Yes, the Susq has even more mileage if one does the entire Lake Otsego at Cooperstown. Yes, there likely will be fallen tree hazards in the narrow upper section until they are cleared in May before the annual Gov Clinton Canoe Races. There are about a dozen dams of various sizes to portage. Only one of my 5 canoes is asymmetrical, and it has a center seat.
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Happy National Chocolate Ice Cream Day! 🍫🍦
Which Canoe Should I Take?
- Thread starter Rute
- Start date
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 solo, unloaded, from the center seat. The Penobscot I borrowed from CT’s Waterbearer, was outfitted for solo paddling and I took it on two, 10-day trips with all gear and 80 lbs of water. Maybe it was the weight, but I thought the Penobscot was sluggish.
They are all very similar.
Pick one and look at the rest.
Pick one and look at the rest.
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I guess you have started? Or are you planning for next year?
Looking forward to the trip report
Looking forward to the trip report
Update: Did the trip in early May. As as surprise to some, I took the old but still in excellent condition Royalite Mohawk Intrepid 16, mostly for the stability. Did not regret it. It actually only weighs 63 lbs, not the 73 I earlier reported. Since it is asymmetrical, I added a center aft seat. Ended up not using it much, and paddled from the rear, since I had enough gear to load the front to balance. The Mohawk was also more suitable for my home-made canoe sailing rig. I am also experienced at river boat poling, thinking I would stand up and pole in slow shallow sections. Thought was to mix the muscle use for propulsion. Water was high and fast, so I never poled. Constant upriver winds pretty much killed the sailing, except one short stretch. Would not try either again-it was weight I did not need or want, especially in portage. Had support first 3 days of the trip. So guessing there were downed trees early in the early narrow portion, I kayaked my Necky Elaho almost to PA, then canoed the middle 7 to HBG. The plastic kayak, though a bit heavy, was a wise choice- there were a dozen downed trees in first few miles and it made the first 3 dam portages much easier, especially Goodyear Lake. If doing the solo trip again before upper trees are cleared for the Clinton Regatta race over Mem Day weekend, I would do it with a small, sit on kayak for the first 5 miles or so, then swap to a large kayak or canoe. A solo, loaded canoe on the first 5 miles would have been a nightmare. Upriver winds really slowed much of the 7-day middle canoe portion of the trip. Had to quit mid afternoon twice for 20-30 knots and waves with whitecaps. Paddled the Mohawk up on edge quite a bit, which helped make a couple of mid 50 mile days. Last 2 days of trip I swapped the canoe for my kayak again. It proved a very good choice in heavy upriver winds and waves behind the 4 dams below Harrisburg, and especially the last couple hours of tidewater, heavy wind, waves and big boat traffic. The good about the trip was the high fast water, the wildlife, the near complete absence of boaters, the cliffs and erosion of the mountains, the solitude, beauty and a fresh surprise around every bend. Had a number of nice, manageable, white-water stretches and only took water once or twice. My favorite trip section was below Binghamton to Pittston in the "Endless Mountain section. 2nd favorite probably below Sunbury to Dauphin Narrows. Lots of wind most of the trip and curiously it was nearly always blowing up river, even when changing directions 180 in the meanders. Perhaps I just timed the trip wrong.
Now kicking around doing a 200 mile paddling/camping trip down the rest of the ancient Susquehanna River as it flowed 10-12k years ago, unimpeded the whole way to the continental shelf off of Hampton Roads, through what is now the flooded river valley, called the Chesapeake Bay. Ocean water levels then were estimated to be 400' lower than now, due to glaciation.
Now kicking around doing a 200 mile paddling/camping trip down the rest of the ancient Susquehanna River as it flowed 10-12k years ago, unimpeded the whole way to the continental shelf off of Hampton Roads, through what is now the flooded river valley, called the Chesapeake Bay. Ocean water levels then were estimated to be 400' lower than now, due to glaciation.
