Swift's Composite Trim

I’ve busted a thwart
the tube of fiber fixed it well

I’ve never understood
this relentless pursuit of lightness in what amount to recreational, as opposed to racing, canoes. I just don’t get it.

How far have you carried a canoe?

Plenty far.

– Last Updated: Feb-03-15 9:12 PM EST –

Folks have traveled in "heavy" canoes all over the far north for generations and they did just fine. They are perfectly manageable.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlnHwPPRBTU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYOhsSrLYNA

And for the older crowd - Hugh Stewart and friends- I guessing Hugh was late 60s early 70s on this trip -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hscUVF6MKkc

And now we are
able to travel about in lighter more manageable canoes. One does not invalidate the other. Choices, preferences, individual scenarios.

True -
but I don’t think I will ever understand the appeal - even though I got sucked into it myself for a while. I finally came to my senses.

Choices

– Last Updated: Feb-04-15 2:27 PM EST –

There are folks who prefer to take their deer with bow or black powder instead of an accurized Kimber, those who prefer to skin and cut the flesh with knapped flint instead of a Loveless edge, and those who prefer to paddle birchbark or wood canvas instead of state of the art composites. Probably best we just accept those differences, noting that commercial and military aircraft have not been made with spruce and canvas for quite some time.

Weight
As I get older and more limited, lighter canoes enable me to continue to paddle and carry easier. When I was younger I carried a 17’ Grumman on some real long steep carrys. I could never do that today. Also wilderness trips involving long single carrys are still possible. Another factor I encounter in my paddling group is older, often female paddlers buy light canoes for ease of loading and unloading them off cars. Pete Hornbeck told me that when first building lightweight pack canoes for fishermen, people wanting an easy to lift canoe for recreation soon out numbered sportsmen.

Turtle

Name your boats?
with symetrical rocker and lots of it.



Inquiring minds want to know :wink:

Thank you, Turtle!

Tech Pkg mostly on board
Brad;



Swift’s pack canoes come standard with integral rails and infused carbon seat bases, so additional tech items, thwarts, handles and deck plates offer minimal additional weight savings.



Weight savings on sit-high or kneeling canoes can be substantial, including rails, thwarts and handles, portage yoke, seat drops and end decks.

Maybe the Osprey paddler needs a
Tilley Hat.



Canadian hull, Canadian hat!



Jim

Oh, you know
Two Coldens; a FlashFire and a DragonFly, and a Loonworks Nakoma. WIldFire is too wide for this compact guy.