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Is that not the definition of a ruddered kayak? A properly accomplished forward power stroke, with prehaps a litle pitch or C thrown in (no need for a maximal "J" or other control mode) will maximize the forward stroke efficiency of the canoe without the need to frequently switch sides for...

Get a canoe that naturally performs in the way you want, or just go get a d...mn kayak with a double paddle and rudder if you can't control your craft on the water. I take pride and enjoyment in the ability to single blade single side paddle, rarely switching sides only for muscle relief, not...

We have a similar problem in the Adirondacks. Everyone wants to enjoy their own sport, especially the lazy redneck motorized kind. Lobbyists for 4 wheelers in summer, snowmobiles in winter. The claim, especially in the more isolated rural towns is that they are practically the sole support the...

It never gets any better from the old traditional BSA. I have been a permanent instructor for the annual BSA National Camping school for 30 years, Adirondack Division. We trained High Adventure trek leader guides (the "Voyageur" program as we called it). It is an annual 8-day training program...

I have recently acquired a used composite carbon hull Savage River Saranac C4 canoe outfitted for racing. It had obviously been stored outdoors for a time, as it had a white chalky oxidation on the exterior. I buffed and polished it with a quality buffing compound and restored the original...

In my experience, the only time I might enjoye a rudder with my Blackwater is when paddling downwind in a brisk wind. Like most of my canoes, it wants to weathercock into the wind, regardless of my seat postion trim, but I have always been very lightly loaded when that has happened. In a...

I have a 15.8 Cruiser and a 17' Blackwater. Comparison with a Placidboat Rapidffire and a PB Shadow on a no wind course with a GPS, there is little practical diference in sustained speed between all of them, but I feel the Blackwater squeeks it out by a tiny amount, maybe .2mph. The BW is...

Growing up in rural clear sky northern NYState, I was always amazed at how dark our sky was. So much so that I inteded to study astronomy and get a degree in astrophysics. That led me to work for the Air Force Research Laboratory which got me into the heart of advanced research at a number of...

Every day I like my Blackwater more and more. Lately at camp, weather permitting, I have been going out to race train as much as 3 times a day to put on 4-5 miles each around the perimeter of my smallish lake. The lake is perfectly oriented with the prevailing wind, so at times, I haven't gone...

Or what we know in North America as a Moose, the same animal in Europe is called an Elk. Names for completely different species in the Western hemisphere.

Bill, with that workout you shoule be ready to take on the "Cannonball 90" next.

This has long been the bane, especially of heavier canoes during the Adirondack 90 mile race. The ancestor of the suspenz type cart was called the 'Canadian Walker', with somewhat larger bicycle type wheels and no straight through axle to catch on high obstacles. I have three of them. When...

those old Sears Roebuck catalog glossy pages were rather waterproof. :cautious:

In the early 1980s, I wanted to make the trip from my home, not far west of the Blue Line, on a NE diagonal route across the Adirondacks to my daughter's then home, beyond Plattsburgh across a northern bay of Lake Champlain to near the ferry launch. I knew I would have many miles of carries, so...

Thank you. There are lots of those there.

Everyone has a first time in the 90. Many folks are in it only for the experience of it without regard to competition. With up to 275 paddle boats of all kinds in the race, not everyone is a racer. There is an optional non-racing class for those who feel intimidated by those who choose to be...

That is one of my most preferred methods of getting into a solo canoe, works in a tandem too. Especiallly useful in shallow water that I can stand in with a skinny canoe. I learned the hard way when doing that a beaver dam. Be careful not to lean over too far backwards. Ask me how I know. I...

Lumbar back issues have prevented me from joining some of the smaller Adirondack regional races this season. After an RF ablation procedure, Healing (and heeling) is now making good progress while in solo canoe training, so I am working on refurbishing a used Savage River Saranac C4 I have...

Why?

Oh, not really, these are people in my private lake association, and they knew me well as a board member and committee chair of the "lake management and protection committee". I am the canoe paddler training daily on the lake full of local lot owner kayakers. I have made announcements of free...