Canoes

[Nilsen]

Originally posted by nirvana
I was looking at buying a canoe just to cruise around the local lakes with, nothing too fancy just a good solid craft.  Problem is, I really don't know what to look for.  I was thinking of MAYBE fishing off of it after a little while but using it just for entertainment/exercise.

If you are moslty going to paddle around alone i would highly recomend getting a kayak and not a canoe. I have both, and the canoe is collecting dust.

-edit- This one looks cool tho

[FX1]

Originally posted by Shuffler
My last multi-day trip was on the LLano..... had a great time. Saw maybe 5 other people the whole trip. Since it's open range there all I did in the evenings is move and cattle out of the area I chose as camp. Did my run NW of Fredricksburg.

We did our run from Mason to Llano.. It was 6.2 ft out of its banks that day.

I really didnt think i was going to make it after hitting the first tree....

We have done that run before in the past and it took us 6.5 hours. This time it took us only 3 hours. Needless to say we didn't get much fishing in and i sunk the canoe 3 times before the day was done.

Beautiful area and our ranch is 6 miles from our pick up point so we made a weekend of it..

[eskimo2]

Here's most of my fleet:


The two hole spotty one is a freeking battleship.  I added a foot-steered motor.
The white/green one is my winter boat; I take this one out when it’s really cold and icy.
The blue one is an old glass boat; I added two kid sized holes.
The red one is my summer sit on top.  It’s 17’ and tipsy but very fast.  The blue Tupperware thing is an extra seat for a kid; this makes it even tipsier.  


Homemade rudder.  The vertical hinge support and handle is made of polycarbonate (Lexan) plastic and is crudely fiberglassed onto the hull.  The rudder is also made of polycarbonate and automatically folds back (inset) when it strikes anything shallow.


The rudder pedals are the original cotter-pin adjustable aluminum footrests that have been modified for rudder duty.  The rudder pedals in the white/green boat are pretty much the same.  I also added a vertical wooden support between each hole.  When entering and exiting the boat it's hard to not put weight on the center topside of the boat.

[Nilsen]

LOL eskimo

All it needs now is this

and you have a littoral warfare superweapon

[ChickenHawk]

I have a Coleman Journey that my son and I fish from and it's very stable and a good all around canoe.

If you plan on fishing from a lake, do yourself a favor and get a canoe anchor.  There are few things more irritating than having to paddle back upwind after every cast.

Nice fleet you have there eskimo.  Your modifications are inspiring.

[Shuffler]

Eskimo... what kind of beer do you drink  J/K

I love to run up to the Guadalupe and run it at flood.... I prefer moving water but lakes are nice and quiet. Paddling is just plain relaxing to me.

[DREDIOCK]

Originally posted by ChickenHawk
I have a Coleman Journey that my son and I fish from and it's very stable and a good all around canoe.

If you plan on fishing from a lake, do yourself a favor and get a canoe anchor.  There are few things more irritating than having to paddle back upwind after every cast.

Nice fleet you have there eskimo.  Your modifications are inspiring.

LMAO!

Been there done that alot.

the wind can move you pretty quick too.

Went to a big lake by us called "Round Valley Reservoir"

We decided to paddle across (against the wind) to check out and fish the other side.

Took 1/2 hour hard  paddling ot get there.

Wind blew us comletely back to where we started in 5 minutes.LOL

Anothr hint if Canoring on a lake.
when you head out. Paddle into the wind.

Nothing sucks quite like having to paddle against a decent headwind when you are ready to go home.

[eskimo2]

So, what are you going to do nirvana?

[Dux]

Heed what Ghosth said about keels... very important.

I practically grew up in a canoe... love them dearly.

ps. I'm a wood and canvas purist, too... but those are big bucks.

[storch]

Originally posted by Dux
Heed what Ghosth said about keels... very important.

I practically grew up in a canoe... love them dearly.

ps. I'm a wood and canvas purist, too... but those are big bucks.

you aren't Bob Hardy are you?

[nirvana]

Still looking, there was a free one on craigslist but needed some "tlc".  Someone picked that up already though.  I'm actually going 50/50 with my friend on one....maybe.  Thanks for all your advice though, I assure you I've taken it all into account and will do so when (if) we purchase one.

[Dux]

Originally posted by storch
you aren't Bob Hardy are you?

Bob Hardy of Hardy Marine, Marathon, Florida?
(had to Google him, never heard of him)

No, that's not me.

[storch]

Originally posted by Dux
Bob Hardy of Hardy Marine, Marathon, Florida?
(had to Google him, never heard of him)

No, that's not me.

you may have just helped me locate a friend from my youth. guess what?  it's him!!  he builds small boats and does repairs on others.  what an amazing thing this intardnet is.  I just got off of the phone with him and I'll probably drive down to marathon to say hey and have lunch.

[Dux]

That's too cool... it was either him or some UK singer.