This page contains a Flash digital edition of a book.
55. 48.


Canoeists should purchase the craft that will get them out on the water most often. For many, this means purchasing a lightweight, recreational model, perfect for a Sunday afternoon paddle. “Hav- ing a dream boat is fine, but don’t buy a 90-pound Royalex Prospector for a once in a life- time Nahanni trip if 90 percent of what you do is paddle the lo- cal pond,” says Bush. “You can buy a dream but you have to paddle reality.”


49.


For city slickers, inflatable and folding designs offer the perfect blend of portability and store- ability needed for public transit and apartment living. It’s for the same reasons


inflatable and


folding canoes are popular for expeditions in remote regions.


50.


Numerous retailers and manu- facturers offer test paddling, so try before you buy. “Paddle a few different boats—it’s espe- cially great for people just get- ting into canoeing,” adds Mc- Dowell. “How stable a boat is or how well it tracks can be tough to explain accurately on land be- cause one person’s perception may be different than someone else’s—but get on the water and you’ll find what’s comfortable.”


51.


When it comes to options and add-ons, some trim options, such as molded, adjustable seats and sculpted yokes, affect the performance and handling of


the boat. Others, such as wooden gunwales, wicker seats PADDLING BUYER’S GUIDE www.rapidmedia.com PADDLING BUYER’S GUIDE | | www.rapidmedia.com 117


and cherry deck plates, serve the same function as aluminum or vi- nyl, but improve the elegance of the canoe.


52.


Don’t count out solo boats. “Though not as celebrated in ad- vertising and the learning curve is slightly steeper, sometimes a solo canoe is a better option, especially if you often find your- self calling around to confirm a paddling partner,” says Bush. And don’t be ashamed about us- ing a kayak paddle with a solo canoe, he adds. “Sure, there are some cranky, old canoeing guys who will says it’s not proper, but this isn’t a religion, it’s a sport. What’s important is getting out there.”


53.


Just because your friend pad- dles a specific brand and model doesn’t mean it’s right for you, advises McDowell. “Customers often come in with a prejudice about the boat they want, but once they have all the information, they almost always make good decisions about what is right for their needs,” he adds.


54.


Before you tie any new canoe to your roof, you need to be sure it’s going to carry the stuff you bring on canoe trips. Don’t just look at carrying capacity statis- tics to see if it will fit, think about how it will fit. Will your wannigan fit under the thwarts? Will your blue barrels fit side by side?


Canoes are proven transporters of beaver pelts and supplies— they're also the best at moving children through the wilderness. A sixteen-foot canoe gets full quickly with a family of four. To give everyone breathing space look to expedition canoe mod- els. Or consider two smaller ca- noes soloed by the adults. Kids then get their own seats and sometimes separation is a really good thing.


57


56. Not all materials are made


equal. “There’s a common mis- conception we see from custom- ers coming into the shop that some of the lightweight canoes— especially the Kevlar ones—are indestructible,” says McDowell. “Customers are surprised when we tell them not to paddle a Kev- lar boat in whitewater—we hear, ‘But isn’t Kevlar bullet-proof?’”


MATERIAL MATTERS


How does what your canoe is made of affect performance?


WOOD CANOES - cedar strip, canvas, birchbark PROS: Beautiful craftsmanship and organic authenticity. CONS: Higher maintenance and more expensive. WHO? Canoeists willing to put in more time for maintenance and sacrifice durability and weight for beauty.


HIGH-END COMPOSITES - aramid, carbon/graphite blends PROS: Excellent strenght-to-weight ratio. CONS: Can be quite expensive. WHO? Wilderness trippers, racers and Boomers.


ALUMINUM, FIBERGLASS AND POLYETHYLENE PROS: Less expensive. Durable. CONS: Often heavy. WHO? Recreational and sport canoeists.


PHOTO: ONTARIO TOURISM PHOTO: ONTARIO TOURISM


PHOTO: ONTARIO TOURISM


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104  |  Page 105  |  Page 106  |  Page 107  |  Page 108  |  Page 109  |  Page 110  |  Page 111  |  Page 112  |  Page 113  |  Page 114  |  Page 115  |  Page 116  |  Page 117  |  Page 118  |  Page 119  |  Page 120  |  Page 121  |  Page 122  |  Page 123  |  Page 124  |  Page 125  |  Page 126  |  Page 127  |  Page 128  |  Page 129  |  Page 130  |  Page 131  |  Page 132  |  Page 133  |  Page 134  |  Page 135  |  Page 136  |  Page 137  |  Page 138  |  Page 139  |  Page 140  |  Page 141  |  Page 142  |  Page 143  |  Page 144  |  Page 145  |  Page 146  |  Page 147  |  Page 148  |  Page 149  |  Page 150  |  Page 151  |  Page 152  |  Page 153  |  Page 154  |  Page 155  |  Page 156  |  Page 157  |  Page 158  |  Page 159  |  Page 160  |  Page 161  |  Page 162  |  Page 163  |  Page 164  |  Page 165  |  Page 166  |  Page 167  |  Page 168  |  Page 169  |  Page 170  |  Page 171  |  Page 172  |  Page 173  |  Page 174  |  Page 175  |  Page 176  |  Page 177  |  Page 178  |  Page 179  |  Page 180  |  Page 181  |  Page 182  |  Page 183  |  Page 184  |  Page 185  |  Page 186  |  Page 187  |  Page 188  |  Page 189  |  Page 190  |  Page 191  |  Page 192  |  Page 193  |  Page 194  |  Page 195  |  Page 196  |  Page 197  |  Page 198  |  Page 199  |  Page 200  |  Page 201  |  Page 202  |  Page 203  |  Page 204  |  Page 205  |  Page 206  |  Page 207  |  Page 208  |  Page 209  |  Page 210  |  Page 211  |  Page 212  |  Page 213  |  Page 214  |  Page 215  |  Page 216  |  Page 217  |  Page 218  |  Page 219  |  Page 220  |  Page 221  |  Page 222  |  Page 223  |  Page 224  |  Page 225  |  Page 226  |  Page 227  |  Page 228  |  Page 229  |  Page 230  |  Page 231  |  Page 232  |  Page 233  |  Page 234  |  Page 235  |  Page 236  |  Page 237  |  Page 238  |  Page 239  |  Page 240  |  Page 241  |  Page 242  |  Page 243  |  Page 244  |  Page 245  |  Page 246  |  Page 247  |  Page 248  |  Page 249  |  Page 250  |  Page 251  |  Page 252  |  Page 253  |  Page 254  |  Page 255  |  Page 256  |  Page 257  |  Page 258  |  Page 259  |  Page 260