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It's good to know about Dyneema floating, but it's expensive and overkill for bow and stern lines. You can get polypro dirt cheap. Another guy mentions nylon. Great stuff, for some applications, like tying down the bow and stern while car topping, but it doesn't float very well, so not as...

There is a stretch of river that I've been doing almost every year for the last several years. Every year it is different. I mean, like it's a whole different river. There are numerous riffles with some being close to what you might call a rapid. I would. Where the biggest riffles are and how...

Poly pro is the material of choice. I get it at Lowe's or Home Depot for pretty cheap. Get it thick enough so it doesn't dig into your hand, if you have to drag the boat, but thin enough so it's easy to tie. I like a nice bright color that's easy to see.

Generally speaking, all canoes should turn away from the lean. It's been a while since I had my Wenonah Encounter but my North Wind solo doesn't exactly turn on a dime. If I have to make a big turn I generally use a combination of rudders and sweeps with maybe a bow or cross bow draw thrown in...

This sounds like a boat I'd really like, but I already have a North Wind solo so I'm not sure it would be worth it to buy another boat. I guess I could sell the North Wind. Do you guys know if it's available in IXP? I had a Wenonah Encounter, so this boat doesn't sound all that huge to me. I...

I have a Werner Bandit. On a canoe trip, about three years ago, I tried using it in the stern and didn't like it and haven't used it since, but I've seen others use one, in the stern, and seem to like it a lot. I'm wondering if I'm must not using it right. Any tips on using a spoon blade, like...

There's a site about marathon canoe racing that has a good video on paddling a solo racing canoe. Don't have a link right this moment. He was going to do a follow up video but, last time I looked, it hasn't happened. One take away I got from it is he preferred doing course corrections with bow...

In either case, I bolt or rivet padeyes, I don't just pass the rope through the gunnel or hull. If through the hull, I put a small bead of silicone sealant around the bolt or rivet, just to be sure, if through the gunnel, I use a cotton swab to treat the wood with Watco.

There are a few/several reasons, that I see. For solo paddling, a double bladed paddle is far easier to master and most people don't know about pack style canoes. When using a double bladed paddle, you get less water in kayak than a canoe. Kayaks are less affected by the wind. Kayaks are sexier...

I haven't found that to be true, unless you add alum to the water, to settle out the dirt, but everyone I know still brings all the water they need for the trip and Tex's Riverways confirms that's what most people do. In my humble opinion, planning on pumping water rather than bringing it, is a...

Sounds like you're going to Utah. I posted a thread proposing using canned food for the reasons you mention. I used canned food on my last trip and it worked out fine except that you have to be careful how you pack in order to keep the hard, heavy cans from damaging other food items or gear.

I guess I would say the big thing is carbon fiber. When I decided to get back into paddling in the early 2020s, after being dry for a number of years, and started shopping for boats, I came across some carbon fiber canoes and thought they were crazy expensive. Couldn't imagine that I'd end up...

My dad had a ruler like that. Brings back memories.

Can you paddle 444 miles on the Susquehanna? Dams to portage around? Other river hazards? I'm not a fan of paddling tandems solo. If you are planning on paddling the canoe backwards from the bow seat, choose a boat that's as symmetrical as possible. I'd watch Craig's List.

Racers use shorter paddles than your typical tripper. Short shaft, smallish blade, high cadence. I use a shorter relative shaft and grip closer to the blade than most canoe trippers, but I don't kneel. If your upper, grip, hand comes higher than your forehead, while paddling, it is generally...

I haven't yet. Right now, I still can't get away that long. I think people in my club have. If I get time, in the next few days, I'll take a look on our website and if there is a write up of a trip, I'll post a link.

I bought a new IK before Thanksgiving, but I'm counting it as a Black Friday sale. I took advantage of some holiday deals on exercise equipment. I was tempted by some other great bargains, but I have way too much gear already.

I'm talking paddling or camping gear, of course. Or, even, fitness equipment, if it's for staying in shape for paddling.

From my own personal experience, I can tell you that you can build yourself back up but, even so, I'd rule out most rotomolded kayaks because of the weight. Even if you could handle them, after you recover, you won't be able to down the road. Canoes can be very light. The thwarts and yoke are...

I don't have a back forty to keep me in shape, but I'm also a cyclist and I work on muscles for doing stuff like loading a canoe onto my truck and carrying canoes and gear up a river bank. I think excess weight is a big problem for me. I'm about 20 pounds heavier than I'd like to be and extra...