WTB Canoe

[TBC]

I'd be to try and race Al and his wife. I'd loose

[Eric Esche]

If anyone wants a "FAT BUNNY" boat to backhand Farmbus with his glove, I have a 17' Mad River Royalex Northwoods that is fairly fast for a royalex boat. It was Mad River's entry into the 17' royalex cruising class and it is a faster boat. Mary and I (and her dog Chloe and about 100 pounds of gear) did 10.5 miles in 90 minutes on the Buffalo with out "trying" the first time we took it out ( we are NOT racers), and that included picking up the yard sale right after the put in of some drunks that a livery launched the same time as we put on and a shore break for Chloe. We back paddled to set the angle and drifted the rest of the day to make the 21 miles take 5.5 hours. It's a really good canoe if you want to cover miles. I'd consider loaning it for a trial weekend, but it is for sale as well. Mary did not like it as it is wetter in the bow than my Explorers or the Endurall and being 17', it does not turn or solo quite as well agilely. Ash gunnels, knee pads, painters, stainless steel lashdown links, 2 seats, full length 2" wide kevlar felt skid plate.

Nothing against the TBC Arkota or one modified as an ALkota. I have paddled an Arkota and it is what I would have bought if I had not found bargains on 2 Explorers.

Eric Esche

[TBC]

Eric I'm not racing you either. I was doing my best to keep up with you on that last paddle out by my house.

[Farmbus]

That would be way overkill. My money would have been on Luke in his Explorer.

[Deuce]

My M.O. is to put the boat in the current and let the river do the work. When the wind overpowers the current, which is often the case on the lower Buffy, the Explorer will respond nicely to the paddle. I've never tried to make it go fast though.

[Farmbus]

A floating piece of driftwood is faster than anything I would be paddling. I'm the guy that wound up in the brush pile against the bank trying to figure out how to make his boat go straight.

[TBC]

Loaded with some camping gear I be you will surprised how easy it will be keeping your Arkota tracking.

[Canoe_Codger]

Loaded with some camping gear I be you will surprised how easy it will be keeping your Arkota tracking.

A bucket or two of water works as well.

Canoe envy isn't pretty. Have it I do. Conversations with Louis have commenced. I just sold one canoe and am looking to buy another? I know what I'm feeling, but what am I thinking?

So... from you more experienced canoeists, I need hints on how to paddle three canoes at once.

And opinions. If one already has two red Old Towns, one big and one small, should a new third canoe also be red so they look suave on the trailer going down the road? Or is a contrasting blue or green more stylish, suggesting an independent thinker?

Michael

[Eric Esche]

Not to hijack a thread.....

I personally prefer a red royalex canoe visually but you takes what you can find, particularly when buying used bargains, so I have 2 green Mad Rivers (Northwoods,Explorer), an olive one (Duckhunter/Explorer), a burgundy one (Courier)to go with my red Endurall. Blue canoes look good as does yellow.

I have used the two 5 gallon buckets of water trick uop front when paddleing in 30+mph winds on Beaver Lake in 2 foot chop. I was nervous, but it worked.

Have not paddled 3 canoes at the same time, but have bolted two canoes together with "C" clamps and 2x4's for a cat canoe with trolling motor on a lake clean up which worked very well. Cowper was the one who showed me this trick on a Buffalo River clean up trip. IF you had a big enough river or lake to manuever in, no reason why you could not make a trimeran out of 3 canoes, but I would guess you would need a 55 pound thrust trolling motor and multiple marine batteries to go any distance. Be aware that if you add a motor of any type, that the canoe needs to be registered with the state. Asked for an opinion but never received it if both canoes in a cat rig would need to be registered.

Long sea kayak paddles (240cm+) are nice in a canoe when you want to keep up solo with tandem crews or make head way in headwinds. Big golf umbrella is nice when you have a tail wind for a "Mary Poppins" experience. I know double bladed paddles are considered a "cheat" or a "crutch" by some, but I will take any advantage I can get. I know how to use a single blade and have not forgotten yet, which is why some instructors prefer not to see kayak paddles used in a canoe.

I did offer to let Lewis use my spare Lendal carbon fiber bent shaft racing sticks and my 17' Prijon Kodiak while I was laid up for months following sugery, but he said he was afraid he would get spoiled and it would get expensive when I took them back, as then he would be wanting the same. Shaw family are super nice folks. Hope to see them again next week.

Shallow arch and shallow "V" hulls do tend to track well when you add a bit of weight to them. As long as you keep the CG low and somewhat centered, stability remains good. I prefer a slightly light bow for good turning agility. My bow partner is significantly lighter than I am, even with her dog Chloe in bow spirit position, so this is rarely a problem for me with my weight in back.

If you want to see and feel a canoe that tracks well and "glides" well, come try the Northwoods. If you want a new canoe at a great price, buy a TBC Arkota. You would not go wrong. It is a very nice handling canoe and a keeper.

Eric Esche

[TBC]

Thanks Eric for the kinds words. I really did appreciate the offer to borrow the kodiak. I ended up buying a couple sea kayaks off here. See pic of modified front hatch its a "Lilly pad" as lilly my tandem partner love to ride like chole.

[Canoe_Codger]

So... you're saying that if I am waiting for an Arkota owner to fall out of love with it and put it on the auction block, I am wasteing my time? I kinda figured that. The upcoming Nomad sounds interesting, but the Arkota seems to better fit the hole in my canoe selection. I've been considering an old school Sunbright Starburst, but nostalgia aside, the pictures of the Arkotas I've scrounged up are pulling my heartstrings. Not to mention the cool factor of supporting a small growing maker in Arkansas.

I only paddle class I-II with an occasional III surprise these days, so a dedicated WW canoe isn't crucial. But my Disco 169 leaves a lot to be desired in finese on even moderately tricky rapids. The Disco 119K is good for what it is (and better than the Dagger Tupelo I just sold), but I like to do overnighters occasionally and my bowman likes to move port to starbord frequently at inopportune moments. This is where the "barge" 169 comes in handy.

[Deuce]

Hey, that's one good looking bowman, Codger. Why don't you guys join us on the Current this weekend? You too, Louis.

[Canoe_Codger]

Hey, that's one good looking bowman, Codger. Why don't you guys join us on the Current this weekend? You too, Louis.

We wish we could Deuce. A guy is driving in from Virgina tomorrow to buy my '63 Falcon and I have to pencil in the whole day for that. I'll definately raincheck the invitation though. Jake loves canoeing (and swimming) almost as much as I do. And if I do swing a deal on an Arkota soon, you know I will have to come pick it up. And likewise baptise it in native waters before I trailer it back to Tennessee.

By the way, I am an Arkie transplant here in Tennessee. I grew up near Osceola, attended ASU, and lived North and South of Benton for years. I miss my Arkansas and Missouri rivers and paddlebuddies.

Michael

[TBC]

Thanks for the invite Coop! I've got plans already though.