Comments on Hard Light: Steve Walton's Outdoor Blog: Venture Ranger 14

I paddled kayaks on white water rivers up to grade...

2011-10-30T22:02:17.195Z

I paddled kayaks on white water rivers up to grade 4 for over 30 years until a few years ago. Out of my regular 10 or so paddling mates for much of that time, I was the closet 'open (Canadian canoe) boater'. As much as I enjoyed river-running in kayaks, I get equal pleasure paddling an open boat. I started paddling open canoes when my children were very young, taking them out for day paddles and picnics and sometimes further afield on multiple-day camping trips. I could paddle a kayak, but I have always found the Canadian canoe fascinating and have paddled many different boats over the years. There is always something new to learn or another technique to try, especially on moving water. Aesthetics is certainly a factor, an open canoe, like a traditional Inuit style sea kayak is a very elegant, graceful and efficient craft. Both are designed to travel great distances and for carrying equipment.

Pack-rafting looks like fun!

Right! I understood all of that. Fascinating. If y...

2011-10-30T12:09:06.360Z

Right! I understood all of that. Fascinating. If you're about to paddle about on white water why don't you use a kayak? I am missing something here, aren't I? Is it the aesthetics? Load carrying?

It looks a lot more fun than pack-rafting; that would worry me: hard rocks on soft bottoms...

Thanks, Alan. Some of the traditional types of c...

2011-10-30T11:58:27.592Z

Thanks, Alan.
Some of the traditional types of canoes that were/still are used by indigenous peoples are designed to be paddled equally efficiently by two paddlers or by one paddler. Although this boat is far from traditional in many ways, not least in construction materials, the basic concept follows tradition. The outline shape of this boat is symmetrical, so without seats there would be no bow or stern, it is the seating position which determines that. The seating position needs to be just behind the mid-point for my preferred method of solo paddling, which is kneeling with my backside resting on the seat and the boat heeled over to one side. As I reach forward to place my paddle in the water, my weight transfers to slightly in front of the mid point which keeps the front of the boat in the water. This increases the waterline length of the boat (ie, the wetted area)and improves both speed and directional stability.

If I were to use the rear seat for solo paddling, my weight is too far back and would lift the bow from the surface of the water, making the boat less directionally stable and more susceptible to being pushed off-course by the wind and chop, especially on wider rivers and lakes or lochs.

A well set-up canoe is a wonderfully efficient way to travel and leaves more time to enjoy the journey instead of having to constantly correct the course.

That's the plan, Martin. It's a different...

2011-10-30T11:32:11.239Z

That's the plan, Martin. It's a different way of travelling.

No idea myself about canoes Steve. Hope you take ...

2011-10-30T01:14:27.613Z

No idea myself about canoes Steve. Hope you take it out soon and wild camp on the river banks while you explore some rivers. Then tell us all about it.

Forgive my asking... but why are you gong to point...

2011-10-30T00:36:44.477+01:00

Forgive my asking... but why are you gong to point the boat the other way round?
(Complete Canoe Novice here)

Fascinating stuff. I really get the aesthetics thing.