Happy Thanksgiving y’all!
I’m from Florida and have been in or on the water most of my life. Grew up in the Florida Keys snorkeling and fishing and only got into canoes in high school in Tampa. Canoes were something you used at camp, or you occasionally rented with a group. I went on several canoe trips on the Little Manatee, Hillsborough, and Alafia Rivers with my high school cross country team.
Once in college in Tallahassee, I bought a used canoe from a shop that is sadly no longer in business. It was a well used rental Old Town Discovery 164. I used it for fishing and scalloping. Great canoe, heavy as hell. After meeting my bride, it lay dormant until I used it a couple times at work. My field partner punched out the cane in the stern with his elbow
and I replaced them with webbed. Again it lay dormant.
Fast forward a few years and kids came along. Even the outboard sat idle, 2 sets of twins demand a lot of time. About a year and a half ago my son (now 6) wanted to use the canoe, so we dragged it out, washed it, and I carried it down to my in-laws’ home on the neighborhood lake. A weed choked thing, perpetually low, and representing drainage catchment from the neighborhood, it was at least wet and he had a blast. We’ve since branched out to nearby rivers and lakes, Tallahassee is well located for many paddling adventures.
Then COVID struck, and I learned my wife’s uncle was preparing to sell his second home in Panacea. A light bulb went off, and I asked what he planned to do with his kevlar Wenonahs. I had paddled them once or twice and was impressed. They were mysterious creatures so different from my OT, so exotically light. Well, he didn’t plan to take them with him and so he sold them to me, along with an 18’ glass Sundowner, and a pile of paddles. I promptly sold my OT to a friend for about half what I paid for the 2 Wenonahs.
This past summer after getting hooked back to canoes (no license, no registration, no gas, no trailer, no boat ramp needed… freedom!!!) I began reading everything I could. I began researching makers, design, and layups. The Sundowner was lighter than the OT, but not by much. Or maybe not at all. It’s a beast. And I’ve had luck putting the kids in the Encounter, one in front and one behind. But they’re growing, and want to paddle, and I wanted a new light tandem. I can haul two boats on my truck rack and one on the minivan, and I have visions of getting 4 kids and my MIL out in canoes (wife is not interested, but appreciates the peace when I haul the kids somewhere else!). I’ve succeeded only once thus far. After much deliberation and dreaming, I landed on the Northstar Polaris in black light and deluxe aluminum trim with a third seat. Maybe I should have gone full wood? The next one will be
This weekend was the maiden voyage. How many boats made in Minnesota get their feet wet for their first time in the Gulf of Mexico?
Already I am shopping for my next solo. Something that turns better than the Prism or Encounter, to be more maneuverable for those windy spring runs and tidal creeks in Florida waters. Looking forward to the search!
I’m from Florida and have been in or on the water most of my life. Grew up in the Florida Keys snorkeling and fishing and only got into canoes in high school in Tampa. Canoes were something you used at camp, or you occasionally rented with a group. I went on several canoe trips on the Little Manatee, Hillsborough, and Alafia Rivers with my high school cross country team.
Once in college in Tallahassee, I bought a used canoe from a shop that is sadly no longer in business. It was a well used rental Old Town Discovery 164. I used it for fishing and scalloping. Great canoe, heavy as hell. After meeting my bride, it lay dormant until I used it a couple times at work. My field partner punched out the cane in the stern with his elbow
and I replaced them with webbed. Again it lay dormant. Fast forward a few years and kids came along. Even the outboard sat idle, 2 sets of twins demand a lot of time. About a year and a half ago my son (now 6) wanted to use the canoe, so we dragged it out, washed it, and I carried it down to my in-laws’ home on the neighborhood lake. A weed choked thing, perpetually low, and representing drainage catchment from the neighborhood, it was at least wet and he had a blast. We’ve since branched out to nearby rivers and lakes, Tallahassee is well located for many paddling adventures.
Then COVID struck, and I learned my wife’s uncle was preparing to sell his second home in Panacea. A light bulb went off, and I asked what he planned to do with his kevlar Wenonahs. I had paddled them once or twice and was impressed. They were mysterious creatures so different from my OT, so exotically light. Well, he didn’t plan to take them with him and so he sold them to me, along with an 18’ glass Sundowner, and a pile of paddles. I promptly sold my OT to a friend for about half what I paid for the 2 Wenonahs.
This past summer after getting hooked back to canoes (no license, no registration, no gas, no trailer, no boat ramp needed… freedom!!!) I began reading everything I could. I began researching makers, design, and layups. The Sundowner was lighter than the OT, but not by much. Or maybe not at all. It’s a beast. And I’ve had luck putting the kids in the Encounter, one in front and one behind. But they’re growing, and want to paddle, and I wanted a new light tandem. I can haul two boats on my truck rack and one on the minivan, and I have visions of getting 4 kids and my MIL out in canoes (wife is not interested, but appreciates the peace when I haul the kids somewhere else!). I’ve succeeded only once thus far. After much deliberation and dreaming, I landed on the Northstar Polaris in black light and deluxe aluminum trim with a third seat. Maybe I should have gone full wood? The next one will be
This weekend was the maiden voyage. How many boats made in Minnesota get their feet wet for their first time in the Gulf of Mexico? Already I am shopping for my next solo. Something that turns better than the Prism or Encounter, to be more maneuverable for those windy spring runs and tidal creeks in Florida waters. Looking forward to the search!
