Recent content by Dale

Had the birds out for spring maintenance today and they posed for this picture. The Raven looks huge next to the Osprey, which is not a small boat. Anyone else fans of the Winter’s solos?

And here’s the total setup for loading a 60 # Raven alone - a solid steel bar with one end inside the Thule bar and the other inside a hollow aluminum extension, all gorilla taped together and supported by a 1” hardwood dowel. Not pretty but it works and is much cheaper than similar...

My usual setup is either one side tied off a ridge line with the other side staked to the ground or some variation of an a-frame. No poles (I sometimes use a paddle as a prop) but I carry lots of line and can usually make do with whatever trees are available. I keep it simple with knots and...

2014 Honda Fit for me; not much of an off-roader but tons of room inside with the rear seats down. With a stiff breeze it’s like piloting a flying squirrel.

I put something similar together and, unlike most of my initial efforts at something like this, it works like a charm. Thanks for the inspiration Michael!

A Raven was recently listed on Kijiji in Markdale, Ontario

Always 2 with me as well, both Grey Owls: an ash beavertail for deep/flat water and a laminated voyageur for shallow/moving water. Both are over 20 years old and the voyageur has been epoxied several times.

Recently listed on Kijiji in Ottawa area - looks to be in decent shape, leather X straps and tump, Listing ID # 1682473119

Beautiful paddle and 👍 on the bean boots/hunting shoes

2005 vintage Swift Osprey in the EK layup for me. This boat does a lot of things well but, as many others have mentioned, it has a tendency to broach in a tailwind/following sea. It’s seaworthy and the layup is very durable - more than once I’ve thought $@&?/ now it’s wrecked, only to discover...

After years of experimenting with clothes in a stuff sack and slippery mini pillows, I tried an LL Bean camp pillow and haven’t looked back. It’s bulky but fits in my sl bag stuff sack. Can’t recall how old it is (it’s old) but it has flannel on both sides - the current offering has flannel on...

Cry Wolf by Harold Johnson and The Tiger by John Vaillant are a couple that I have recently read and recommend.

Yep, not prime canoe country here - our rivers are short and low gradient and lakes are hard to come by. My casual day paddling I do here; my tripping in SW Nova Scotia, which is where I found the Raven.

I’ve not paddled a SuperNova; haven’t even paddled the Raven yet as I am currently enjoying a slow recovery from 2 broken ribs ☹️. The side view picture is overly flattering due to the light conditions. I’m a long time Osprey paddler and wanted something more durable for moving water. I...

Here she is after the thwarts and seat were redone, the bow deck plate was replaced and the int/ext cleaned with Mothers VLR. It’s faded a bit from outside storage but otherwise appears to be in good shape. Knee pads, etc in progress. Serial # indicates a 2013 build.