[Closed] Any Canadian Canoeists on here?

Yeah, me.
😉

It can be ...err, a bit of an investment, so I'd suggest probably going out with someone / hire / borrow something and see how you get on first.

As with bikes, lots of choice - basic boats are tough, cheaper, heavy, but not very subtle to paddle ... top end boats are scarily expensive, but almost magical to paddle. Some boats are happy in heavy water, some less so - some are ideal for hauling people and cargo / some for fast, light solo travel ... there's a decent middle ground there too.

Best bet would be to pop over to [url= http://www.songofthepaddle.co.uk ]songofthepaddle.co.uk[/url], have a read through the forum there and see what catches your eye. It's a nice friendly forum, and there's a huge range of experiences within the forum.

Then there's stuff like this to look forward to:

[img] [/img]

There are heaps of canoe designs, but the first question might be what material do you want it made from (aluminium, grp, polyethylene, cedar strip/epoxy et al) which may be tempered by where you intend to use it (i.e. rocky streams vs. deep loch/lakes) and what you intend to do with it - single handed or with crew - dry sail (use from the car roof, launch paddle about a bit them return to car roof) or canoe camping including portage (carrying the thing by hand over ground from one water way to another) in which case weight & size might become the over riding consideration. You can rig some with a simple sail for downwind work too.

And you thought mountain biking came with a heap of variables..!

If you want to build your own strip plank canoe, which is do-able in a regular garage, get a copy of Ted Moores 'Canoecraft' ISBN-10: 1-55209-342-5 as it details not only the method, but heaps of lines drawings (plans) for canoes, which you may find useful.

We tend to build at least one Canadian canoe per intake (I teach boatbuilding at the Boatbuilding Academy in Lyme Regis) and the 'Chestnut' and 'Prospector' designs have historically been favourites.

The book's great for materials, construction and finishing, plus paddle making etc.

Hope that helps.

Mike B.

ukriversguidebook may offer some advice as might the British Canoe Union.

Read what you wrote back as

After some tips as I fancy a go, even though I don't even have a [b]bike[/b]. So, what do I pay for one, are they all the same (can't be surely) & what makes/models are ok?
& anything else I need to know?

and you get the idea

Cheers for that folks, I think I do get the idea! It's like when someone says to me, 'I want a mountain bike, what shall I get?'
I just thought when I was up in Scotchland a few weeks ago, 'hmm, Loch Ericht looks nice, wouldn't mind taking a boat out'!
It's another minefield isn't it?

In which case, you'll want one of these

[img] [/img]

Brings a whole new meaning to the phrase 'slipping him a mickey..'! 😀

Ha! Nice one Druidh. 😆

I had the same thought several years ago, so I built myself one 😀

(Chives - please don't critique my work!)

She has taken us to some fantastic locations.

[img] [/img]

Me too, that boat has taken me to some beautiful places. Didnt build mine tho. I'd like to.
[IMG] [/IMG]
Scotland is the natural home of the open boat

Built one too, an SFD stich and glue prospector. Want to build something skin on frame next.

*waves*

Great way of exploring and seeing the world from a different view. Ace way of camping as well as you can take loads...We paddle everything from kiddy friendly calm to some more 'challenging' bits - as with everything, get a days coaching first, find a club and go along THEN choose boat and kit...

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[url= [/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/matt_outandabout/ ]matt_outandabout[/url], on Flickr
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[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/matt_outandabout/3877999399/ ]Cantle Canoe Trip[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/matt_outandabout/ ]matt_outandabout[/url], on Flickr
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[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/matt_outandabout/3877962407/ ]Cantle Canoe Trip[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/matt_outandabout/ ]matt_outandabout[/url], on Flickr
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[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/matt_outandabout/5586180353/ ]River Orchy, Easan Dubh[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/matt_outandabout/ ]matt_outandabout[/url], on Flickr

Scotland is the natural home of the open boat

Amen. See below 🙂
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[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/albireo2006/3476100300/ ]Glen Lyon[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/albireo2006/ ]albireo2006[/url], on Flickr

Suppersessions - Looks good to me! No critique on here - you might comment on my bike ridin' (lack of) ability..!

Matt - getting air in a canoe - top banana! Though I reckon you could've rolled that drop.. 😆

Roll you say? 😉

http://www.flickr.com/photos/matt_outandabout/4895042974/

NB - I take the pics and MarkVB is stunt canoeist. I merely [s]paddle[/s] swim down after...

All you lot are Canadian? I'd never have guessed.

eh.
.
.
😉

matt, that clip is fantastic. 😀

Well that video's put me right off it now!

Honest it is easy. Like falling off a cliff. Just a wet landing....

He came up didn't he..? (and to be fair, has much larger balls than I..)

Even better, you get THE fastest sledge in the winter, me+3kids onboard=stupid fast 🙂

My Girlfriend and I are off to that Scotland this weekend for a few days canoeing.

i know nothing, my GF "worked on the 'deche".

can't wait!

i know nothing, my GF "worked on the 'deche

Once you have one you can do things like this, too!

Go paddle one in Canada!

After I left school back in 2001 4 friends and I paddled the Mackenzie River in the North West Territories. Epic Trip...

Blimey, do I look young (on the left).
[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

Wish I had the time to do that stuff still - take off for 7 weeks with a vague plan and some youthful enthusiasm and good luck. I've pretty much given up boating in all its forms although plans are being formed to paddle in Scotland in Summer.

We tend to build at least one Canadian canoe per intake (I teach boatbuilding at the Boatbuilding Academy in Lyme Regis) and the 'Chestnut' and 'Prospector' designs have historically been favourites.

Ooh I've always wanted to do that course. I teach furniture making in Warwickshire, fancy a swap? 😉

A can see a canoe being a useful storage container but I'll take some convincing regarding white-water sideboarding.

'White water sideboarding..' ! Sounds better fun than 'extreme ironing' 🙂