Recent content by Steve in Idaho

Good point. But part of me says, at the prices I'm seeing - dash it all and get to the next Canoecopia to choose a new boat.

@gumpus - am I understanding you correctly that the Magic is more maneuverable than the Merlin II?

Yeah. After spending only $250 on the Moccasin though, I'm waiting for a price drop. I've never paid more than $1200 on any used canoe...yet.

I feel like I'm being taunted by the Merlin II lately. There have been three or four of them for sale within a day's drive in the last several months. I wish I knew how it would compare with my Solitude or my Moccasin. Would be nice to know if it's worth the drive and would be a significant...

In case Clint doesn't get back to you - the only place I know to get closed cell foam in sizes like that is Sweet Composits. https://www.sweetcomposites.com/Minicel.html @Clint - I love that spare paddle holder!

I really miss my Prospector.

I have a funny story about that, which I thank you for bringing it to mind. Gives me a good chuckle to start the day. When I first moved in to this house, I was having an ongoing problem with the local fad of drive-by mailbox bashing. So I determined to build a bash-proof mailbox. I had this...

Unless you use thigh straps when kneeling. I don't think you can beat that for power transfer and control. @Black_Fly - I was planning to put a foot bar in the Moccasin this winter, but I think instead I'm going to save money and weight by just glueing in a couple of foam wedges for foot pegs...

I didn't miss that reference. One of my old favorites.

Well, I just finished project #1, which was installing a pellet stove. No more firewood cutting for me. But now, what do I do with my shop scraps and all the pinecones around the place? Just some minor little canoe related projects. In spite of what Wenonah says about it, I want to put a foot...

Hardly. These articles (including the linked article about sitting vs kneeling) always crack me up. Like someone already mentioned, it depends. And I think the hight and angle of the seat are more important considerations than bucket vs bench. And the bucket pretty much demands a foot brace for...

This is a problem when we lean on definitions of words instead of descriptions.

Winter footwear... While paddling, if I'm not in a drysuit, I'm wearing NRS Boundary Boots. I've been very happy in them for a lot of years now. If I'm in the drysuit, I usually wear the NRS ATB. I don't tend to get cold feet as long as I'm moving, so I usually wear the same hiking shoes I wear...

I also have the Hoks and the Koms. The Hoks have been described as a sliding snowshoe, but I think that's underestimating them a bit. I actually have two pairs, one of each length. I bought the shorter pair for my wife after getting the longer pair for myself, but I find the shorter Hoks nice...

That describes my career as well. I was fortunate to have a series of jobs with the same corporation that provided a lot of adventure. So while there are canoe trips I haven't done but intend to, I don't feel lacking in memories or stories. I came to canoeing late in life at about 47, and it's...