Hi all: I am a retired vet, looking for some advice as to which of my canoes others think I should take on a full-length solo 444 mile river paddle of the Susquehanna.
I plan to do it in the spring when the water is up and moving, but not flooding. I plan to camp, except maybe first night or two, depending on support.
There are lots of towns along the route, so packing grub is not a big issue.
I am very experienced in ww creek and river paddling, both in kayak and canoe.
I grew up on the Sus-q river, with lots of activities from the spring-thaw to ice-over, my entire life.
A friend and I took my Penobscot on a late April, high-flow 2.5 day, 100 mile float down the Sus-q west branch remote section last year from below Curwensville Dam to takeout above Lock Haven.
I have a canoe cart for portage of the numerous dams and a small sailing rig for the slow stretches, wind permitting, that I will likely take.
Canoes from which to choose:
16' Royalex Old Town Penobscot 34" beam, 65 lbs with skid plates
16' Royalex Mohawk Intrepid 36" beam, 73 lbs
15' Royalite Dagger Reflection 35" beam, 63 lbs with center seat and skid plates
Priority is mostly speed and comfort. I probably will pull seats not needed.
I have a good idea which one to use, but I am looking for other trippers who have used these canoes or padded with others using them to evaluate solo speed/comfort/paddability for a couple-week trip.
For those unfamiliar with the Sus-q, there is very little ww at normal levels and I would not expect anything much above a brief 2, unless I would seek it out.
Some will likely suggest buying a 35 pound kevlar boat, and that would be great, but unless someone gives me one, that is not an option.
On a side note, my great uncle did this trip in 1920. I still have his log with pics.
I have been wanting to do this trip for 50 years, but life has a way of getting in the way. I now have a narrow window of time in which to complete it.
Thanks,
Randy
I plan to do it in the spring when the water is up and moving, but not flooding. I plan to camp, except maybe first night or two, depending on support.
There are lots of towns along the route, so packing grub is not a big issue.
I am very experienced in ww creek and river paddling, both in kayak and canoe.
I grew up on the Sus-q river, with lots of activities from the spring-thaw to ice-over, my entire life.
A friend and I took my Penobscot on a late April, high-flow 2.5 day, 100 mile float down the Sus-q west branch remote section last year from below Curwensville Dam to takeout above Lock Haven.
I have a canoe cart for portage of the numerous dams and a small sailing rig for the slow stretches, wind permitting, that I will likely take.
Canoes from which to choose:
16' Royalex Old Town Penobscot 34" beam, 65 lbs with skid plates
16' Royalex Mohawk Intrepid 36" beam, 73 lbs
15' Royalite Dagger Reflection 35" beam, 63 lbs with center seat and skid plates
Priority is mostly speed and comfort. I probably will pull seats not needed.
I have a good idea which one to use, but I am looking for other trippers who have used these canoes or padded with others using them to evaluate solo speed/comfort/paddability for a couple-week trip.
For those unfamiliar with the Sus-q, there is very little ww at normal levels and I would not expect anything much above a brief 2, unless I would seek it out.
Some will likely suggest buying a 35 pound kevlar boat, and that would be great, but unless someone gives me one, that is not an option.
On a side note, my great uncle did this trip in 1920. I still have his log with pics.
I have been wanting to do this trip for 50 years, but life has a way of getting in the way. I now have a narrow window of time in which to complete it.
Thanks,
Randy
