such.
Tommy
options
I’ve found that a small cooler with a pad on top makes a decent temporary “saddle” for kneeling. Replacing a thwart with a kneeling thwart is another simple way to give yourself more options.
Cooler is cool…
That is a pretty neat idea with the cooler. I will have to give that a try as well.
I found that after about an hour of kneeling yesterday my back(which was injured a few years ago) started to hurt some. so I am looking at a few options. I think I may even have a cooler that will work for that.
Tommy
Saddle in a wide boat?
I use saddles in my whitewater solos which are no more than 30" across. Being locked in place in a skinny boat aids control.
In my tandems I much prefer a bench seat which gives me the freedom to shift to one side or the other as needed. It’s easier to heel the boat and I don’t have to reach halfway across to get a good stroke.
Tommy