Robert wrote; (SNIP) > >While I was looking for a touring canoe, I read all of the reviews in _C&K_ >and looked at canoes every chance I had. I've seen very few solo touring >canoes in paddling shops. I ran across a very pretty Bell a couple of >weeks back, but I've never seen any of the Wenonah, Dagger, or Mad River >models in the stores here in North Carolina. I can find solo WW canoes but >not solo touring canoes. The solo market is so small that building them is not very profitable. Not sure about all builders but my experience is that one has to build 300 boats from a mold to properly amortise the tooling costs. Some builders build them just to keep their customers happy and have them to offer. Kind of a loss leader. > >I see pluses and minuses for both sea kayaks and solo touring canoes. I >suspect a kayak can handle heavier weather and rougher surface conditions >than a canoe. Kayaks seem to be, on the whole, faster. On the other hand, >a canoe is easier to load and unload and, if the paddler is doing something >that requires frequent stops, much easier to get in and out of than a >kayak. Speaking from experience I can say that canoes are not less seaworthy than kayaks particularly when fitted with a cover. They aren't as fast or sleek and you can't roll them but otherwise there is no reason why one can't use a canoe in open water. Mind, you can't take as many risks although Hans Lindemann crossed the Atlantic in his open dugout canoe. The biggest advantages are the gear carrying ability, ease of loading, portaging and less cost. With a double bladed paddle they aren't as slow as people think although they are never going to be as fast some narrower sea kayaks. When paddling my canoe with sea kayaks I have found that I don't have a huge problem keeping up with most kayaks. To me the canoe comes into its own in allowing you to explore areas that are not easily accessible by sea kayak. Bruce Winterbon, for instance, builds small canoes that are virtually undecked sea kayaks that are perfect for swamping. Light and easy to paddle they can go just about anywhere. If you have a fondness for nature they open up a whole world of plants and animals. In North Carolina (Bob's Country - also God's Country) a solo canoe is a real joy for the tidal estuaries on the west side of Pamilco Sound. Dismal Swamp is another place where a solo canoe is a pleasure. One last good thing about canoes is that you can vary your seating position easily. Old stiff farts like me can sit, kneel, semi kneel or even lay down in the boat not to mention get in and out more easily. I won't mention the positive aspects of sea kayaks since everyone knows them. Cheers, John Winters Redwing Designs Specialists in Human Powered Watercraft http://home.ican.net/~735769/ *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************Received on Sat Jul 18 1998 - 05:55:50 PDT
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