Back in the Coho..... Finally.

[Steve in Idaho]

A little over a couple years ago, I had some serious medical issues that came on rather suddenly and left me weak and unbalanced. But this isn't about that. I'm okay now. I got back into paddling later in that year - enough to participate in a BWCA trip - but I didn't stand with a pole for more than a few minutes for two whole years.

The thing is, after a good year to mostly recover, I still had lost a lot of stamina and muscle tone, and balance was still iffy. When I finally felt good enough to try poling for distance again early this year, I was appalled at how little progress I was able to make upstream.

I had to ease back into it over several day trips, but I finally feel like I'm making good progress. Last week, I was able to get out in the Coho two days in a row without feeling sore at all. On the second day, I attained a good three and a half miles up the Middle Fork of the Payette - and could have gone much farther if I wasn't running out of time against a scheduled event.

I think my balance has completely restored, and I'm gaining on my poling condition. This does wonders for my back. Life is good!

 

[Glenn MacGrady]

Congrats, Steve. I'm beginning to have some balance issues. Nothing diagnosed but it's annoying. Is there a difference between the two poles? Non-poler question: Why two?

 

[Steve in Idaho]

Is there a difference between the two poles? Non-poler question: Why two?

I hope you can keep that balance issue at bay, Glenn.

Why two? Good question. Because it's not unusual for a pole to get stuck. If it's stuck good and you don't let it go, it'll jerk you out of the boat (maybe whacking you in the head on the way). The second pole is for getting back into position to retrieve the stuck pole.

I almost always go with a light pole and a heavy pole. One in this photo is a 3 lb "Home Depole" fir closet rod. The other is a 5 lb ash pole I carved from a plank. The heavier pole is better for deep and pushy water because it gets to the bottom quicker. It has a longer and stronger spike on each end too. One of my aluminum poles has those conical bronze shoes and also weighs 5 lbs

That closet rod was my very first pole. I'm amazed that it has held up so well. I did pick through a lot of stock to find one with straight grain and no runout. I have had to replace the hanger bolt spikes a few times. The spikes on the ash pole are grade 8 bolts with the heads ground off. They don't seem like they'll ever wear out.

 

[memaquay]

Glad to hear you are getting back into the pole of things. I'm hoping to do a real trip this summer too, first in a few years.

 

[eckilson]

The ultimate poling boat. you lucked out getting that boat. Did you buy it new or find it used.

 

[Alan Gage]

Good to hear you're back in action!

Alan

 

[Steve in Idaho]

The ultimate poling boat. you lucked out getting that boat. Did you buy it new or find it used.

I bought it new, but there was a bit of luck involved. Unexpected windfall cash that wasn't needed for anything else. Also, IIRC, it was the first canoe that Kaz applied this honeycomb material (that I can't remember what he called it) in the floor for stiffening. That has proven to be very robust and rigid - superior to the usual foam sandwich IMO.

 

[Tsuga8]

Congrats on your recovery Steve! Well done getting back in the saddle - on wait, I don't see a saddle in the Coho.

Why two? Good question. Because it's not unusual for a pole to get stuck. If it's stuck good and you don't let it go, it'll jerk you out of the boat (maybe whacking you in the head on the way). The second pole is for getting back into position to retrieve the stuck pole.

I can certainly attest to this, most recently on a downriver run on the Housatonic last weekend with @Cheeseandbeans . Those boulders sure are good for grabbing a pole out of your hands. (Clay and mud too, more generally speaking, though if you're in those you can probably get back to your pole with a paddle).

The ultimate poling boat. you lucked out getting that boat.

Yes, well done. I wonder how many were made.... I'm always on the lookout for one.

Steve, What are you using to attach the back-up pole to the thwart? I've been testing some options but haven't hit on the ideal yet. Chip had those metal tool clips you see on garage walls screwed into his thwart. I got some and think they'll work well (very easy to grab a second pole quickly when the first gets stuck) but not sure I want metal sticking up all the time. Bungees (and bungee dealie bobs from Rutabaga) hold well but can be too fiddly when you need your second pole in a hurry.

 

[Steve in Idaho]

Steve, What are you using to attach the back-up pole to the thwart?

I'm using two strips of 1.5" wide and Velcro. One goes over the middle of the other and snug around the thwart. The other goes around the pole and crosses over itself at an angle and overlaps so I can grab the loose end quickly and rip. I used to use those bungee balls, but this is quicker and stays in place.

 

[Tsuga8]

Nice - good adherence to the KISS rule. I also like that releasing the pole doesn't release the tether from the thwart and risk getting lost, unlike the bungees.

 

[Pseudonym]

@Steve in Idaho and @Tsuga8, It’s worth looking into Voile straps. Originally designed for skis, they’re excellent for myriad uses, including paddles and poles. They stretch, which applies a synching tension effect on whatever your are strapping, holding it nicely in place. For a pole that is perpendicular to a thwart, it’s perfect and easily released.

 

[Steve in Idaho]

@Steve in Idaho and @Tsuga8, It’s worth looking into Voile straps. Originally designed for skis, they’re excellent for myriad uses, including paddles and poles. They stretch, which applies a synching tension effect on whatever your are strapping, holding it nicely in place. For a pole that is perpendicular to a thwart, it’s perfect and easily released.

View attachment 147778

I have a bunch of those. Love 'em for skis. I'm sold on my Velcro straps for the pole.

 

[Tsuga8]

Voile straps are now my go-to for attaching poles to my roofrack (or the inside of the canoe for longer trips) - love em.

But, I think they have the same problems at bungees for attaching a pole to a thwart - access is not as quick as I'd like, and then the strap is loose in the boat. If you get a pole stuck while navigating a rapid, you really want your spare asap, and without worrying about cramming a strap somewhere safe.

Additionally, to test the tool clips that Chip uses without making holes in a thwart, I mounted them on a bit of 1x2 with the plan of temporarily mounting the 1x2 to a thwart with a voile strap, but the holes in the strap didn't reach a small enough diameter, which I think would also be a problem for attaching a pole to a thwart with one.

I appreciate the thought though!

 

[Steve in Idaho]

Voile straps are now my go-to for attaching poles to my roofrack (or the inside of the canoe for longer trips) - love em.

But, I think they have the same problems at bungees for attaching a pole to a thwart - access is not as quick as I'd like, and then the strap is loose in the boat. If you get a pole stuck while navigating a rapid, you really want your spare asap, and without worrying about cramming a strap somewhere safe.

Additionally, to test the tool clips that Chip uses without making holes in a thwart, I mounted them on a bit of 1x2 with the plan of temporarily mounting the 1x2 to a thwart with a voile strap, but the holes in the strap didn't reach a small enough diameter, which I think would also be a problem for attaching a pole to a thwart with one.

I appreciate the thought though!

Yep.