For most of my nearly 72 years I suppose I've had a longing for a wilderness canoe trip (my bucket list), though I had only limited paddling experience as a youth. A step in that direction is my recent purchase of a used Navarro Otter 16, a flat-bottomed, fiberglass and wood construction of rather graceful lines (to my eyes). Weight is manageable at ~65 lbs (I'm told).
The seller kindly included 3 really nice straight paddles plus a couple excellent tie-down straps. My Tundra already had a ladder rack on top of its work shell. So I only had to add a Whisbar to the front of the extended cab's roof. The canoe hangs over the rear of the shell by ~3'. And extends beyond the top of the windshield by ~2'. This provides for about 18" wide support, fore and aft. The aft tie-down is easy. But I thought i might fabricate a front tie-down that attaches to the Tundr's "firewall" and emerges just beneath the aft edge of the hood, so I have a place to clip the safety line, to avoid running a long line to the bumper/frame, chafing the paint on my hood. And, so I can load and launch alone, when necessary, I have an idea on a simple loader I can fabricate which is supported by the aft crossmember of the shell's rack.
In preparation for some lake trials (and fishing), I've picked up a couple dry bags and watched some YouTube videos on canoe handling. I sail and have lived aboard my (bigger) boats and have been a boat builder for about half my life. So I am comfortable on and around the water and understand navigation, piloting and water safety. Already have most of the camping and fishing gear. Looking forward to finding canoeing waters, especially in the west, as I am in Marina del Rey, California. And hoping to hookup with others who enjoy this kind of thing.
All comments welcome.
The seller kindly included 3 really nice straight paddles plus a couple excellent tie-down straps. My Tundra already had a ladder rack on top of its work shell. So I only had to add a Whisbar to the front of the extended cab's roof. The canoe hangs over the rear of the shell by ~3'. And extends beyond the top of the windshield by ~2'. This provides for about 18" wide support, fore and aft. The aft tie-down is easy. But I thought i might fabricate a front tie-down that attaches to the Tundr's "firewall" and emerges just beneath the aft edge of the hood, so I have a place to clip the safety line, to avoid running a long line to the bumper/frame, chafing the paint on my hood. And, so I can load and launch alone, when necessary, I have an idea on a simple loader I can fabricate which is supported by the aft crossmember of the shell's rack.
In preparation for some lake trials (and fishing), I've picked up a couple dry bags and watched some YouTube videos on canoe handling. I sail and have lived aboard my (bigger) boats and have been a boat builder for about half my life. So I am comfortable on and around the water and understand navigation, piloting and water safety. Already have most of the camping and fishing gear. Looking forward to finding canoeing waters, especially in the west, as I am in Marina del Rey, California. And hoping to hookup with others who enjoy this kind of thing.
All comments welcome.
