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A knot that size definitely will not affect performance. Possibly only became visible as material removed during construction. No point in filling it, especially on an oiled blade, epoxy would eventually fail. Good bait for the crowd here to discuss but really a question for the maker. What...

Just finished this: Several stories interwoven within the book. The body of a canoeist is found with the contact information of a journalist in his belongings. The journalist then pieces together the life and possible last days of the gregarious "homeless" traveler.

There are some of those folk out here too. Just picked up a Curtis Vagabond for $200 Canadian and a 45 min. drive. Hull in great condition but woodwork is shot. They were happy to be reassured that it was going to a good home. Opposite experience to a friend who sold a 17.5 Sawyer to someone...

I have experience with Wanapitei too. Many visits over the years through friendships with staff. Delivered and picked up trippers across Ontario and Quebec. A generally great bunch of confident, creative and enthusiastic folk. Most if not all trips are co-ed. Friends have kids just back from 10...

I used West System 406 colloidal silica...but referred to it as cabosil - anyone know the difference if any? Curious to know the filler used to get the colour in these edge protectors. Ranger X looks like serious overkill. There does seem to be a market for anything carbon. How about a dynel...

I used a mix of West system 105 and G-flex, and cabosil to thicken on one Sugar Island paddle 3/16" past paddle edge, built up another tip with a higher proportion of g-flex in the mix and greater volume on a modified otter tail, polyester cord and g-flex on another Sugar Island, another solid...

Agreed power planer can be very effective...but can quickly get past your mark too. I have a Porter-Cable 2 1/2"x14 compact sander that fits in one hand very well and is great for refining blade shape and thickness. Tear out can often be tamed by skewing the hand plane - approaching with body...

If it is still available certainly no risk in purchasing it. Does seem like a good deal, which is not a bad reason to buy a better boat. Seems though, if you are mostly paddling solo (with dog) are you looking at the right boat? How loaded do you travel, for how long, what conditions? At 17'6"...

I have read somewhere (here?) that folk use vacuum preserving bags cut to desired length. Avoiding the minimum purchase of 1500' from places like uline. I have not compared pricing though.

Specs for width seem to range a bit. Guide/Courier/Freedom. Has seat and thwarts been changed that you can tell? Discussions I have seen indicate that Royalex boats are pretty tolerant. PBlanc and others participated in good conversation about changing thwart length on paddling.com. As much as...

Don't despair - I am sure they are in full on production mode. Maker and business person roles sometimes do not come together at the same time. A phone call might work. I had good, thoughtful responses from them when I was looking into boats. Still looking to put a Caribou S into the water one...

I have been debating outfitting and seat choices for my recently acquired Blue Hole Sunburst II. Right now has a foam saddle that I actually find pretty comfortable but intention is to use the canoe for downriver tripping much like the OP's SRT rather than much technical whitewater playing so...

Another lower tech method is to use a guide block (made with durable material) with a hole the size of your bit, a shoulder on it can keep it centred and aligned with the drop stock. Drilling the guide block easiest done on someone's drill press but patience, another person or a mirror, even...

Still playing with shapes and woods. Butternut paddle on left in photo is 55” 508g or 18 oz., my wife paddled with it in the bow for 15 years, I borrowed it to solo with until last year when I broke it on a heavy solo stroke in a new canoe. Yet to see how effective the repair is – need to finish...

Seriously? A Royalex Freedom Solo offered up for $1250, 20 minutes from my house...but did not check the kijiji update until tonight...already gone. Wouldn't surprise me if it was the one I missed in Brockville for $800 last Fall.

Thanks for that - offer and reassurance that it does not have to happen now. Also, I appreciate your contributions to this site, some real inspiration and wise counsel.

So far looks like I might have the triple threat challenge, find a used boat that few are willing to part with, loft a design from it, build a strip boat and then use the strip boat as a plug for a composite version...wait, that is a quadruple threat challenge...and then there is COVID, the...

This makes sense - just hoping with the enthusiasm for these boats and observations that a well paddled composite boat could go most anywhere that perhaps someone had tried. Most/all boats for strip build as you discuss are leaning to more efficient shapes and calmer waters. Inspired by a few...

Posted in another thread - a good one that led me to the question about designs out there for Mad River Courier/Guide/Freedom solo build. Quick search does not reveal anything, will keep looking as this design appeals to me to try to build one of these days...but certainly easier if anyone...

Guide/Courier/Freedom - a quick search with no results, anyone know of published plans for this boat? Would seem to be a great design to build as none manufactured by anyone these days...or is there someone...Hemlock SRT, Nova Craft Supernova, Clipper Caribou S similar intentions but quite...