Recent content by MrPoling

Not addressing your original question, but the biggest problem I had with my cart was the axle nuts coming loose. They were just simple machine nuts with no locking mechanism. I use threadlock on them because I don't disassemble the cart. But if I was gonna disassemble the cart, I'd use...

I have the same cart, and use it frequently. I put the cart between the yoke and rear thwart on tandem canoes. For long or rough portages at least the shortest straps need to be separate for each side. This prevents sliding side to side. I can't tell for sure from your picture, are there...

Paddle boards, most sit-on-tops, and many kayaks are safer for beginners because they have more flotation. You can get back on, even if that means laying down on a mostly flooded kayak and paddling it like a surfboard. It also helps many rec boats are short, slow, and wet. It makes it easier...

I think swimming is important. It's good for the upper body. Plus itt's good know your limitations.

I really like the sound of a 45lb no-foam, carbon kevlar layup. I have two composites without foam, a Yellowstone Solo in Blackgold, and a fiber glass Mad River Explorer. I use these most of the time. They are stiff and durable. I don't worry when I paddle them. I have a canoe and a small...

Better: Carbon Kevlar - tough, stiff, and light. For perspective, when I first paddled good fiberglass canoes were in production but rare. Good plastic kayaks - my creek boat is light enough to carry on my shoulder, tough enough to seal launch off granite rocks, and doesn't need to be any...

Yes, the Explorer. The section shown is shallow and great for poling the Explorer. I normally take it for the deeper sections and large beaver ponds near falls lake. I only get the Appalachian out for the whitewater sections.

My default canoe is a fiberglass Mad River Explorer. I've been watching for a lighter replacement. The Polaris is on my shortlist. I pole frequently. While the FG Explorer isn't any narrower, it has a shallow v bottom. The Polaris has a rounded bottom. Does anyone know how it poles?

Yes, the Eno is mostly wooded. Eno River State Park stretches most of the way from Hillsborough to Durham. This is the best paddling and includes a class 2-3 gorge. This section is forested except for expensive and well kept homes. The bank is frequently rocky and covered in laurel. It...

It has been unusually cold here in the Carolinas. There has been lots of ice. We even had several weeks where the temperature rarely exceeded freezing. I tried poling in early January, but it was too cold. Ice formed on the pole, dry bag, inside, and outside of the canoe. It was a mess...

The AI accounts can be used by hackers. They gain your confidence by being part of the group. I think this is less useful here because there's not a lot of money changing hands. But high end boats do sell for enough that it would be worth scamming somebody. To other use is to establish...

My daughter woke me early this morning to go look for beaver. We paddled up a misty Sevenmile creek. We didn't see any beaver. There were several large trees down from the storm, including this large pair which took the stairs with them into the river. We also found part of a floor pan...

Glad you are healing. I trail run. A few decades ago I got a stick in the eye. It knocked me down but fortunately left only a black eye. Now i wear either sunglasses or safety glasses. My daughter is running cross country now, I got her prescription safety glasses. I think safety glasses...

Nice find, it looks like it is good shape. I had an OCA. I don't know if it was factory, but it had oak trim. It might have had oak gunwales. It was a fun and seaworthy, but heavy.

Hey on283, welcome to the forum. I've not seen many factory boats that were fiberglass and carbon. My impression is both are very stiff. I have a fiberglass.Mad River Explore. It is wonderfully stiff, and doesn't even need foam reinforcement. Kevlar, on the other hand, is normally...