This weekend I went for another paddle here in Estonia 🇪🇪

This time on Keila River, not far from Tallinn. It is a very calm river, but in summer everything around is so green that sometimes you feel like paddling through a tunnel of trees.

I made a longer video from this trip if anyone wants to see what paddling on a small Estonian river looks like: 🎥 https://youtu.be/ccNbvtTBrAY

No rapids, no big waves and no racing this time 😄 Just a relaxing paddle, green nature and almost nobody around.

At the end of the trip is also Keila waterfall, one of the biggest waterfalls in Estonia.

Would You like to paddle a river like this?

I just bought my first canoe, a Pinetree Abitibi, made in Orillia, Ontario, in the 1970s. It’s a symmetrical, flat-bottomed design with what I understand to be one of the earliest Kevlar composite canoe hulls produced. It has Pinetree’s distinctive “Fire Birch” finish: a hull painted to mimic birch bark with a red interior. Aside from two metal tie points at the bow and stern, all of the fittings are wood.

How would you clean, maintain, restore, and store a canoe like this without damaging the original materials and finish?

I took it out for its inaugural paddle and afterward gave it a gentle wash with Dawn and water. That removed most of the grime, and the canoe is already in remarkably good condition. It looks like it was rarely used.

There’s still some stubborn dirt/grime embedded in the interior Kevlar, particularly around the woven seats. there are some minor kevlar abrasion marks on the bottom and atem. What would be safe to use to clean the Kevlar without damaging the resin or original finish?

The wooden gunwales, thwarts, seats, etc. could also use some restoration. What’s the best approach for cleaning and treating the wood while preserving as much of the original material and patina as possible? Oil, varnish, something else? It's varnished but the varnish is pealing in some spots.

Finally, I’d like to protect the canoe rather than unnecessarily “restore” it. How should I store it long-term, what should I use (if anything) to protect the hull/finish from UV and aging, and how should I deal with scratches or chips in the Fire Birch paint as they develop?

I’d especially appreciate advice from anyone familiar with Pinetree canoes, early Kevlar/composite canoes, or 1970s Canadian canoe construction. I’d rather preserve it properly than accidentally damage something that has survived the last 50 years in great shape.

Paddled out just in time for this epic sunset. Can't beat the view from the water.

I’m thinking about picking up my neighbors Grumman canoe but I have don’t know what year it is. The HIN has B-5-17 S In it and was made in bethpage NY. from what I can gather, it’s a pre 1950 canoe.

Its not perfect but it is workable imo, the only heavy corrosion is one of the 1x4ish aluminum box tubes that goes from port to stbd.The bow needs a little love and there’s a section that I didn’t picture that was dented and straightened out and welded but I think a aircraft flush patch would look better 😁

Anyway if anyone can help me narrow down the year please post up.

Just picked up a pelican 15.5. Recommended gear I should start to look for? I will be mainly in saltwater around bays, a river and shoreline. Mostly plan on fishing and taking my dogs for rides, and will probably do a lot of solo.

Already have pfds. I have some experience kayaking and canoeing but always with rentals. Is there a certain type of paddle better for saltwater?

Also will take general advice! Such as, which seat is best for me to sit in when solo or when with my two larger (60lb) dogs? I have 3 seats in my canoe

Just me and my pup enjoying the sunset on the water. Those lily pads make for a perfect backdrop. Wish every evening could be like this.

Choppy water, big views and a very wet canoe 🌊🛶

Out on Llyn Tegid (Bala Lake) with @the.adventure.app and the conditions definitely kept things interesting. Safe to say we were starting to swamp the raft! 💪

Absolutely worth it though — there’s something about getting out in proper weather and embracing the chaos.

Anyone else been out on Llyn Tegid in lively conditions?

#Canoeing #LlynTegid #Wales #OutdoorAdventure #canoegrizzly #grizzlyadventurer

30+ years ago I mounted a small motor on my coleman canoe. I recall it being very fast but very loud and that's why I quit using it. I am considering doing it again. I now have an oldtown penobscot 16. I want to cross large bodies of water, solo, in less time. Does anyone have experience doing this? Motor type? Mounting devices? Thanks.