Getting back on the Water

Earlier this year, I posted about hoping to soon report on owning another canoe.  Today I get to do just that.  I found a canoe that was almost exactly what I have been looking for and worked out a deal with the owner.  I picked it up on Saturday.  I would like to put a photo on here, but it is just sitting in my back yard right now.  I will post some in action in the future.

Now that I have it, I am hoping I will enjoy the activity of canoing as much as, or at least partially as much as, I did when I was younger and doing a lot of canoing.  The next hurdle is finding the time and actually getting out on the water.  I want Vincent to learn about the canoe and to be able to use is well and safely, and would like to bring in Patrick and Caroline as well.  They are all so busy that it is hard to get time with them for these things, but I will keep trying.  I think they would enjoy it too.

The first canoe I owned was really made for use on lakes, but I used it on rivers, and even took it down the Nantahala once.  The second one I had was a square sterned aluminum canoe that I only took out on a few lakes.  Patrick was very small at the time, so I didn't get on many rivers (or any). 

Both previous canoes I have had were aluminum and I wanted one made of Royalex this time.  that is an ABS composite plastic material.  The Royalex is a very resilient and tough material.  It flexes and goes back to its original shape, instead of denting as aluminum does.  It also slides off rocks easier, aluminum tends to stick to rocks.

Those who have been around me much, know that I have been looking for another canoe for several years.  My dream canoe has been an Old Town Tripper.  A canoe that can be used for anything from recreation on the lake to extended trips in the wilderness and down long rivers.  It will hold over 1200 pounds of people and gear.  While that was my dream, I was looking at several different possibilities.  My desire was to have a canoe that was a minimum of 16 feet in length, and would take a Royalex, Polyethelene, or aluminum construction of that canoe.  The one material I did not want was fiberglass, as it is prone to holes when hit and not really good for river use.

My dreams of using the canoe involve day trips, overnight, weekend, and longer trips.  These may be on lakes, oceans or rivers, though most likely on lakes and rivers.  While I expect to stay mainly in the Southeast, - with the concentration on North Georgia, Western North Carolina, and Eastern Tennessee, -   I hope to someday get farther away, such as the Western states, Canada, and Alaska.  Only time will tell if any of those happen.

Now for my new (used) Canoe.  It is a Blue Hole Canoe that was built in Sunbright, TN.  This was one of the premier canoes of the 1970's and early 1980's, and the first of the Royalex designs.  The one I have is 17 feet in length, has a rounded bottom, 15 inch depth, and slight rocker to help handle whitewater.  It is very close to the Old Town Tripper in capacity and versalitity of use.  While for years I wanted a green canoe (the dark green used by  Old Town), though would take a red or the silver of the aluminum canoe and be perfectly happy (I had inquired on several Gurmmans while looking).  In the past year, I decided that I really would prefer a red canoe.  Color is not the main thing though, use is.  The one I have is blue, which I have went ahead and named "Old Blue".  It has seen some use, but obviously has a lot of use left in it.  I hope to get a lot of that out.  While I am not the whitewater paddler I was in younger years, I do plan to do some whitewater paddling.

My wife has already told me I could not go alone, though that will still be discussed further.  I see no problems on going out on the lake and practicing alone, but she does.  The good news is that my nephew Matthew has said he will go with me.  Hopefully this will work out when I cannot get Vincent to go.  Matthew already has a little experience on the water.

You may have gathered that I am excited about this development in my life.  I have to clean up the canoe some.  It has been hanging in a shed and needs cleaning inside and out.  I then plan to try using Armor All on it to protect the color and exterior.  Maybe, making it look a little newer, though if it doesnt' that is okay too.

See you down the river,

Nelson