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. Weirdest winds ever whipping through the mountains, with headwinds on nearly the entire trip.
I have a canoe cart for portage of the numerous dams and a small sailing rig for the slow stretches, wind permitting.
Canoes from which to choose:
16' Royalex Old Town Penobscot 33/34" beam, 65 lbs with skid plates. 13.5/21" center/end depth, 1100# capacity.
16' Royalex Mohawk Intrepid 33.5/36" beam, 73 lbs. 14/16.5" height center/end, 1000# capacity.
15' Royalite Dagger Reflection 33"/34" beam, est 58lbs. with one seat and skid plates. 13.5/16.5 center/end depth, 1" rocker, 850# capacity.
Priority is mostly speed and comfort. I will pull unneeded seats and add footrests. Sail is adaptable to all boats.
Concerns are W-NW spring winds on slow, dammed sections, and on SW-NW legs in miles 50-150. Sail may or may not help on the latter.
I have a good idea which canoe 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. Different story at half-high to flood levels. Starts out as a small creek in Cooperstown, NY, and turns into the half-jokingly named "mile wide/inch deep" river in mid- summer. 3 hydro dams on the bottom 50 miles and slow finish into upper Chesapeake Bay.
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-part of my inspiration. I still have his log with pics.
I have been wanting to do this trip for 50 years, but as we all know, life can get in the way. Though still very healthy and active, I have a decreasing window of time in which to complete this journey.
Just updated with some more canoe specs, if unfamiliar.
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. Weirdest winds ever whipping through the mountains, with headwinds on nearly the entire trip.
I have a canoe cart for portage of the numerous dams and a small sailing rig for the slow stretches, wind permitting.
Canoes from which to choose:
16' Royalex Old Town Penobscot 33/34" beam, 65 lbs with skid plates. 13.5/21" center/end depth, 1100# capacity.
16' Royalex Mohawk Intrepid 33.5/36" beam, 73 lbs. 14/16.5" height center/end, 1000# capacity.
15' Royalite Dagger Reflection 33"/34" beam, est 58lbs. with one seat and skid plates. 13.5/16.5 center/end depth, 1" rocker, 850# capacity.
Priority is mostly speed and comfort. I will pull unneeded seats and add footrests. Sail is adaptable to all boats.
Concerns are W-NW spring winds on slow, dammed sections, and on SW-NW legs in miles 50-150. Sail may or may not help on the latter.
I have a good idea which canoe 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. Different story at half-high to flood levels. Starts out as a small creek in Cooperstown, NY, and turns into the half-jokingly named "mile wide/inch deep" river in mid- summer. 3 hydro dams on the bottom 50 miles and slow finish into upper Chesapeake Bay.
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-part of my inspiration. I still have his log with pics.
I have been wanting to do this trip for 50 years, but as we all know, life can get in the way. Though still very healthy and active, I have a decreasing window of time in which to complete this journey.
Just updated with some more canoe specs, if unfamiliar.
Thanks,
Randy
Last edited:
