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Another good first hand account, thanks Steve. When I was working in the Everglades we had cases of hypo- and hyperthermia on the same day. It was a typical south FL summer day, very high heat index with the humidity. An intern, not used to the heat/humidity got hyperthermic, though not...

Again, always Interesting to hear first hand accounts. Water hunting dogs _should_ be fine in cold water. Retrievers get out to retrieve ducks in very cold weather. But a lot of people tend to assume all dogs are good at self-regulation. I don't assume that after seeing dogs do really dumb...

Very useful to hear first hand accounts of cold shock and the like. You can read up on the academic descriptions but it's still hard to imagine. I keep meaning to go jump in the lake during cold water season (near shore with PFD and a buddy standing by to aid rescue if needed), but haven't...

@Keeled Over just stumbled on this thread. Did you find an adequate solution in the end?

I have a couple pairs and likewise they only come out when it's REALLY cold or for sedentary activities (spectating winter sports, outdoor social gatherings). I did use them working under the porch once as well - active but laying on cold ground to work.

Thanks for sharing. I'd call it very relevant - anyone could slip along rocks on shore while scouting, even a single-blader. Good reminder that reasonable caution is always needed.

When hypothermia isn't a concern (walking the dog in the morning, as opposed to skiing, snowshoeing, or canoe tripping in the backcountry), I've been trying to move away from synthetics and towards natural materials due to both environmental and person health concerns around microplastics, PFAS...

I'll look forward to your review, Glenn - glad you were able to get out. Our forecast isn't looking ideal but I might get out this weekend, if I can beat the ice formation. One never knows anymore - we had enough thaw in Feb of 2024 for me to get out for a couple hrs one day.

Wind and ice also kept me off the water the last few days. I managed to get out Dec 17th, so I notched a paddle every month in 2024 except Jan. I guess if I can get out this month I'll have 12 consecutive months though not in the same calendar year.

@eckilson looks like you get out more than I do, poling and otherwise. Great video, looks like a great outing. You have me tempted to get a drysuit, but more so jealous that you have poling buddies to go with. If you're ever in western New England and want some company, I'm just over the...

Thanks!

I've been thinking more about trying a pedestal style seat. Did you make this one yourself? Are there many 'factory'-made on the market?

Further to Steve's bringing the yuloh into the discussion, I found this interesting webpage. https://www.diy-wood-boat.com/Sculling.html The gondola oars are also flat on one face of the blade and curved on the other. As with the yuloh oar, the flat side faces down with the return phase of...

I think that's the crux of the matter - simpler and more versatile. I started imagining a pole with ends finished like Greenland paddle to reduce flutter. Adding a fulcrum seemed like it would improve power efficiency....then both sculling oars and gondolas popped into my head. But, my...

@lowangle al I noted your post some weeks back about leaning, and it's been on my list of things to learn better for a while. Same for leaning during poling. As for 'why not a rudder' on a gondola, here's some wild conjecture - perhaps it's related to why solo canoes don't have rudders...

You know Steve, stern sculling oars did occur to me in pondering the possible application of stand-up rowing to a canoe. What are the comparative advantages, I wonder? I spent a bit of time reading about yuloh/stern sculling but didn't come across anyone directly comparing them to...

I've used this method to get over low beaver dams, albeit in a 35" wide Royalex tandem beater, not a 28" wide canoe worth $4-7k. Soloing a tandem from the bowseat backwards engenders bad trim, but it pops the front end up enough to get it rammed up onto a beaver dam, then a scramble over the...

If someone is learning to ride a motorcycle, and rides that motorcycle frequently for 10 months a year, but opts to drive to the grocery store in a car during a snowstorm because it's convenient in that moment, have they given up learning to ride? Has someone who's not comfortable on a bicycle...

Glenn I sense you're poking fun here but I think the joke lands a bit flat after so many have already said they prefer a single blade in many circumstances but elect to use the double to make miles. I'm in that group as well. If anything my double-blade technique wallows because I spend nearly...

No true Rx solos, but I soloed.an Rx Heron as my only canoe for about 6 yrs. I now have 3 Rx tandems in the stable, the Heron, a Penobscot 16, and now a Morningstar. The Penobscot is probably 50/50 on solo vs tandem use because of weight. The Heron sees use poling these days, and I got the...