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  1. Chip

    Painter tiedown — in the water and on car top

    When the boat is on the van, I use the bow painter to tie off to the vehicle. I can't see the canoe on the roof, and if the boat got loose on the rack, I'd see that line moving. Plus, very important for the absent minded, the painter is a visual reminder to not drive into the garage with the...
  2. Chip

    Tractor Seats free to a good home

    I replaced the seats on my Wenonah Advantage and Wenonah Rendezvous, making the original seats available. If anybody wants to repurpose these, I'd be happy to pass them on. They fit onto 1" tubes, 6" on center.
  3. Chip

    What’s the best anchor for a canoe?

    Thanks for the tips on anchor rigging. I like that Alan’s and Ralph’s approaches don’t require any apparatus other than ropes and ‘biners.
  4. Chip

    What’s the best anchor for a canoe?

    First, a story. Out on the rocky gorge of the Potomac near the DC/Maryland line, on an extremely low water day, I noticed something funny near three rocks sticking out of the river bed. One of them was bobbing a bit. Maybe it wasn’t a rock, maybe a duck. I paddled closer. Turned out the rocking...
  5. Chip

    Power Banks - 2026

    I have tripped with a CXLiy 074 Power Bank. It kept my phone charged on 10-day trips, when I was using the phone for mapping. On big rivers, navigation generally means following the water, so I didn’t use the phone a lot, mostly while looking for camp sites, not wanting to pass them. This power...
  6. Chip

    Rack advice for 2nd generation Tacoma?

    I used Thule xtrasports on my 2009, but later equipped it with a cap and rack. I sold the Xtraport racks. But, I frequently decapped the Taco to do truck stuff—hauling firewood, mulch, gravel, piles of bicycles, etc. Then, to my horror, I discovered I had no way to carry a boat! I bought...
  7. Chip

    Dreaded Tennis Elbow, Mark II

    I've put myself on the injured list due to hurting 'bows. The problem started two weeks ago. I put on the straps and took a couple short paddles during the past week and iced right after paddling, which helped, but my forearms are still very tender, so I've put myself on the IL and taken the...
  8. Chip

    Padding

    Weldwood contact cement was often used to glue foam into boats. These days I see a number of spray-on contact cements are available. “Guest,” a former member here, has taken to laying a bead of E6000 glue around the edges of glued-down foam. I think it is to keep sand from getting under the...
  9. Chip

    West Branch Susquahanna

    Thanks for the replies. I bought the Mitchell book, which has good descriptions of the sections of interest to me. For the most part It stops short of describing specifically where campsites are. I have a map of Sproul SP, which doesn’t seem to actually touch the river. Rather, there are...
  10. Chip

    West Branch Susquahanna

    I paddled a bit of the West Branch in ‘25 and would like to go back for a multi-day trip. I’ve put it on my calendar for June 8. If I get inspired to go to the WPa Solo Canoe Rendezvous, I’ll already be in the neighborhood. I’m flexible on the date. In 25’, I made it to Frenchville before the...
  11. Chip

    Tractor Seat + nylon pants = PIA

    This is an update to report the results of PIA abatements. 1. I got a new “type D” tractor seat from ZRE. I had several conversations with Chad at ZRE regarding the dimensions of the seat frame. I expected to receive the seat with separated mounting tubes and instructions for mounting the tubes...
  12. Chip

    Destructive Removal of a Thule Bar

    Update: I just replaced the second cross bar on the Thule that rides on my van. This one also replaced due to rust blistering the plastic coating on the bars, making it difficult to attach Thule load stops. This was the front bar, which had not suffered the same gouging from gunwale hardware as...
  13. Chip

    Which Canoe Should I Take?

    The only reason I can think of for taking the Penobscot is for hauling gear. It sounds like you are planning a light load, so I’d pick the Reflection. IMO, the Reflection is more fun to paddle, lighter to portage, and faster. The Reflection I paddled was outfitted with 3 seats and I paddled it...
  14. Chip

    Tractor Seat + nylon pants = PIA

    I thought about cutting a U in the back edge of the seat, or drilling a hole. But that might be destructive to the seat. Adding a pad with a U in seems worth a try. I first encountered my PIA problem on a multi-day trip last summer. My improvised solution was a 3x4 piece of carpet duck taped...
  15. Chip

    Tractor Seat + nylon pants = PIA

    I see a seam going across right above the pockets. Might not be as much of a bump because it is a “T” intersection of seams rather than a “+” , but I think there must be at least a little bump at that three-seam junction.
  16. Chip

    Tractor Seat + nylon pants = PIA

    I haven’t tried this. I have a seat cover around. I think it’s 20 or 30 years old and it looks brittle. I should put it on and see if it’s any good. I suppose new one’s are available. With padding has to irritate less than with the pant against the composite seat. Thanks for the suggestion.
  17. Chip

    Tractor Seat + nylon pants = PIA

    I like the tractor seats in the two Wenonas I paddle. In combination with foot bars, I feel well locked-in on the tractor seats. But, a problem for me is I develop a sore at the top of my butt crack. I’m pretty sure my pants are the culprit. Two seams cross at right angles a few inches below...
  18. Chip

    Trouble Closing a Seal Line Map Case

    Here is response emailed from RBW: Chip, Thank you for writing to us with your thoughts on the Medium Map Case and sorry for the delay responding. You are correct that the black portion of the map case on the top and bottom is larger than it needs to be. The design for the black nylon...
  19. Chip

    Best Navigation Apps for 2026

    I am unfamiliar with most of the listed apps. One exception is Apple iOS Compass which in no way is a navigation app. Compass provides a compass displayed on the screen, elevation (to nearest ten feet), GPS coordinates, and current heading. There's no mapping or route planning. Inclusion of...
  20. Chip

    Trouble Closing a Seal Line Map Case

    I received the map case I ordered from Recreational Barrel Works. The zipper closure looks great! However, I don't understand why they built in so much useless black trim. I just emailed RBW this comment: I’m sending this email to suggest you enlarge the clear windows on the map case. For...
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