Fixing Up an Old Friend

[dougd]

Back in August of 2015 I paddled the Hogged Back Saint, Disco 158, for the last time. With old age and injuries I deemed it too heavy, 80 pounds with modifications, for me to use although I have more miles on her than any other boat I own, maybe 8000 or so. I was so poor back in the day it was the only boat I afford. I put her in the barn loft after that trip and left her to the weather, heat and cold. I felt bad about that, the guilt rode me hard for some reason, so today I brought her out of hibernation and she is next on the list of rebuilds. In this case it's nothing more then a lot of bright work. When I put her on the sawhorses I looked down at all the scars on her belly, sides and bow and stern. On the Bonaventure River I slammed her so hard on a drop it left a lasting dent. I always look at that with a smile on my face. The Sebois River left more scratches on her under belly than I could count. It seems each river left it's mark on her.

This was the boat I learned to pole, sail and paddle WW in and despite it being a recreational hull I took her everywhere. There's not much to do on the hull but a lot of work will be done on the seats and thwarts. I may turn this boat over to my grandson if he shows an interest in canoeing which so far at 10 years of age he has. A favorite picture of this old hull. Just wondering if anyone else has a hull that they can't part with?

dougd

 

[deerfly]

sounds like ya oughta leave it exactly the way it is

 

[memaquay]

I have the disco 16'6", 87 pounds, or so advertised. It was my work canoe in my 40's, when I was clearing ports every summer. It saved me more times than I care to think, and survived several layers of horribleness, all evident on the distinctly oil canning hull. In one particularly bad trip, where the ports were mostly underwater, I ended up dragging that canoe, fully loaded, across the land gaps in the flooded ports.

I actually carried that canoe up Diablo a couple of times, one of the most fierce ports in this neck of the woods. It is now my loaner, and sits all summer in the water out where our trailer is parked. My affectionate nickname for it was The Pig.

I don't have any pictures like Doug's, where God is lighting it up for rebirth, all I have are fond memories, sort of....the carry up Diablo is probably responsible for one of my hernias.

 

[Odyssey]

There's a love story there Doug, and one not needful of blushing. I really think you ought to put pen to paper and write up a fond farewell to the old friend, recounting all the good times and bad. I bet there's a good story with every scratch and scuff. If any tool or toy ran so close to one's heart and history it would be a canoe. Your faithful companion deserves this. No need to divulge all your sentiments to us here if it makes you too uncomfortable, but I suspect there's more than a few who would understand completely. Print a copy and tuck it away with photos for the next family canoe caretaker.
Thanks for this Doug. You might be sentimental but you're no fool.

 

[Guest]

Love that photo. Courtesy of DougD I have a famed enlargement hanging on the wall of my office, directly behind the computer monitor, so I see it all the time.

That framed photo had some cobwebs on it, much like the Hogbacked Saint. I just dusted it, and even cleaned the frame, like it was a photo of Supreme Leader Kim Il-sung.

 

[dougd]

I read somewhere here about Diablo carry. That is a nasty arse carry and the thought of it with a Disco of any length is frightening! If my grandson doesn't want it it will become my loaner. Who in their right mind would buy this beast off me?

 

[dougd]

Odyssey, from my blog:

http://scooter-bangortoportland.blogspot.com/2015/08/end-of-trip.html

This is the final entry:

A final note. When we talked about this final push I insisted on using the boats we started in and did but I never heard the end of that for these are heavy boats. Well, Hal's ol' Hand Basket was worn down over the years but he did finish in an Explorer. I finished in my Disco, the Hogged Backed Saint and it nearly killed me. I have gotten older, weaker and she is still a hefty eighty pounds or so despite my efforts to drag as much off her as I could over the years. The Saint has been my tripping boat for more years and miles then I can count but after this trip I've decided to retire her. She was almost pristine when I bought her but now has more scars then a couple of hospitals combined. My last chore was to do the final off load and heave ho up the shore. She'll still see some waters but nothing like this ever again. I tip one to you my dear old friend!