All things CANOE

[RiverOtter]

In the interest of sharing info and learning from each other, I'll open the discussion and hopefully others will chime in with knowledge, questions and/or experiences.

After much deliberation and research, I recently ordered and picked up my custom built Clipper canoe at Western Canoeing and Kayaking in Abbotsford.
https://i.postimg.cc/Xvsxcs5Z/20221014-153842-2.jpg (https://postimages.org/)
I settled on the 18'6" Mackenzie Ultralight Kevlar with black trim, as it ticked the most boxes for my needs. I wanted a stable canoe for big lakes, big loads and extended trips. I wanted a boat I could load/unload myself if needed and had a removable 3rd seat added that positioned me to paddle solo if I wanted. The Mackenzie comes standard with adjustable foot brace(rear) and sliding seat(front) to maximize comfort and paddling efficiency. I had thigh wedge pads added to allow me further lock up with the boat if water got rough. I also had the wilderness lashing kit added to keep my gear secure in the canoe on wilderness trips. The final touch I had added was plastic guards to protect the gunnels.
https://i.postimg.cc/hvdrng5x/20221015-155723.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

https://i.postimg.cc/FRqZw1DN/20221015-162921.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

[RiverOtter]

The foam blocks on the gunnels are for hauling on the roof. I haven't attached the thigh wedge pads yet.
The canoe as pictured with all the accessories is under 70 lbs. If I were to remove the gunnel guards, third seat and lashing system it would come in at 63 lbs. Not bad for a boat with a 1600 lb safe load rating.

[Blockcaver]

Very very nice canoe!!!! Bet you’ll love it!

We bought the smaller version, a 17’ Kevlar Ultralight Clipper Tripper two years ago….52#s spec weight. Really like it on the river by the house and it’s so easy to carry around, put on the truck etc. We were coming from a 85# 17’ Gruman Whitewater we bought second hand 40 years ago that served us well.

[KBC]

Following this one. Getting a Canoe and hunting with it is something I've been thinking about a lot lately. Unfortunately I know nothing to contribute.

[Arctic Lake]

We have the Clipper Tripper 17.5 feet ,fibreglass with the bucket seats . Bought it second hand in good shape . Thought about brand new but was too much cash at the time . I like to look after my stuff so I thought brand new it’s going to get scratched up on the underside after a few beach landings anyway .

Im toying with the idea of the Mackenzie with the square stern but then I’m not sure about paddling it if your not using a motor ? ThIngs to think about .
Arctic Lake

[MRP]

Been canoeing 55 years my dad was pi$$t when I bought it home. I’ve have had 8, have 4 and a project at the moment. My advice to new canoeists is go get wet. Put your swimsuit on get out in shallow water and play with it, tip it, flip it, fill it with water. I’ve never tipped one by accident. When taking newbies out make the rules clear, follow them or don’t get in.
Motors, 4hp is more than enough 2 it good, 15 is a wild experience ;) . If you’re going electric v-stern is is not necessary, I much prefer to clamp it to the side using two peaces of 4”x6” 1/2” plywood for in and outside spaces.

13’ sports pal light and handy but for a moose requires 2 trips to do it safely. My almost 40 year old 17’.6” clipper is my favourite but I’m getting old and it’s not Kevlar. I’ll trade my well experience canoe straight across for a new Kevlar one. LOL :) ;)

[RiverOtter]

This is the canoe we upgraded from, a 17' Valhalla that I bought near new in 2000. It has a keel, which is pretty well unheard of anymore, save for aluminum canoes, as it covers the seam. It will pack 700+ pounds comfortably on flat water, but has limited secondary stability which makes it a lot less forgiving in waves or when moving side to side. It's also fiberglass and weighs nearly 90 lbs, which makes it less appealing to load/unload on roof tops.
It was a great canoe to learn on and it logged a tonne of lake miles.
https://i.postimg.cc/zvnvCPQK/IMG-3561.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

[RiverOtter]

Loaded up for a day of fishing on a mountain lake.
https://i.postimg.cc/vTrVXmKP/20221013-083343.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

[RiverOtter]

We have the Clipper Tripper 17.5 feet ,fibreglass with the bucket seats . Bought it second hand in good shape . Thought about brand new but was too much cash at the time . I like to look after my stuff so I thought brand new it’s going to get scratched up on the underside after a few beach landings anyway .

Im toying with the idea of the Mackenzie with the square stern but then I’m not sure about paddling it if your not using a motor ? ThIngs to think about .
Arctic Lake
No experience with flat back canoes, but they've never really appealed to me. My thoughts have always been that if I'm gonna lug around a gas motor and fuel tank, I might as well just have a little flat bottom or V-hull tin boat that I don't need to worry much about scuffing or bumping things with. Lol.
If I were to power a canoe, I think I'd opt for a side mounted electric, and then I wouldn't have to give up the tranquility of canoeing.

Just my thoughts, not telling you how you should spend your money... :mrgreen:

[Downwindtracker2]

When I bought my Western Mackenzie Sport ? a 16'6" freighter with a V-stern. It's a freighter cut down by a couple of feet for the V-stern . The owner used one for hunting, too. When the question of Kelvar came up, his comment was how else can you feel 20 years younger. I put a 4.5hp on it, it went scary fast.

[Paddler]

Consider adding some floatation tubes on the inside of the gunwhales in the Center of both sides. I use boat rollers, which are light and way tougher than the inflatable vinyl stuff sold as floatation for canoes.
If you do dump, especially solo,the flotation inside the gunwhales keeps the canoe floating high, and much easier to re- enter and bail. The tubes fit comfortably beside the load, and if the load is large you can inflate them to fit.
Check out Chesapeake Light Craft, and Duckworks- they both stock the kind of beach roller I am referring to.

[HappyJack]

Clipper makes a nice canoe, mine is 15.5 ' long V stern. I use it solo a lot and have to add weight to the bow to keep things level. Good and stable and a dream to paddle around.

RiverOtter, your new rig is pretty sweet!!

[MRP]

Clipper makes a nice canoe, mine is 15.5 ' long V stern. I use it solo a lot and have to add weight to the bow to keep things level. Good and stable and a dream to paddle around.

RiverOtter, your new rig is pretty sweet!!

Is that with a motor on it? If not always sit on the front seat facing back and things will be better.

[HappyJack]

Is that with a motor on it? If not always sit on the front seat facing back and things will be better.

Haha, now that would make people laugh. Works good on a double ender but not in the V-stern.

[IronNoggin]

One of my favorite ways to hunt!

On this trip, my 4x4 calved a day before we scheduled to go.
Tossed the canoe on top of my Lady's Magnum, and away we went...

https://i.imgur.com/gqzQj9o.jpg

She wasn't overly impressed upon my return... LOL

If you look closely at the stern of that whitewater canoe, you will see the custom mount I made. It balanced a 2.5 horsepower outboard perfectly, was right quiet, sipped gas and moved that canoe along much better than one could have expected. Even with a moose in it!

Cheers,
Nog

[MRP]

Haha, now that would make people laugh. Works good on a double ender but not in the V-stern.
Yes it works the same, I've used several v-sterns the v is out of water. Have you tried it?

[Downwindtracker2]

Motors are for going uphill. Lakes and canoes can be dangerous combination . I know of a couple of drownings . Canoes take skill and caution.

Floating down river or creek is nice. But often the bush on the banks hides animals from you , after all you are down low. Rivers are like roads to game, now. Where a canoe shines is getting you into places , and makes packing out easy.

[Arctic Lake]

That’s a priceless photo Nog ! I have to say it screams Redneck !
Arctic Lake
One of my favorite ways to hunt!

On this trip, my 4x4 calved a day before we scheduled to go.
Tossed the canoe on top of my Lady's Magnum, and away we went...

https://i.imgur.com/gqzQj9o.jpg

She wasn't overly impressed upon my return... LOL

If you look closely at the stern of that whitewater canoe, you will see the custom mount I made. It balanced a 2.5 horsepower outboard perfectly, was right quiet, sipped gas and moved that canoe along much better than one could have expected. Even with a moose in it!

Cheers,
Nog

[Arctic Lake]

You guys talk about V stern . I’m not sure I know what you mean ? Can you post a picture ? Is that another term for a flat stern that you mount a motor on like the Square Stern Clipper Mackenzie ?
Arctic Lake

[MRP]

Yes just a flat black. But there are lots of variations. My old Clipper Expedition the back is small and high up never in the water as long as it’s loaded evenly. Even when I had 2 guys and all the gear, big bull moose and a old 4hp on and a large gas tank.
Some look like someone just cut off a couple of feet with a big axe like a SportsPal or a Coleman. With 2 in it the back is always in the water and and creates noticeable drag.

[Downwindtracker2]

Here is a picture https://www.clippercanoes.com/products/mackenzie-sport-16-5 The stern is a couple of inches too low for the standard 15" legs . You want the prop in the water lightly loaded, and that's about all. At the owner of Clippers suggestion I changed the stern plywood to a taller one. The old river classic was a 20' or something Grumman with a 20hp Merc.

[mike31154]

Here is a picture https://www.clippercanoes.com/products/mackenzie-sport-16-5 The stern is a couple of inches too low for the standard 15" legs . You want the prop in the water lightly loaded, and that's about all. At the owner of Clippers suggestion I changed the stern plywood to a taller one. The old river classic was a 20' or something Grumman with a 20hp Merc.

Wow, I haven't priced new canoes for some time but had no idea they're well over $2K now! That amount would come close to covering the material cost of building a cedar strip canoe. The labour is another matter.... it takes time & patience.

I've been paddling since I was a teen. 1st canoe was a fire engine red 16' St. Maurice fibreglass. Next came a 17' Lund aluminum. Don't recall the weight, too long ago, but I do remember car topping the Lund myself. I purchased a 2hp Johnson & mounting bracket for that one too. Got me across one lake quickly so I could portage to a smaller one that held trout.

Strangely I have no photos of the St. Maurice, but here's the Lund. If I were to go with motor today, it would be electric.
https://dsm01pap004files.storage.live.com/y4maTaBY6hiU_OIjKvyawp_-RTiXP2BGbAks41M8IJbCa1arDHb1r966VW5dmGv1B1SvcMNBph 21jp5wF5sW30G4qR_oSjwQfSJXWW8V2DzLSXw1bLbC7BlGaWZg PgS7LHDY4rlrzasc7vjVJ3aGOVoOBZDw5ev4pxC1noFmSKLykn mjJkBxPiCmEep1EnkMjgN?width=1024&height=528&cropmode=none

While living in Ottawa a buddy of mine built a Bob's Special cedar strip canoe & ever since that building my own was on the bucket list. A year after moving to Vernon I got started. Stretched the 15' design length to 16'. It's based on a vintage Chestnut design, altered slightly for modern cedar strip construction. Several years ago I built another, this time standard 15' for my daughter & son in law. This spring I finished a Rob Roy solo for myself. Smaller, lighter & faster but the trade off is reduced stability & cargo capacity. My 16' Bob's weighs 56 lbs, the Rob Roy weighs 36 lbs.

Big Bob & Little Bob on the day I had Hummingbird ready for launch.
https://dsm01pap004files.storage.live.com/y4mX51JVi1MO1y4jc0WGRDBIp9DLBIbkFtLc1MHLd1G9-3JVh0fYXWmT-p1NMQtsTxTRG7xQ7F2Phnc1kcFsAxOsnAmbL_B9g5pxm9-NQNh9wpmjHHyUk4Yv4mEYxPJ-jYRQz-3RhhG-g5LGKq4wGSAJ2mQZi8LN1GHueQCs0XoMWo?width=1024&height=466&cropmode=none

Rob Roy solo, Das Boot piggy back on Bob's ;-)
https://dsm01pap004files.storage.live.com/y4mvfeO9WffM6JJ76Fk0-syuIPti9-cKFDSsrbAVbC4zoGK2u7ELQ6-hMfiQcl8CyNvpNF6geozvsI54hJo4FVh6PehvY0C80QCr8KsMF IOi_8hDhjYNDn4vwLHFuTysKdvKE6ybkJLIQcT0ZJtDz9P1LyI D_uHwYX7cVHiuQaSH0o?width=1024&height=514&cropmode=none

Rob Roy on launch day, my favourite alpine lake. It's propelled using double paddle like a kayak & seat is just off the bottom same as a 'yak.
https://dsm01pap004files.storage.live.com/y4mUa3Kh4XMmkhWa_8tPn998dH7aelh98d1XaoKUAVo57gyJmF kyJSw3fAoyxdzp3Ph4Arpgoj2RBAz6w3bRUnOvfLJVOoydYfBD qFdoPdtUVBgEQtuPirAEhEF7-TWT_m_RFLmDzgzszfUpTTSL6YN2By-G1x_UdC38iIy1P15aKI?width=1024&height=576&cropmode=none

[mike31154]

My Bob's Special was finished fall of 2005, pushing 17 years old, wearing very well & seeing plenty of use. One advantage of building a strip craft is you have the means & skill to repair any damage. I keep to lakes so less prone to rock damage as when running rivers. Last year I gave it a fresh coat of varnish & fixed some scratches, which are inevitable.

It's scary for the 1st couple years as you don't want to scratch up the mirror finish it has new. This is launch day 2005.
https://dsm01pap004files.storage.live.com/y4mohDK3ID36lzVXQD5zVS55TZ5uIUVvA2fsCTAKLJHpyviTke gqN8cc52fvlTuHWPLmEXF3Qh5xGqkpzlrBy-u4v5JABpy5TfKHiXnab1TZHTeVejFYfR15vNUpiBitA2wojPqH Po_bXvpdvUtqfnY-gIn8sr6v2NaZm7HxIzR1VY?width=1024&height=683&cropmode=none

This is a year ago after a successful day of fishing & waterfowl hunting.
https://dsm01pap004files.storage.live.com/y4mJPwETm_r6uokfLB23KUvyAVLMrrxPARmwYthOXVS-gtNw-G_gfUXj8JZFmMf-E__kYs1oUIuhkJN8yPC21cG1OaltbFc3Od8fXK-TJDuFJyT4wbKzy-fK85NPTMBs54bnEoaYptJ058nlbqZmAvSDzoRMtPOY27Y8hCBP MLH_jlYOpnOJkad_Ko3g1d1ZtkM?width=1024&height=498&cropmode=none

[RiverOtter]

Good job, Mike! Beautiful canoes.

Not sure if it's the same guy you knew in Ontario, but a friend of mine just bought 2 moulds from an older builder in Ontario who couldn't do it anymore for health reasons.

[mike31154]

Good job, Mike! Beautiful canoes.

Not sure if it's the same guy you knew in Ontario, but a friend of mine just bought 2 moulds from an older builder in Ontario who couldn't do it anymore for health reasons.

Ontario is a big province ;-p. My friend built a 2nd as well but that was decades ago & I reckon he disposed his strong back & molds long before now. My plans are from Bear Mountain Boats based in Ontario. That business is slowly winding down as the owners are getting up there in age too. Ted Moores is the gentleman & he has authored the books CanoeCraft & KayaCraft.

https://bl3301files.storage.live.com/y4m1TGNTDSXkeNBFA2jgwo4RQsAX9r02DHN6IDHonBR3gLdEy0 G4WdiTtzx_53W-5qr24C6IMi-ihBW_Yu_cw08siZhIDMMLtPuNgOzraKPimdZlPH4o5sYGP8Uuo mdrBjZtDRVD_OJGr21L6QGAtDkCuzj3-WYDT-7CVQZP-JGBv8?width=720&height=480&cropmode=none

[MRP]

I’ve been looking at other canoe builds on line
paper canoe looks interesting . https://youtu.be/IERsFKt-NzM
Plywood https://youtu.be/VCkARrO_iEc
Dacron skin canoe for the long pack in places. https://www.woodenboat.com/boat-launchings/ranger-canoe
if you got time and lot of chopsticks. http://pinktentacle.com/2008/04/canoe-made-from-disposable-chopsticks/

The sky is.. or the imagination is the only limit. I just have to get at it ;)

[Elkaddict]

Beautiful work Mike.

I posted this pic once before when I was selling the moulds. 16’ Prospector, built by my father. It was supposed to be a team project but I got a new job and moved to the other side of the country so he built it solo. Ended up being our wedding present.

I’ve also got a 16’ Peterburough that my Dad partially rebuilt after having it’s bow and stern “modified” after being trapped under a dock during a storm. He rebuilt the damaged ends and then glassed it as opposed t re-canvassing it. It may be sacrilege to purists, but it’s lighter, a great solo paddle, and quite robust.

I haven’t paddled in years. Gotta Get back to it.

https://i.postimg.cc/50bSvwRM/8-EF64-A84-2-E90-4191-98-CA-F95-C8-EFB7-E41.jpg (https://postimg.cc/qtDKHCrm)

[landphil]

Wow, I haven't priced new canoes for some time but had no idea they're well over $2K now! That amount would come close to covering the material cost of building a cedar strip canoe. The labour is another matter.... it takes time & patience.

I've been paddling since I was a teen. 1st canoe was a fire engine red 16' St. Maurice fibreglass. Next came a 17' Lund aluminum. Don't recall the weight, too long ago, but I do remember car topping the Lund myself. I purchased a 2hp Johnson & mounting bracket for that one too. Got me across one lake quickly so I could portage to a smaller one that held trout.

Strangely I have no photos of the St. Maurice, but here's the Lund. If I were to go with motor today, it would be electric.
https://dsm01pap004files.storage.live.com/y4maTaBY6hiU_OIjKvyawp_-RTiXP2BGbAks41M8IJbCa1arDHb1r966VW5dmGv1B1SvcMNBph 21jp5wF5sW30G4qR_oSjwQfSJXWW8V2DzLSXw1bLbC7BlGaWZg PgS7LHDY4rlrzasc7vjVJ3aGOVoOBZDw5ev4pxC1noFmSKLykn mjJkBxPiCmEep1EnkMjgN?width=1024&height=528&cropmode=none

While living in Ottawa a buddy of mine built a Bob's Special cedar strip canoe & ever since that building my own was on the bucket list. A year after moving to Vernon I got started. Stretched the 15' design length to 16'. It's based on a vintage Chestnut design, altered slightly for modern cedar strip construction. Several years ago I built another, this time standard 15' for my daughter & son in law. This spring I finished a Rob Roy solo for myself. Smaller, lighter & faster but the trade off is reduced stability & cargo capacity. My 16' Bob's weighs 56 lbs, the Rob Roy weighs 36 lbs.

Big Bob & Little Bob on the day I had Hummingbird ready for launch.
https://dsm01pap004files.storage.live.com/y4mX51JVi1MO1y4jc0WGRDBIp9DLBIbkFtLc1MHLd1G9-3JVh0fYXWmT-p1NMQtsTxTRG7xQ7F2Phnc1kcFsAxOsnAmbL_B9g5pxm9-NQNh9wpmjHHyUk4Yv4mEYxPJ-jYRQz-3RhhG-g5LGKq4wGSAJ2mQZi8LN1GHueQCs0XoMWo?width=1024&height=466&cropmode=none

Rob Roy solo, Das Boot piggy back on Bob's ;-)
https://dsm01pap004files.storage.live.com/y4mvfeO9WffM6JJ76Fk0-syuIPti9-cKFDSsrbAVbC4zoGK2u7ELQ6-hMfiQcl8CyNvpNF6geozvsI54hJo4FVh6PehvY0C80QCr8KsMF IOi_8hDhjYNDn4vwLHFuTysKdvKE6ybkJLIQcT0ZJtDz9P1LyI D_uHwYX7cVHiuQaSH0o?width=1024&height=514&cropmode=none

Rob Roy on launch day, my favourite alpine lake. It's propelled using double paddle like a kayak & seat is just off the bottom same as a 'yak.
https://dsm01pap004files.storage.live.com/y4mUa3Kh4XMmkhWa_8tPn998dH7aelh98d1XaoKUAVo57gyJmF kyJSw3fAoyxdzp3Ph4Arpgoj2RBAz6w3bRUnOvfLJVOoydYfBD qFdoPdtUVBgEQtuPirAEhEF7-TWT_m_RFLmDzgzszfUpTTSL6YN2By-G1x_UdC38iIy1P15aKI?width=1024&height=576&cropmode=none

Awesome strippers! I had grand plans of building one as a teenager, bought that very book - Canoecraft and read every word at least three times, bought plans from Bear Mountain (Hiawatha 16’ model IIRC, think I still have the plans in a box in the garage somewhere) but it turned into an unrealized dream and I lost interest in canoes altogether in time. Your pictures almost make me want to revisit that.


.

[Arctic Lake]

Mike ! You are very talented , that’s Craftsmanship ! Beauty boats !
Arctic Lake

[Arctic Lake]

I like that ! You could use it for hunting and fishing ! With a motor or not ? I would think the canoe you linked to would be pretty stable with gear and a buddy . Need to make a couple of trips if you got a moose .I’m not sure what you are saying regarding the prop in the water lightly loaded ? Meaning just what you said ?
I just think I’m not using our 17’ 6 Tripper . Why ? Because I can’t put a motor on it ? I don’t know . I just think it’s easier to fish out of a boat with a motor rather than trying to paddle and fish but I really don’t have a lot of experience doing that . I’m all for getting an education on such matters !
Or I just sell the canoe and buy an aluminum boat say 12 or 14 footer with motor and use that for hunting up rivers or fishing on lakes or rivers ? Lots to think about ? Maybe have both ? I need a mentor ! Was not raised in a outdoor family and sat on my ass too much when I was younger . Regrets that I need to get past and get to doing things that I did not !This little set back with the health issue has me thinking shit I’m just passed retirement age man you need to get out man before something really serious hits you then your really buggered , get what I’m saying .
Arctic Lake
Here is a picture https://www.clippercanoes.com/products/mackenzie-sport-16-5 The stern is a couple of inches too low for the standard 15" legs . You want the prop in the water lightly loaded, and that's about all. At the owner of Clippers suggestion I changed the stern plywood to a taller one. The old river classic was a 20' or something Grumman with a 20hp Merc.

[Downwindtracker2]

A canoe can really pack. They are Canada's greatest gift to the world. You can use them on a heavy dew, and when that dries up you pick it up and carry it to the next puddle. Amazing craft. That MacKenzie Sport is my last one. I started out renting a Frontier 17' . My ex bought a well used 16' Chestnut fiberglass at an auction for me. I loved how it handled, you lay her down on her gunnels and she stay up right. Someone ran a snowmoble over my beach and cracked her. I tried repairing her but she was both too brittle and Chestnut hadn't a clue on building in fiberglass. Next was a aluminum, with a bent nose and popped rivets replacing the originals. First time in the water and I had these little geysers. Springbok used the same dies much later. The original Clipper fiberglass used the same lines. If you looked in the wrong direction, you were in the water. I wrapped it around a rock. While I was hammering it out, I rented a Clipper Tripper a couple of times. Oldest son claimed the aluminum. But I had by then built Ted Moore's Nomad. A 17' prospector style cedar strip. It took me three winters. Along the way I picked up a tinny. 12' (11'6") Harborcraft. Broad, heavy,deep V-ed. I have a power boatloader for the tinny.

[Jagermeister]

https://canoeguybc.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/1956-pal-01.jpg

I had the spitting image of the one pictured above. Matter of fact it could very well have been mine.
Had a tumble once when solo hunting ducks at a small lake at the foot of Dragon Mountain back in 1976. Managed to hang onto the shotgun but the shells, ducks and paddles went their own way. Was wearing a down filled vest, no life jacket. Surprised by the amount of floatation in that type of vest, not that I would recommend them as a substitute for the real thing. Anybody that tells you that you just have to push down on one end of the canoe to empty the water and get back in is full of shit. Canoes, when full of water are far worse for stability than an empty one.. I slid the canoe under me from the stern until the center board hit my chest then breast stroked it for shore. Took me about half an hour to hit the bank and another 15 minutes to get out and up the small bank. I was in a bit of shock. Once I was composed, pulled t the canoe up the bank and started the hike back to the L/C . That took about 45 minutes of straight hiking and about a 20 minute drive to home. There I retrieved a spare paddle and a life jacket and back I went. Paddled around the lake picking up my other paddles and the ducks I had. Was surprised the eagles didn't pick one or two. Opted for an aluminum boat after the two guys drowned in the little lake out to the west of Oct

[RiverOtter]

https://i.postimg.cc/BQDWgJ38/20220603-101031.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

https://i.postimg.cc/BZR9HXr9/20220603-101041.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

[RiverOtter]

If this boat could talk...
Custom built spruce and birch bark canoe used to transport a trappers fur down the Yukon river in the spring. Apparently traded straight across for a new snowmobile. Hangs in a general store in Dawson City.

[Arctic Lake]

^^^^^^^^^^^^. WOW !
Arctic Lake

[MRP]

A canoe can really pack. They are Canada's greatest gift to the world. .
Hate to brake it to you but canoes have been made every where in the world for thousands of years. Each cultural using what ever materials they had, from hollow logs to skin over frame.

[HappyJack]

Yes it works the same, I've used several v-sterns the v is out of water. Have you tried it?

Yes I tried it backwards, looked funny as hell in the pictures and the V-stern doesn't cut the waves very well. Mine also has a support just behind the front seat that gets in the way when riding backwards.

[Downwindtracker2]

Hate to brake it to you but canoes have been made every where in the world for thousands of years. Each cultural using what ever materials they had, from hollow logs to skin over frame. That's an anthropologist's answer,chuckle, not a marine engineer's . The Canadian Canoe has set lines, the classic Chestnut Prospector is great example. All boats are compromises, but in the Canadian Canoe they all work very well. Those blow molded things in Canadian Tire don't deserve the name canoe.

[Arctic Lake]

I don’t want to derail River Otters thread so I have some questions regarding aluminum boats . Where did that 12 or 14 foot aluminum boat thread go ?
Thank You !
Arctic Lake

[mike31154]

Skilled paddler!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGM_nNoDJV4

[Arctic Lake]

Sheeesh ! What a master !
Arctic Lake

[Downwindtracker2]

Bill Mason's films on canoeing are great.You should be able to find them on YouTube. He is the best filmmaker Canada has produced.

A tinny is motor boat not a row boat. That fat @ss provides flotation for the operator and the motor, but also drags half the lake behind it. The one with the widest beam is the best, except when you are lifting the boat on the roof racks, it adds weight. A deep v-ed bow a helps with sea keeping . A very good feature when the wind picks up. North south rear seats work better than the much more common east west seats. My buddy had a Mirrorcraft, it was an excellent boat. It's worth looking for.

[Arctic Lake]

Good information Downwind ! Not sure I know what you mean by North South Seats vs East West ? Do you mean North South is Bow To Stern ?
Arctic Lake

Bill Mason's films on canoeing are great.You should be able to find them on YouTube. He is the best filmmaker Canada has produced.

A tinny is motor boat not a row boat. That fat @ss provides flotation for the operator and the motor, but also drags half the lake behind it. The one with the widest beam is the best, except when you are lifting the boat on the roof racks, it adds weight. A deep v-ed bow a helps with sea keeping . A very good feature when the wind picks up. North south rear seats work better than the much more common east west seats. My buddy had a Mirrorcraft, it was an excellent boat. It's worth looking for.

[Downwindtracker2]

Yes, it's a carry over from campers. Tinnys don't pack, if you go by their DOT plates. But reading plates can tell you about the boat. Some 12' only are good to 7.5hp !!, others are up to 10hp or like mine, 15hp. Marv had one of those lightweight 12' and got swamped, he then traded it off for a 10' Harborcraft. He was very happy the Harborcarft. If I'm fishng a lake I'll use the tinny, if I'm hunting down a creek, the V-stern, after all I'll have to go upstream at some point. Camping on a river, the cedar strip Nomad. A couple of my friends tried hunting down a small river in a tinny. They ended up walking out, leaving the tinny.

[mike31154]

This is an informative video on canoes, development of building methods etc. Cedar canvas is still one of the lightest canoes to build. Funny I lived in Ottawa for 13 years & worked part time nights/weekends at a small ski hill in Wakefield. The town is in Quebec across the river from Ottawa. I had no idea this business was there. The movie Grey Owl starring Pierce Brosnan featured scenes shot around Wakefield.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5ooueZzyA4

[Elkaddict]

Bill Mason's films on canoeing are great.You should be able to find them on YouTube. He is the best filmmaker Canada.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dA-YWAeLkIM

There are a couple more if you search “path of the paddle” on YouTube. I think he made a feature film as well, but don’t recall the title. I thought it was Path of the Paddle.

[RiverOtter]

Got to spend a couple days on the water this weekend in the new boat. Got to experience a little bit of choppy water and it handled it great.
https://i.postimg.cc/kG4Wz0PL/20221029-111112.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

https://i.postimg.cc/bJqxHGCy/20221029-123524.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

[MRP]

Nice, fall colours and calm water. Just for hunting I’ve gone with a self inflating life jacket. Not as warm but nicer to shoulder a rifle.

[RiverOtter]

Self inflaters are definitely on the to get list. Way more comfortable for extended paddling adventures.

[mike31154]

Gets ya into some areas that would take a lot longer on foot. No roads, no problem....
https://dsm01pap004files.storage.live.com/y4mBoHjzYhSRVQRfqp3MkC0mhHxYj0-JMERiWC6n5AbWcLHE2x5NVIXdipW3ccVbVz5TaX2eMQDbkX6uD _icGFVuyACxnxTLGqrd4_HrgOaCtsG3SrCD_J8ZVl7PAg_nqNJ 4uXiw3yU9bzgL2omhFdrCj5HjAg8B7rOwnAK2bRFaqverP_olg cJ-DPgiaJO0jzU?width=1024&height=603&cropmode=none

https://dsm01pap004files.storage.live.com/y4m2TIfGGhIsTM2W-nGKQWD0vrqhLhdeX7Y0o5dC6ccqij14GpA2sM2eIxeOLbtYH9I jRe5H6vbQJKPAyzuK7iimLzm9wJ0kjZxpaOrrWNNrK9aB2gYli mP-TSumQRkCm0MnFNlLuV1K6XEPKWXAm4alwtjypTSvdJ54lyjXOU xI9tsOXWV7fXkKJlyEzIHqyn2?width=1024&height=1024&cropmode=none

https://dsm01pap004files.storage.live.com/y4myQ6VhHIMLFliG00XlVaw9NYxSGUYSsDMNgAaMbNlF0t3JZt oonO3Nu3R-5siiBF-0Oj9Y43r9JeSI5ly8HXUIxVRTk2XCOQFoAy961Jqc0MA73f2RG ZrHTntjDP3hhy6LbMkrrBKWus1YQ_p72m_JdLV0SBNBeTtHx7q La5W7owFQ9BjT8BI4AYb-mqLhed4?width=1024&height=965&cropmode=none

[Arctic Lake]

Geeez that’s a nice place Mike !
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[Arctic Lake]

Nice pictures also River Otter !
Arctic Lake

[RiverOtter]

I'll have to keep an eye out for a cedar canoe in my travels, Mike. I think we likely share some of the same haunts... :mrgreen:

[mike31154]

Geeez that’s a nice place Mike !
Arctic Lake
The centre photo was taken during our moose LEH back in 2018, south of Vanderhoof, a stream feeding Brewster Lake. The other 2 are at a favourite alpine lake in the Monashees between Cherryville & the Needles ferry at Arrow Lake. One of the reasons I chose Vernon to live is the vicinity of beautiful lakes. Kalamalka, Okanagan & Swan Lakes are minutes to drive to from my place. The Aberdeen Plateau above the valley is dotted with many more lakes, one of my favourites there being Oyama Lake. The one in the Monashees takes a good hour & 1/2 depending on road conditions. It's very productive for brookies & rainbows. I love to hunt up there too & have taken waterfowl but no antlered critters yet. Spotted plenty but either out of season or lack of points has left me empty handed in that regard. The peace & beauty of the area keeps me going back. Earlier this month I really stretched the day hunting & fishing up there, staying on the lake until near sunset. Regardless of what kind of watercraft you're in, this kind of scene is good for the soul. Very fortunate capture featuring a burning sky & mirror lake surface.
https://dsm01pap004files.storage.live.com/y4mQaAx1_uSyp5ZZlBVKg_dThHSX4DbZ_KGZWHDnEJOERZXmos-k51n-q9Q5gWqy0y_sMMBQDX-eL8LLHq8zTv5sTCLdSPR59Czy1XNBU4v1vblcIPL4RSQYZtIvn GV2sJWO66GgfpVH1YthjvAYogGnvnuEUkDFO77B_-STSM3bj2_C1w6fBxIE40WMrONTqdR?width=1024&height=591&cropmode=none

[mike31154]

I'll have to keep an eye out for a cedar canoe in my travels, Mike. I think we likely share some of the same haunts... :mrgreen:
If you're on Facebook there is a group dedicated to cedar strip canoes. Emphasis is on building but occasionally someone posts one for sale. I've been wanting a cedar canvas job for a long time & one came up locally at Dodd's Auction. I had a look at it, decent shape but was outbid, wasn't willing to pay more than my original bid. The 16' Bob's Special I built is starting to feel a bit heavy for this old feller so I finished a smaller Rob Roy solo this spring. Light & fast, but tippier & less room for stuff. The Bob's is still my go to for trips where I think I might bag an ungulate.....

https://dsm01pap004files.storage.live.com/y4miCRJ8YBNdqNOhXsIHzmhytMEB5RXcPMUOXorBeTMKCZzKCY XZdlgPqDqwcJ8ITTL1ppd93VB0MAInBgSvaQMKgGZRY9_jtuV_ KFM8Zmqnq2qqEqoy-kbheLHSfWVlu-59nKJlo3rmVyvRTpj61cwPWPwG1GFEKySWm6pllR7vE0?width =1024&height=786&cropmode=none

I stretched the design to 16' based on notes provided with the plans.
https://dsm01pap004files.storage.live.com/y4m5DLe6ljESGG6XldbGKllXdjfV0ZSQeAKRm2VSKVRzXNBmyn ND9EH6fMBLS_omrbpRSZ9SXFS3MQ9_M43UDAyid5QfgvC3wjmV asUC2ic_Uzw5D5_vH7M56Nk7CCKa4FuX2uFSiSOCOd4s2-8d9JPxINQkFkljXlKFO-xnsdioC8?width=1024&height=165&cropmode=none

https://dsm01pap004files.storage.live.com/y4mKI4IrA7FePRdnIMKTq-idhYcJFN5BzqQ6-9fas0vihlIEIqLBeweE2a_FoWOzNZAJScs3JRD8sPz1MYx-5MxTph2RmStFN3RTJDWiCPMWfvOqBWmj0udDQjD1qs0mE__BNI Fr_DLoIlYqjkzIpIpTjb1cuhZWl1XD63MnbpUVj0?width=102 4&height=765&cropmode=none

[RiverOtter]

Much as I like the look of the cedar canoes, I was thinking more along the lines of bumping into you on your travels one day on a lake somewhere. Haha.

[mike31154]

Much as I like the look of the cedar canoes, I was thinking more along the lines of bumping into you on your travels one day on a lake somewhere. Haha.
Welp I don't travel as much as I used to. You're most likely to bump into me close to home these days. Leisurely paddle on Kalamalka Lake in the summer is my most common outing ;)

[Arctic Lake]

As you know I’m toying with the idea of motorized canoe or aluminum boat . Will try and post a few of these from YouTube and see what you think . Hope River Otter is okay with this ! If not I will post a new thread !
https://youtu.be/z7A-2lHaPQ0
Arctic Lake

[RiverOtter]

Giv'er buddy, it's an open forum. :-D

[mike31154]

As you know I’m toying with the idea of motorized canoe or aluminum boat . Will try and post a few of these from YouTube and see what you think . Hope River Otter is okay with this ! If not I will post a new thread !
https://youtu.be/z7A-2lHaPQ0
Arctic Lake

Post #22 has a photo of my Lund 17' aluminum with bracket & 2 Hp Johnson. It was a hauler & I could portage & car top it myself no problemo as a young feller haha. Looking at it now I believe the hull shape is reminiscent of a Prospector which was designed to carry a substantial load. I considered building a cedar strip y-stern at one point as Bear Mountain has plans for such a hull. Coppermine I think. Decided against it as I find a standard canoe more versatile than a flatback. Most of my paddling is on smaller lakes so a motor is not necessary to get me where I'm going. Never in much of a hurry as I take pleasure in the act of paddling.

Here are a couple more shots of the Lund on the water. This would be in the late 1970's. Fack I'm getting long in the tooth lol.
https://dsm01pap004files.storage.live.com/y4m_wUkqpal_XuTgJG1qyuuF3aqf6t64RIZFcjkn5bWZbCiEI0 FMiLV_R4rgkSvMvdW8QkSuf5T1aNSLxiTxmr-uomwtAHZQn1wTiaxgTyIZ1v1CLNgT_oENtyvdiakv_V_bkLpRz UXJn125gpJI2BNff3lqBeWUl1jZiWv_NoCtHmKSKUNoLGhEvS1 0E5bMp_I?width=1024&height=623&cropmode=none

https://dsm01pap004files.storage.live.com/y4myXR8PjyxVSEsFbDnp3iWXI7Ft4RhFcbAXS8VRbfrME8NBCV BLFy9TNdjOsWfV_-g4VViz8-pCBPJH08qgVVf7VJ5AQr8GPauG8zbtc2vIku7Ye9sZi2YGppav HoaJw1rF_OkmFVONUk20wNpRuRikJ2vaCZgo_57_xNeJ7YTTKn s9yrBDM9ffOr9UmUsoCDW?width=1024&height=560&cropmode=none

This was near Cold Lake in eastern Alberta. Most of the lakes held rather nasty species like Pike, Pickerel & Perch. The motor came in handy getting me across Crane Lake for an uphill portage into a small lake stocked with Rainbows. Took at least 2 if not 3 trips to get the canoe, motor & gear in there.
https://dsm01pap004files.storage.live.com/y4mWlS3sj22oSWuzvaLBtcRDRCnLpkUq0juxn8oQAViB2mml3B 5LtL74n-70XU_lq6HG46bPcFXqzgy2A0De0TTLaDYGdJ0pok1yR97IZXY1 wVF7BI-DTZ8JNhHNHDjWGpm1fry41mqLEGZ29QyNMAHNQwBkcxgkkemvN Vi8Vn_rK02Mz804FmWjw-PVBqPFzPP?width=1024&height=768&cropmode=none

[Arctic Lake]

Great sharing Mike !
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[Arctic Lake]

Thanks River Otter ! I’m that type of guy as one member mentioned about a friend , who researches to the enth degree .
Just want to have done my homework
Arctic Lake
Giv'er buddy, it's an open forum. :-D

[Arctic Lake]

Human powered ! I watched this video before we bought a canoe . He has some skills !
https://youtu.be/oKmjGvRoHtU

[Arctic Lake]

Motored Clipper
https://youtu.be/ItdqrRBDEos

https://youtu.be/478M7xmWWq4

https://youtu.be/t-UjJkRN9cg
Arctic Lake

[Arctic Lake]

Haven’t watched the video yet but wanted to post it before I lost it in my searches
https://youtu.be/igf_Cw_JEYc
Arctic Lake