Recent content by samb

You could visit the cathedral......oh, you don't mean Ely UK!

The young canoe builder is still going strong. http://www.birchbarkcanoe.net/builder.htm I have had the pleasure of paddling two of his canoes here in the UK. He is not happy about the portrayal of him in the book and says he is writing a report of the same expedition to put his own side

Looks like he's finding it tough. I hope the pay is extra for that sort of work 🤭

Wenonah Aurora. Not the best for moving water, but the only plastic boat I have. I bought it 16 years ago ex outdoor centre. It has the floppiest bottom I have ever seen on a canoe and now has two wooden ribs in to stiffen it. With the demise of royalex I reckon I could still get 75% of what I...

I'm just back from a week in France. First stop was the River Drome for the French Canoe festival which is the biggest in Europe. The river is always an amazing colour and full of rapids drops and amazing scenery. Then we headed for the River Allier. In France, on regularly paddled rivers...

I fixed a damaged one up for Andy O. It had been squashed so many cracks and flaking gel coat. I can't remember what resin I used whether polyester or vinylester. I scraped out the cracks to V shapes, got rid of all the flaking and filled. Then it was sand down and repolish. I'll see if I can...

I'd also note that in event of a capsize, it's far easier to roll a kayak (if the water is deep enough)..... But canoes are still better. Sam

To put a rib in, I machine and sand the rib. Next I steam it, bend the first corner then force the end up under the gunnels and then continue the bend, forcing the rib into the chines and pushing hard to round the bottom, then clamping it. I let it cool for a couple of hours so the rib is...

My sons disco has a similar hog problem. Solved for the time with am ash rib forced in and wedged up under the gunnels. Before that solution we tried all sorts of weight and heat combinations but as soon as the sun shone, the hogging came back. To be honest, on flat water I think it's an...

I aware of your paddle making and paddling: both are way beyond my level! When I make things, I get comments like 'oh it's too good to use' etc. This drives me mad. I make furniture to use, I make paddles to use; in fact I can't think of very few things I've ever made which were not intended...

I really can't understand how you could NOT go out and use a paddle like that, even only once. Sam

That one's had a tough life......long may it continue!

The best canoe when you're out on the water is the one you're paddling

Good Luck. The WCPP trip I did last September was originally booked for 2020. Hope it all works out for you as it did for me. Regarding hurting yourself: I went over on my ankle 10 days before we left the UK. I spent those days on the settee with my foot raised unless I had to be on my feet...

Maps are good. I had my WCPP topo maps about four months before I left the UK for Canada. I had lots of imagining to! Sam