Recent content by Steve in Idaho

Holy Cow Canoes have been made with three keels like that. I think they're still in business. Only place I've seen them for sale new is Ebay.

Looks good from where I'm sitting. :)

Yes, thanks @GladMax for posting your repair process. I'm about to do one very similar (on more of a beater), and this helps me feel better about it. On texture... One of the things I like about my kevlar tandems is that the weave on the inside has not been filled in, so my feet don't slip easy...

My understanding is that the budget cuts weren't yet in effect. Also, the weather service is on record saying that they were not under staffed.

@PaddlingPika - your reasoning is part of why inflatable SUPs have become so popular. Pretty good idea, IMO - but I'm not quite there yet.

OTOH, I could easily put together a trip with all easy class 2 river stretches a shuttle options - but that takes a lot more planning, and possibly a strict schedule. In that case, I would take something like the Wildfire.

That's a tough one. I guess it would depend on how much I was planning to do in places I'm familiar with. The last time I took a trip like that which included places I wasn't familiar with, I took the Mohawk Solo 14. I thought I might find myself on some bony river. But as it turned out, I would...

I remember my first experience with the MR Outrage, and noticing that it would turn by just thinking about it. :D The Guide isn't that turny, but when we discuss where and when to turn, it never argues, and complies enthusiastically. Wildfire says, "Turn? Sure, why not?"

Is there no option of getting that layup without gelcoat? Maybe with glass outer layer? This is what attracts me to Clipper canoes. That's the layup of my Solitude, and it seems pretty robust. A lot of fine surface scratches, but no other damage. It's probably overkill for the usual...

Yep, that's the one. I started doing that way back when I was paddling a Prospector 16 solo with an ottertail. You can get that blade way under the boat - and what a difference that makes!

@ABT I can relate. I spent a lot of time in my Guide, and if it wasn't for the weight I would have never given it up. It's a shame that MR doesn't produce it still in a robust kevlar layup. I wonder if the mold even still exists. Based on my version of your search with the same parameters, I...

^It's good instruction. I do that deep C stroke starting out or starting an onside turn all the time. Didn't know it had a name other than C stroke. It's definitely not for the limber-challenged. (Which I resembled early on)

If I was reasonably confident that I could eventually sell it without taking much of a loss, I would consider buying it for that very reason. Maybe I'd hate it. Maybe I'd be surprised how much I like it. I never thought I'd like a bucket seat until I spent some time on one. The only bubble sided...

@yknpdlr …. Why do those rules require a double? That would seem to imply that a single is some kind of advantage.

I don't think you have to worry much about sketchy portages. I've banged on rocks and trees during carries with my kevlar canoes, and never got more than scratches. Yeah, scratches ain't pretty, but they don't really matter unless it's a boat I want to sell. But I think there can be a...