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Fascinating article, thanks for sharing. I picked up this book at the Royal BC Museum in Victoria last summer. It has lots of detail on history and construction as well as pictures. Would recommend.

Not many outfitters around me are well stocked on canoe parts, but Kenco Outfitters in Kingston NY routinely comes through for thwarts, yokes, seats, and seat bolts. I just got a replacement thwart from them the other day. They currently stock Nova Craft, Slipstream, and Adirondack Canoe Co...

Exciting. I've never paddled or poled an Explorer but they seem to have a real cult following. Weight is a deterrent to me on the Rx Explorers but maybe there will be something similar in the ACC line up soon.

Very clever! I've started using forked sticks or my double-blade when I have it, to assist with bear/varmint hangs. This takes it to the next level and isn't predicated on finding a good stick.

Thanks for the ice outing report, Al - very cool. Glad you could recover that shoe. Great discussion here. Mostly happy to read and learn. I've gotten bronze and steel shoes and aluminum poles in the last year, graduating up from carved spruce out of the woods. I do feel like using both...

@stripperguy how are the blocks that the seat bolts to secured to the hull? Seems like a good set-up for a break-away seat in case of entrapment in whitewater.

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...