Recent content by Steve in Idaho

Interesting. It looks like on that one the stringers are actually.....string. 🤔

Good idea. I see those two for sale more often than most other composite canoes. Don't know if that's good or bad, but it shouldn't be much waiting or expense to try one out. They look good to me.

That's me. It helps that most of my canoes have been bought used, with pre-existing scratches and dings - even cracks or worse. So far, at least, my repairs haven't added significant weight. I only have one canoe that is so pretty I baby it ......a little. I'm a man, so I'm always shopping for...

So I wonder....who is more likely to take an interest in solo canoes? A young single twenty-something, a mid-lifer with teens, or an empty nester? Or is it completely random?

There's a thought. Imagine....T-formex Lite (formerly Dagger) Esquif Sojourn.

I wish OT would just sell the mold to Esquif. The Next in T-formex could be great.

I think one of the smartest things I've seen is the replaceable sacrificial plastic skids on the original OT Loon series. It seems to me that it wouldn't be too difficult or expensive to include the same on a heavy plastic canoe. I'm not one to promote the habit of dragging canoes on their...

Looks like that'll do.

Idunno. I always thought of my MR Guide as a 14' mini Prospector. That boat has been described by beginners as unsafe and uncontrollable. And I doubt if many beginners would be happy in a Wildfire. Cost... I think so. Weight? Probably not - but we'd be talking about mostly young people, right...

Interesting. Still no Swift dealer out my way. 🙁

Yeah, because the wind isn't always aligned with the waves, what I have been doing is quartering slightly toward my onside and paddling hard with a little sweep when needed. Like I mentioned already, it forces me into a sprint. Not necessarily a bad thing, but not always ideal - especially after...

Come to think of it, paddling the Malecite in a tailwind with significant waves and doing it with the boat facing both directions should be quite educational. Gonna have to wait though. I'm BWCA bound in a week.

That's a consideration. I've been thinking of taking the Malecite out for a solo spin. It's been years since I did so. Its "backwards" rocker profile might muddy the picture, but maybe I'll learn something new. OTOH, my inland sailing experience tells me if I go out looking for wind, I'll...

Scroll down to figure 10.1.3, and view the animation. This is what I imagine I'm feeling. https://rwu.pressbooks.pub/webboceanography/chapter/10-1-wave-basics/ There is movement in both directions, plus up and down. Under (correction - on) six miles of fetch, it's an interesting ride.

Are you implying that the Wildfire is noticeably sportier than the Phoenix?