Another thread “Effect of scratches on canoe efficiency” has me thinking about my beater canoe. A Mohawk Blazer from 1979 which started its life as a rental. It was canoe #3 or so the number on its side tells me. Scratches? Well lets just say if you get a new one no one can tell. It has been damaged and repaired twice. Some one bought it from the rental place painted it to try and fool the buyer into thinking it was in better condition than it was. Then that buyer sold it to me. Blue paint is now off the lower half. Gel coat is cracked in a few places. The aluminum gunwales show signs of abuse were they were often put on a trailer and rack. Every time we take it out of the inside storage rack it is checked carefully for soft spots or other problems. Heavy? Yes very. Believe it has extra thick gel coat and other reinforcement that was rumored to be available for rentals.
Now some people would cry at just thinking about having to paddle this canoe. It just brings a HUGE smile to my face. Took it out last Saturday to Blackwater creek in Seminole state forest. Almost the perfect canoe for the trip. We pushed over eight barely submerged trees, pushed through between the bank and a uprooted root ball and did the limbo six times on the way up stream to make it pass the second bridge and almost all the way to SR46 before turning around and doing it all over again. Few have ever been that far. Great fun. Yep scratches can have a positive effect on canoe efficiency. No fear of getting any more when having fun and getting some ware difficult. Would I ever take my good canoe on this trip? No way. It also goes to the Mosquito Lagoon at the Cape Canaveral sea shore to watch the porpoises play. If the shells of clams or muscles scratch it you cant tell even though we have been good/lucky enough to miss them so far.
If you have a fleet you need a beater. Nothing better for some trips. What do your canoes scratches say about you?
