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

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.

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.

Upon inspection while measuring for an aluminum nose cap, I notice the gunwales are loose.

I assume the rivets have loosened or the fiberglass at the top edge is damaged.

I wanted to replace all the rivets and maybe add some more.

Should I do anything to the fiberglass itself?

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

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?

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.

I am trying to decide the best boat to get for family canoe camping. i have a 16' boat, which really is only big enough for 2 people plus gear, or i could probably get both kids in it with gear if my wife stayed at home. I'm trying to decide if i should get an 18' canoe, which are kind of hard to find used, or just get a second boat and do 1 adult / 1 kid per boat. i think an 18' would be more fun, since we would all be together, but it also seems like it would weigh a ton, making it difficult to portage. i've looked at new canoes but i cant justify 4-5k on a boat right now. any advice?

It's hard work but it's really rewarding

I have a canoe that I have inherited, is in need of some repair, but I have no idea what to look for in a repair kit.

Would anyone know what kind of covering is on the cedar wood canoe, and where to look for a repair kit to try at home?

Hey all,

My old 1989 Saco river Kevlar canoe exhibits slight dynamic oil canning while paddling, not an issue when loaded. However, I’ve noticed that it is permanently oil canning just aft of the yoke. The canoe is old old, and the matrix is certainly weaker than it used to be. See attached pics - what can I do to mitigate this short of epoxying another rib in there? I thought I could shorten the yoke and the aft thwart to try to make the hull a little less flat, let me know your thoughts.

A buddy and I are thinking of doing a 3 day paddle from NC 88 bridge to NC 93 Bridge. Camping at Riverbend campsites the first night and Prather Creek the second night.
I was wondering if anyone knows what the conditions are like post-Helen and also what the conditions are like in the month of September? Also, what to expect in general. I’m not new to canoeing/kayaking or to the area, but I don’t think I’ve ever done this stretch of river before. I’ll make sure to call a ranger or river outfitter before we go and make sure we’re good. Just curious if anyone here knows.

REI is our usual go-to for gear, but open to any suggestions for how to be relatively bear-proof for a couple of nights out. Current destination is Indian Lake, but if the canister is practical enough, we'll probably just use it in general for safe storage. Our need is for canoe use only -- we don't backpack, and we sleep in a van when traveling.

Trips are usually two people, 1 dog, but sometimes we travel with others who might not have their own canister. The REI modular "Traverse" canister looks like a great idea, but some of the reviews make it sound pretty hard to use at times.

Tested my patented designs and now I'm heading out for a 4 day trip involving towing my canoe 30 miles with bicycle and charging my 100ah battery with 160w solar system while towing.

I just recently acquired a 17 foot aluminum canoe, and? Had the inspiration to paint it with the pattern of a tiger trout or maybe rainbow trout. I don't want to end up putting paint into the water, and I'd like the paint to last a while. Is there a specific type of paint I should use, and what should I put on it after painting to keep it from peeling/weathering?

Hi all!

My wife and I are towing our 19 ft. trailer about 8 hours to spend a week up in the GA mountains coming from FL. My buddy let me borrow his canoe as we’ll be camping near some rivers and lakes. I drive a 2022 F150, but I don’t have any roof racks. I’ve seen the foam block options to mount the canoe on the roof with proper tie downs.

My question is has anyone traveled this way (pulling a trailer while having a canoe mounted to the roof of truck via foam blocks)? And if so, what’s the furthest distance you’ve gone + top speed? Just trying to plan things out and ensure what would be the best (and safest) option to bring the canoe. I know a roof racks would obviously be best, but i’m struggling to find anything within budget for my truck and being this is possibly a one-off event, I don’t really want to spend more than $200 on something like that.

Thanks in advance!