I finally ordered a boat. Don't worry, it was a factory blemished model so I didn't pay full price. I know...you were worried.
After reviewing the myriad of options for solo boating, I settled on the outlandish choice of the Old Town Next Canoe. The next is a a hybrid combining the open hull of a canoe with a sit-in design and foot braces like a kayak. At 13' long and 59lb, it is manageable enough for portages and has a load capacity of 450lb. There is a good review of the canoe here as well as a few pictures.
After reviewing the myriad of options for solo boating, I settled on the outlandish choice of the Old Town Next Canoe. The next is a a hybrid combining the open hull of a canoe with a sit-in design and foot braces like a kayak. At 13' long and 59lb, it is manageable enough for portages and has a load capacity of 450lb. There is a good review of the canoe here as well as a few pictures.
For this trip, I estimate the weight of my gear to be roughly 60lb. That puts the total load at around 210-220lb depending on what I ate for breakfast. Mas pancakes! The load should be manageable with the space fore and aft of the seat. It may take a balancing act to dial in the weight distribution but a day out on Lake Itasca should help there. I am somewhat limited to the two bags I can carry on board a Greyhound Bus but that keeps me from throwing in the kitchen sink, not that I have a kitchen or a sink to call my own.
This morning I had a nice conversation with Caren of Itasca Sports, an outfitter and bike/canoe rental shop on Lake Itasca. Talking with her helped smooth out many of the nagging stresses about getting a boat to the lake. With their kindness and assistance, they agreed to take delivery of my new boat at their warehouse and then transport it to the lake. How cool is that!? I'm sure there will be more written on these unique and helpful souls at Itasca Sports who understand what it means to have a passion for nature and travel.
The best deal of the trip so far has been a 50 cent straw hat fit for a suburban garden party or river voyage. Next up, a post about the burgeoning pile of waterproof (nothing's really waterproof) items beginning to overtake the bedroom.
The best deal of the trip so far has been a 50 cent straw hat fit for a suburban garden party or river voyage. Next up, a post about the burgeoning pile of waterproof (nothing's really waterproof) items beginning to overtake the bedroom.