Hello fellow dawn treaders...
I find myself in the unique position of being free as a bird, with no responsibilities, and a major case of wanderlust. About 9 days from now I push off for a life long voyage into the unknown.
The first leg will be a gear testing, and canoe designing, 8 month wander down the Rideau Canal to Ottawa, then up the Ottawa all the way to Temiskaming Shores, back down and across the Mattawa and French rivers to Georgian Bay then al the way around to Kingston, Ontario, where my youngest sails a 49'er and goes to University.
Based on the experience gained, build the right boat over the winter, and push off spring of 2016 to circumnavigate North and South America. Not necessarily all ocean, definitely going to use the intercoastal, and maybe the Colorado,etc. No schedule planned, and assuming lots of audibles and plan changes along the way. Plan on hitch hiking and hitch sailing some parts. (I am a very competent sailor). Have already testing hitch hiking with a canoe and packs and it worked fine.
Some background.
- I am a mathematician developing a Unified Field Theory, and looking forward to lots of time and solitude to do the work.
- I camped for 7 months straight lady year, so I know a bit about what is involved. I also canoed every day, including going across half paddling, half hauling my beater canoe across the half frozen ice during freeze up. Slept in my canoe many nights, very comfortably.
- In the stupidest move of my life, went through a Muskrat hole in what was otherwise three feet of ice this spring, somehow got out, didn't realize I had hypothermia, and didn't bother to go to the hospital till 24 hours later. If you ever read that hypothermia affects your ability to think rationally, it is true. Can't remember anything but a few snatches for the fist 18 hours after going through. Don't try this at home, Professional stupidity required.
- Spent a month this winter living outside, so that doesn't scare me.
- Owned a factory that made custom upholstered ergonomic chairs and furniture for 20 years, and I was the kind of owner that worked on the floor every week, so building a boat and paddles is right in my wheelhouse. Designed all my own machines from scratch.
- went to Art School part time for two years to learn how to draw and draft to do the math. Can draw Really well.
So, questions.
1. Can anyone point me towards online canoe design resources, or existing canoes that I should be on the lookout for, to base my lines off of? I plan on drawing the plans all the way through the next 8 months, and am hoping to bump into lots of other trippers to talk canoe and paddle design, try their gear, etc.
2. My current thought is to build a skin boat, using Cuben Fiber or Canvas, over a wood frame. Eventually, I would like to go all out and go with Birch Bark, but baby steps first. Any comments or advice on that would be appreciated.
That's about it. Hope you all have a great season if we don't get to 'meet' before I go. Will drop in from time to time with updates when I can barter for some computer time.
Feanor
I find myself in the unique position of being free as a bird, with no responsibilities, and a major case of wanderlust. About 9 days from now I push off for a life long voyage into the unknown.
The first leg will be a gear testing, and canoe designing, 8 month wander down the Rideau Canal to Ottawa, then up the Ottawa all the way to Temiskaming Shores, back down and across the Mattawa and French rivers to Georgian Bay then al the way around to Kingston, Ontario, where my youngest sails a 49'er and goes to University.
Based on the experience gained, build the right boat over the winter, and push off spring of 2016 to circumnavigate North and South America. Not necessarily all ocean, definitely going to use the intercoastal, and maybe the Colorado,etc. No schedule planned, and assuming lots of audibles and plan changes along the way. Plan on hitch hiking and hitch sailing some parts. (I am a very competent sailor). Have already testing hitch hiking with a canoe and packs and it worked fine.
Some background.
- I am a mathematician developing a Unified Field Theory, and looking forward to lots of time and solitude to do the work.
- I camped for 7 months straight lady year, so I know a bit about what is involved. I also canoed every day, including going across half paddling, half hauling my beater canoe across the half frozen ice during freeze up. Slept in my canoe many nights, very comfortably.
- In the stupidest move of my life, went through a Muskrat hole in what was otherwise three feet of ice this spring, somehow got out, didn't realize I had hypothermia, and didn't bother to go to the hospital till 24 hours later. If you ever read that hypothermia affects your ability to think rationally, it is true. Can't remember anything but a few snatches for the fist 18 hours after going through. Don't try this at home, Professional stupidity required.
- Spent a month this winter living outside, so that doesn't scare me.
- Owned a factory that made custom upholstered ergonomic chairs and furniture for 20 years, and I was the kind of owner that worked on the floor every week, so building a boat and paddles is right in my wheelhouse. Designed all my own machines from scratch.
- went to Art School part time for two years to learn how to draw and draft to do the math. Can draw Really well.
So, questions.
1. Can anyone point me towards online canoe design resources, or existing canoes that I should be on the lookout for, to base my lines off of? I plan on drawing the plans all the way through the next 8 months, and am hoping to bump into lots of other trippers to talk canoe and paddle design, try their gear, etc.
2. My current thought is to build a skin boat, using Cuben Fiber or Canvas, over a wood frame. Eventually, I would like to go all out and go with Birch Bark, but baby steps first. Any comments or advice on that would be appreciated.
That's about it. Hope you all have a great season if we don't get to 'meet' before I go. Will drop in from time to time with updates when I can barter for some computer time.
Feanor