Recent content by Steve in Idaho

Read a story years ago about a guy who used goats to carry his backpacking load. He said they demanded to come in the tent when it rained. Also said they were useful if he ran out of food. Might have been some element of revenge in that.

I just expect those cane seats to rip the first time out when I get an aged canoe, and I'm not disappointed. On several of them, I cut the cane away, gave the frame a couple coats of spar varnish, and did a Belgian chair weave with dacron cord. On the Moccasin, I just took it as an excuse to buy...

Revisiting this thread since it was revived. This seems to be the pattern. Here in Idaho, one of our more famous (or notorious) individuals got into some legal trouble after shooting a wolf that was after his dog. The dog was, of course, running for its life - back to its master. Claim was...

Good points worth repeating. I only use mine locally for related reasons. And in the US, it's also only legal if you're wearing it. Thanks for contributing that.

It's nice on a hot day when odds of swimming are low but consequences are high. The thing is, how does one know it's going to work as needed unless you test it? Then you have to re-arm it. Besides that, I also blow it up manually to inspect before using. It's not something I use a lot, for...

That makes sense. The SUP users around my area are diverse. There's the river boarders who all tend to wear PFD and no leash (once they get clued in), there's the flat water fitness paddlers who wear leash and no PFD. Neither of those groups are the target as far as I can tell. It's the SUP...

I don't think it's an Android thing yet. I will be leaving my phone behind.

When I'm standing in the canoe, the PFD is mostly important for the padding. ;)

I carved (cut on the bandsaw, actually) my last set of U shaped kneeling pads from minicell yoga blocks.

I don't think we have to read between the lines to guess this is aimed at SUP paddlers and river tubers. It's rare to see any of them wearing any kind of flotation. I don't expect this to change anything for the vast majority. They'll still buy a cheapo level 70 and bungie it to the deck or sit...

I'm thinking the blocks aren't original. How are they fastened? I would give them some Watco Teak Oil if they're going to stay. The spider cracks are of no consequence.

Well, @mdkelley , I think that was a wise purchase. The Indy was on my short list last time I was shopping. I would have been all over that. And shopping for used solo canoes is less about the target than the opportunity, but you did good on both counts.

LOL. I have actually done it - just the pole sliding part. And just for about five feet. It saves the knees. Only threw in one end of the canoe.

Can't be overstated. Also the fatter tires. I picked up a used, like new Specialized Fuse Fattie a couple years ago for way less than half the price of new. 3" knobbies. The current crop of wide and supple tire carcasses have low rolling resistance, and can be run comfortably at much lower...

We tend to overthink the skid plates, IMO - especially when it comes to royalex canoes. Thankfully those in the know have abandoned the kevlar felt (unfortunately, not some makers and shops). The current favorite is dynel, but I have done several with one layer of whatever fiberglass scrap I...