Recent content by MrPoling

In West Virginia and the Carolinas, it was normally "carry". Now that I'm listening to myself, I'm confused. Port-taj? Port-aj? Por-taj?

Just getting out for the first time this year. Too much other stuff going on. My youngest found a sunflower eddied out behind a rock.

Staining is hard work and hard upkeep.. I'd go with Watco.

I'm not surprised the manufacturer's pictures are confusing. It is difficult to take catalog quality pictures of anything, especially something as big and shiny as a canoe. I'd trust their specifications rather than the pictures. Unfortunately most aren't detailed enough to tell you much...

Try this thread https://www.canoetripping.net/threads/symmetrical-vs-asymmetrical-canoe-hulls.129033/

I've spent the last 35 years or so in the Carolinas. My perception is the max temperature in the summer isn't changing much. However, the 3 warm seasons have gotten longer and the cold part of winter has shrunk to a few weeks a year. What I worry about is rainfall. It seems it's gotten...

I'd consider these two person tripping canoes. I have an old 18.5 Mad River that has similar specs to these. It is a great canoe for myself, two 'tween kids, and our gear. Or two adults and their gear. However, three adults and gear wouldn't work. Trimming it would be difficult. It wouldn't...

I like tumblehome better, especially in the center of wide canoes. But it is a very small, almost trivial factor in a lake and mild river canoe. Why three in one canoe? Are these adults? I'd want something like the Wenonah Minnesota 3, which is 20 ft long. A canoe that big is only good for...

I normally move seats before trips to ensure I can trim with gear. I don't like carrying extra weight. When the kids were younger it was sometimes difficult to get enough gear and kids forward. We sometimes hung a pair of gallon water jugs across the bow the canoe, dangling on either side...

It was cold here last week, we get a few days break before it freezes next week. I took the chance to get out. I was surprised the pond was froze over. The river was ice free. This is where the Eno River meets a small pond for the water plant. It looks like somebody tried to paddle...

I think Boatman53 is right about just paddling some. I love the ocean, but ocean paddling is intense. I suggest practicing self-rescue in deep water first. I'd go with other paddlers too, even kayakers. The easiest way to sail a canoe is to just run downwind with something to catch the...

Congratulations on the new canoe. I'd store it indoors and do whatever Northstar says to help prevent rot. It is curious, paddles are normally urethane or varnished and they get about the same flex and abuse as gunwales. I haven't tried urethane on gunwales, but I have a Mad River Explorer...

I saw a lab get hypothermic once in the winter. She was playing in cold water but was to neurotic to quit. She was shivering and had clearly impaired motor skills. It happened faster than I expected. From then on I assumed she was like a person in a thin wetsuit or good synthetics. I...

Getting the balance right with three adults in the boat can be pretty hard. Having enough gear in the front o balance the canoe will put it pretty low in the water. I think the Wenonah and Northstar competitors for this are 2-3 ft longer. I think that makes it a lot more reasonable to seat...

I have a black gold Yellowstone. I think it makes more sense in Royalex. The Yellowstone is kind of short so works best on rivers or tight places. Those are places where Royalex is great.