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UK paddler

Joined
Dec 2, 2024
Messages
4
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18
Location
Norwich, UK
Greetings from the UK.

I’m a retired teacher and have been paddling around 25 years now. I live in Norwich UK which is on the edge of the Norfolk Broads National park.
Apart from paddling I spend most of my time repairing older wooden canoes. These are few and far between in the UK but I do have a bit of choice of what I paddle. I have:
Rushton Navahoe
Chestnut Teddy
Peterborough Rib
Canadian Canoe Board and Batten
Chestnut Playmate
Chestnut Fire
Home made Longitudinal strip
And a few others

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I also have a storage problem!

Sam
 
Welcome, again, samb! It's so interesting to have canoeists from outside North America chipping in.

Are you a WCHA member or do you know the UK's Nick Dennis, who is on the WCHA board with me? Also, did you make any of those paddles hanging on the wall?
 
Are you a WCHA member or do you know the UK's Nick Dennis, who is on the WCHA board with me? Also, did you make any of those paddles hanging on the wall?

I've been a memberr of WCHA for about 12 years. I've known Nick and paddled with him for about the same time. We live about an hour apart so paddle fairly often. With the paddles, I made two of them and two others were picked up with broken shafts which I repaired; you can see the top of the scarf on the nearest one.

Welcome Sam. I'm unsure about the storage problem... Is your issue that you can't store any more? Maybe toss that extension ladder; us old guys fall off of them anyway.

The two small boats up top are both 12' and are very shallow. On the left is a smaller version of a PBK skin on frame canoe and on the left is a one sheet Gorewood Canoe which I both made. (if you don't know about Gorewood Canoes, have a look at this). My sea kayak is too deep to fit in the top. I have a royalex wenonah that lives outside and two 15 foot canoes and my sea kayak in my workshop as well as a folding canoe and kayak. I'm now at the stage that if I buy another canoe, something will have to go.

Sam
 
I'd seen the Gorewood (tortured plywood) canoe video before and have thought about making one but it looks like it requires a level of precision that I am, often, unwilling to achieve.

I have a friend that often asks for progress reports on the strippers that I build. He gets a kick out of it when I respond that "it's as good as I care to make it" because, of course, we all have the ability to be true craftsmen but I'm ok with "looks good, works great".

I know I can get away with that careless attitude with strip builds but your Gorewood method seems less forgiving. (tell me I'm wrong and I'll probably try one this winter. Ideally, I'll do it with plexiglass or lexan sheets for a true stealth canoe)
 
Welcome. Storage problem??? I second getting rid of the ladder and I do see a large opening in the middle of the area. Might I suggest a canoe rack on wheels that could simply be rolled in or out? I look forward to some UK trip reports. Perhaps a visit across the pond would be in order?
 
Nice boats samb!

Which are your favorites and why?
My favourite is usually the one I'm paddling at the time: The Fire is newest to me at present so that is getting more than its share of outings and the Rushton is a fast hull, especially when tandem, although if the wind is not as forecast and I'm paddling either of these I wish I was paddling one of the others. Of the ones in the photo, the rib boat get least outings as I need to overnight it in wet towels to lessen any seepage through the joints. The Teddy is surprisingly fast and turns beautifully. It's a bit awkward to get out but it's worth it. I'm slowly getting the hang of canoe sailing and the wide beam gives me more confidence. The red playmate I have owned the longest and probably use the most - nothing bad to say about it. The two smaller boats rarely come out. The skin on frame is not really a nice boat to paddle, and the tortured ply is to small for me. I made it just because I needed to see a 12' canoe come out of a single sheet and see a canoe shape emerge from a flat shape of plywood. When my grandson is older it will be his.
Sam
 
My favourite is usually the one I'm paddling at the time: The Fire is newest to me at present so that is getting more than its share of outings and the Rushton is a fast hull, especially when tandem, although if the wind is not as forecast and I'm paddling either of these I wish I was paddling one of the others. Of the ones in the photo, the rib boat get least outings as I need to overnight it in wet towels to lessen any seepage through the joints. The Teddy is surprisingly fast and turns beautifully. It's a bit awkward to get out but it's worth it. I'm slowly getting the hang of canoe sailing and the wide beam gives me more confidence. The red playmate I have owned the longest and probably use the most - nothing bad to say about it. The two smaller boats rarely come out. The skin on frame is not really a nice boat to paddle, and the tortured ply is to small for me. I made it just because I needed to see a 12' canoe come out of a single sheet and see a canoe shape emerge from a flat shape of plywood. When my grandson is older it will be his.
Sam
I enjoy your comments sam. It looks to me like you are also clear about the type of paddle you like. I'm also a retired paddler that enjoys the personalities of different boats. 5 of the 7 in the pic have been on the water in the past week. Cheers!20250509_173134.jpg
 
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