Recent content by lowangle al

I had smaller ones but they didn't seem to have any advantages over a Nalgene bottle so I stopped using them. I never thought about the micro plastic issue but I did let the water cool before filling.

Welcome, and thanks for posting some photos. I like the lines of that red "Buffalo" boat. It looks like it's loaded to the gills. Is it yours?

Being WW capable, doesn't make it a WW playboat like a Caption. But I think the 15 inch depth and high chines would make it capable of even C3.

I guess that when I started tripping I probably used a Nalgene water bottles to carry water, then I switched to empty Gatorade bottles. They worked fine, but in the late 90s I started using a gallon canteen. When I first moved to Ak. I went on a little gold prospecting trip with a friend and a...

From what I have read, one of the camps using w/c boats, uses them to teach respect. First you need to respect your canoe, then respect for other things will follow. Also, the tripping style needed for w/c boats on moving water is a safer more thoughtful one. Going to one of those camps must be...

I think shaft diameter has more to do with strength and weight than comfort. If you want a wood paddle with a thicker shaft you'll want to use a light softwood to keep the weight down. I always thought I preferred a narrow shaft, but if the weight is right I like a wide shaft too. I also...

In the OP it states that this could be useful info for someone new to the sport. That's why I would recommend a symmetrical, stable, dry boat at least 16 feet long. A shorter boat might be easier to handle at first but with some instruction a longer boat should be a better choice in the long run.

I have cheaper ones that I got at Costco, where thy come at least three per pack. I take at least two on a trip plus a small hand held flashlight that has a very bright beam. Sometimes I'll take three, because I'm never sure which ones have good batteries. I can hang one from a D ring in the...

I hear ya on the pain thing, I couldn't even turn a door knob before I took those pills a few weeks ago. The key to minimizing pain is not to bend it. I don't think you need that finger to hold a paddle, even though it is the dominant finger on your dominant hand. You may want to think about...

The Tripper would also be my list, but it's too bad they weren't made in a lighter sleeker composite. I don't think you can go wrong with a Prospector or Northstar Seliga either. I like a symmetrical large volume hull, deep enough and with enough flare to keep you dry. There are faster hulls...

As we all know there are differences of opinions on tripping styles. I would never recommend a centralized seat because of all the correction required and the lack of forward power you can generate, compared to the bow seat backwards position. Also for seat height, I'd recommend 11" as a...

Why not consider the Seliga? Although a little shorter it has about the same water line and stem hight as the Boreas so should paddle almost as well. It lacks the tumblehome of the Boreas but probably has better secondary stability. I think that 32 inch beam of the Boreas would make loading and...

I have problems with trigger thumbs. I had the left one operated on a few years ago, and was scheduled to have my right one done last week but had to cancel. The right thumb had been swollen, sore and immobile (locked up) since early summer and I was looking forward to the surgery. Mid December...

I think the Kom or Rossi BC125 are good choices for back country soft snow, but they lack the torsional rigidity for skiing the hardback at the resort. The Voile's are a full on Alpine ski that will hold an edge on hard snow. My wife and I mostly ski the Voile Vectors. They are more directional...

I've noticed that the bottom of my Seliga, under where the foam core is, gets permanent dents where I've hit or slid over pointier rocks or sticks. I've always assumed the foam core is there for stiffening, and I'm sure it does that, but I also think it adds strength that could limit damage in a...