Dipping My Bottom

[Black_Fly]

I have a waxed canvas canoe pack that is a great size for day trips. I use waterproof sacks inside, but I've often thought of a means to keep the bottom of the pack dry by stripping the wax off about 4 or 5 inches up the pack, then dipping it in some rubber substance. Anyone know of such a rubberizing process or product?

 

[PaddlingPitt]

Just wondering, bf, what the problem is with your wet bottom. We have canvass packs, with liners inside. The bottom of the packs are often wet, but the food/gear inside the liners is perfectly dry. Why not just leave well enough alone? Am I missing something here?

 

[yellowcanoe]

Mini pallet.. Of course those lovely wood canvas canoes you see with planking strips off the floor spanning several ribs do just that.. Keep the packs dry.. We expect a finely crafted mini pallet.. We know you can do this... Please no rubber.. unsightly I am sure you will agree.
Pie baskets are bi level with a little stand like a mini pallet.. I suspect you can find one of those in pie country where you are. A turkey broiling rack would work too but.. so ...unsightly...

I think the wet bottom goal is something trippers have sought for years when there were no liners that were not a hide.

 

[stripperguy]

Hmmm... I don't have a W/C canoe, nor do I have a canvas pack.
I do, however, occasionally need to keep my pack out of a rain flooded hull.
When it starts to rain, or preferably when it threatens to rain, I paddle to the nearest shore and grab some deadfall branches to keep my pack off the bottom of my boat. I have a waterproof pack cover, but there's no need to have my pack sloshing around.
Once I no longer need to keep my pack off the bottom of the boat, said branches become that nights campfire.

 

[Glenn MacGrady]

I've always used Duluth packs with a waterproof liner -- for the past several years, breathable eVent liners -- a very satisfactory solution for me.

However, here's a video of bushcraft guru Dave Canterbury doing exactly what you want to do with the bottom of his waxed canvas pack. He uses Flex Seal, and gives a little history of vulcanized and gummed canvas packs.

 

[Odyssey]

Why not just a dry bag if there's that much bilge water? Sounds a shame to fugly up a nice canvas pack. I pack a sponge for sopping up excess water in the boat. Our canvas packs get a little wet sometimes but they're tough old gear and can handle it.

 

[Boreal Birch]

BF......
Where in the world do you come up with the titles of your posts?

I have used the same # 3 Duluth pack since 1969 or 1970 never put anything on the outside. It has been soaked hundreds of times, contents in proper water proof bags were never wet. I have only oiled the leather straps, the olive drab pack has sun & rain bleached to a light olive gray that I would not trade this pack for all the tea in China, wish it could talk, so it could tell my heirs of all the beautiful place that it went with me. If you want a dry bag the market place will be glad to sell you one.
.....BB

 

[Black_Fly]

In these parts, paddling on streams, one must get in and out repeatedly, mud slop and brown water end up in the boat, no matter what. Also, all of the streams are running sewers. My pooch also brings his share into the boat. Yeah, dry bags work, but for some stuff I don't want to hassle with opening a 2nd bag, and I'd prefer to keep the fecal coliform to a minimum inside the pack. Thanks Glenn, that's the ticket.

Dave, the bushcraft guy just applied right on top of the wax. I'm thinking I'll iron some paper over the pack to remove some of the wax. I think it will stick better.

 

[Mason]

Of course those lovely wood canvas canoes you see with planking strips off the floor spanning several ribs do just that...

That's a pretty good reason to get a new boat--problem solved (N + 1).

Or you can go cheap and use dry bags--dunk them in the water to clean them off, and hose them off when you get home.

 

[Odyssey]

In these parts, paddling on streams, one must get in and out repeatedly, mud slop and brown water end up in the boat, no matter what. Also, all of the streams are running sewers. My pooch also brings his share into the boat. Yeah, dry bags work, but for some stuff I don't want to hassle with opening a 2nd bag, and I'd prefer to keep the fecal coliform to a minimum inside the pack. Thanks Glenn, that's the ticket.

Dave, the bushcraft guy just applied right on top of the wax. I'm thinking I'll iron some paper over the pack to remove some of the wax. I think it will stick better.

Hmm, that kind of water doesn't sound pleasant, either side of the gunnels. Now I have a better understanding of the water problem. It's not the moisture, it's the muck. I think I'd still rather save myself the bother and use a water resistant container a la barrel, bucket or dry bag. Hose 'em off and hose 'em out afterwards. The canoe, me and the pooch too.
Best of luck with this.