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  1. tketcham

    Thoughts on Northstar Polaris or Northstar Boreas?

    Sure, at 31 lbs it's extremely lightweight, but spending $5,695 on a canoe might be a little TOO stealthy for my own good. If you know what I mean. ;) Interesting take on the Keewaydin 16. So you have a Polaris? If I order one I'll try it with the lower seat height and then if I think it's...
  2. tketcham

    Kayak paddle length for wider canoe

    That's an awfully broad statement with a narrow threshold between the two. Call it what you like but a double-blade paddle is a double-blade paddle regardless of length or blade shape. This thread has a lengthy discussion but no clear consensus. It's like trying to break out two broad categories...
  3. tketcham

    Thoughts on Northstar Polaris or Northstar Boreas?

    Our Odyssey can handle just about any load we put into it. Kitchen sink, 20 qt. cast iron Dutch oven, and a porcelain bathtub. Just kidding, but that makes for a big canoe for day trips. It's fast and seaworthy so it's great for big water conditions, but, it's not very maneuverable and gets...
  4. tketcham

    Thoughts on Northstar Polaris or Northstar Boreas?

    ABT, thank you for your impressions; very helpful. We're fairly lightweight paddlers so I think we'd be a good fit for the Polaris. The compromise you mention is kind of what I figured about the potential of the Polaris as a replacement for the Curtis Northstar. Having comparatively better...
  5. tketcham

    Thoughts on Northstar Polaris or Northstar Boreas?

    I did consider the Seliga but I'm wanting a replacement for the Odyssey that has similar characteristics but more maneuverable. Your suggestion, though, got me to rethinking about the Northstar Northwind 17. I won't be paddling the canoe solo so the benefit of the shouldered tumblehome on the...
  6. tketcham

    Thoughts on Northstar Polaris or Northstar Boreas?

    Combined weight is around 285 lbs so I think we're a good fit for the Polaris. We have to add weight when we paddle the Odyssey on a day trip.
  7. tketcham

    Thoughts on Northstar Polaris or Northstar Boreas?

    As with many aging canoeists, we're considering replacing one of our canoes with something lighter. We have a 18.5' Wenonah Odyssey and a 16' Curtis Northstar and it's tough deciding which to replace because they're both great canoes that complement each other well, and, there's not that much...
  8. tketcham

    Help me pick a tandem

    Good to know! Did the foam actually get damaged? That's what I wonder about.
  9. tketcham

    T-Satellite

    That's the number one reason I will continue to bring a Garmin inReach device. Plus, it's far more durable and reliable than my "smart" phone. I do like the satellite capability of my phone when I'm traveling through or car camping in areas without coverage.
  10. tketcham

    Mutating Ticks

    Moose in New England get infested with winter ticks (Dermacentor albipictus) and there can be so many (10's of thousands) that young or severely infested moose can die from it. Luckily these ticks don't go for humans. Winter ticks
  11. tketcham

    Help me pick a tandem

    Perhaps true but the foam core in my Firebird wraps up into the chine of the hull and a bad hit right at the margin of the foam might cause some tricky damage to repair. Just speculation on my part and I hope to keep it that way. 😄
  12. tketcham

    Help me pick a tandem

    I think those two factors plus cost are considered with each build but one or the other gets priority, at least that's what I consider when shopping for a canoe. And look at how many canoes with durable but heavy layups are sold, where weight wasn't the priority. I used to own a heavy-duty...
  13. tketcham

    So what exactly is everyone up to in their non-boating hours?

    Used to be road bicycling in the summer and skiing (alpine & Nordic) in the winter but I don't ride roads anymore and I'm only a half-hearted mountain bike rider. Fifteen years ago I moved away from some of the best Nordic skiing in North America and ended up 15 miles from a big alpine ski...
  14. tketcham

    Landing Pads Installed

    The Yakima Timberline towers ($240) and round bar adapters ($30) fit the rails on our Subaru Crosstrek and work well, even at interstate highway speeds. I hated having to give up on my old Yakima Q-clip towers, though, they were still in really good shape. At least I got my money's worth after...
  15. tketcham

    Landing Pads Installed

    I think car manufacturers should be the ones to come up with a better solution. Back when cars had roof gutters you could buy a roof rack and it would fit on just about all of the cars sold. But now that gutters are gone and roof rails dominate, Yakima and Thule have to accommodate all those...
  16. tketcham

    Landing Pads Installed

    I resemble that remark. 😆
  17. tketcham

    Burning plastic

    I used to have the attitude that a little bit of plastic burned in a campfire was a proverbial drop in the ocean but not anymore. Sure, if I'm the only one burning a little garbage the harm is minimal, but millions of people go camping every year so the effect isn't small. Now I pack out...
  18. tketcham

    Request for Insight on the Owyhee River, Oregon

    I don't use cloud accounts so maybe I can send you a direct message with an attached file. I'll try it...
  19. tketcham

    Request for Insight on the Owyhee River, Oregon

    Yup, and you're welcome. I actually find spreadsheets and charts to be fun. And let USGS know that their data is useful. This is something new that they're offering and they could use some encouragement to keep it going. I'm not familiar with the suggested run levels you provided (never ran the...
  20. tketcham

    "Loving Monsters" — a book review and short essay-rant

    A limited/permitted hunt of cougars (for meat) near residential areas might be somewhat effective in reducing attacks. Biggest problem is hunting IN residential areas. The overpopulation of deer is a related problem. Too many deer in and near residential areas but no good way to hunt them. I've...
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