Recent content by Chip

I have tripped with a CXLiy 074 Power Bank. It kept my phone charged on 10-day trips, when I was using the phone for mapping. On big rivers, navigation generally means following the water, so I didn’t use the phone a lot, mostly while looking for camp sites, not wanting to pass them. This power...

I used Thule xtrasports on my 2009, but later equipped it with a cap and rack. I sold the Xtraport racks. But, I frequently decapped the Taco to do truck stuff—hauling firewood, mulch, gravel, piles of bicycles, etc. Then, to my horror, I discovered I had no way to carry a boat! I bought...

I've put myself on the injured list due to hurting 'bows. The problem started two weeks ago. I put on the straps and took a couple short paddles during the past week and iced right after paddling, which helped, but my forearms are still very tender, so I've put myself on the IL and taken the...

Weldwood contact cement was often used to glue foam into boats. These days I see a number of spray-on contact cements are available. “Guest,” a former member here, has taken to laying a bead of E6000 glue around the edges of glued-down foam. I think it is to keep sand from getting under the...

Thanks for the replies. I bought the Mitchell book, which has good descriptions of the sections of interest to me. For the most part It stops short of describing specifically where campsites are. I have a map of Sproul SP, which doesn’t seem to actually touch the river. Rather, there are...

I paddled a bit of the West Branch in ‘25 and would like to go back for a multi-day trip. I’ve put it on my calendar for June 8. If I get inspired to go to the WPa Solo Canoe Rendezvous, I’ll already be in the neighborhood. I’m flexible on the date. In 25’, I made it to Frenchville before the...

This is an update to report the results of PIA abatements. 1. I got a new “type D” tractor seat from ZRE. I had several conversations with Chad at ZRE regarding the dimensions of the seat frame. I expected to receive the seat with separated mounting tubes and instructions for mounting the tubes...

Update: I just replaced the second cross bar on the Thule that rides on my van. This one also replaced due to rust blistering the plastic coating on the bars, making it difficult to attach Thule load stops. This was the front bar, which had not suffered the same gouging from gunwale hardware as...

The only reason I can think of for taking the Penobscot is for hauling gear. It sounds like you are planning a light load, so I’d pick the Reflection. IMO, the Reflection is more fun to paddle, lighter to portage, and faster. The Reflection I paddled was outfitted with 3 seats and I paddled it...

I thought about cutting a U in the back edge of the seat, or drilling a hole. But that might be destructive to the seat. Adding a pad with a U in seems worth a try. I first encountered my PIA problem on a multi-day trip last summer. My improvised solution was a 3x4 piece of carpet duck taped...

I see a seam going across right above the pockets. Might not be as much of a bump because it is a “T” intersection of seams rather than a “+” , but I think there must be at least a little bump at that three-seam junction.

I haven’t tried this. I have a seat cover around. I think it’s 20 or 30 years old and it looks brittle. I should put it on and see if it’s any good. I suppose new one’s are available. With padding has to irritate less than with the pant against the composite seat. Thanks for the suggestion.

I like the tractor seats in the two Wenonas I paddle. In combination with foot bars, I feel well locked-in on the tractor seats. But, a problem for me is I develop a sore at the top of my butt crack. I’m pretty sure my pants are the culprit. Two seams cross at right angles a few inches below...

Here is response emailed from RBW: Chip, Thank you for writing to us with your thoughts on the Medium Map Case and sorry for the delay responding. You are correct that the black portion of the map case on the top and bottom is larger than it needs to be. The design for the black nylon...

I am unfamiliar with most of the listed apps. One exception is Apple iOS Compass which in no way is a navigation app. Compass provides a compass displayed on the screen, elevation (to nearest ten feet), GPS coordinates, and current heading. There's no mapping or route planning. Inclusion of...