Enthusiast I
Do many members bring along watercraft, a cano, kayak etc or do they typically prevent bush travel?
just curious
Steve
just curious
Steve
Watercraft?
- Thread starter steveca4
- Start date
Advocate III
- 5,584
- First Name
- Michael
- Last Name
- Rose
- Member #
-
20990
- Ham/GMRS Callsign
- W7FSB
- Service Branch
- US ARMY Retired
Depends on where I’m going... i take inflatables if I’m going to the high lakes, my aluminum boat if heading to the Snake, if no water, then the crafts stay home.
I take surfboards and sit on top kayaks. I tend to go someplace and postup for a week or so. I spend quite a bit time in Baja and the dirt roads are long and rough at times. My exploring is usually going and coming from the destination.
Enthusiast I
Enthusiast I
ok that’s what I’ve been considering, an inflatable or a hard shell sit on top, could also use for duck hunting in the fall
Advocate III
- 5,584
- First Name
- Michael
- Last Name
- Rose
- Member #
-
20990
- Ham/GMRS Callsign
- W7FSB
- Service Branch
- US ARMY Retired
We have been looking at the sit on top fishing Yaks... with the changes of boating laws here in Oregon, we won’t be taking the inflatables any more... even a one person raft has to be registered now.
We carry two sit-on-top kayaks on the roof of the truck. Ten feet long Tamarack model made by Lifetime. Bought them from Walmart for under $600 the pair. Not a brilliant sleek, fast and responsive design but great fun and value for money. We just got back from Baja California and the Sea of Cortez was fantastic for kayaking especially on the Bahia de Concepion.
Enthusiast I
Here are a few. Baja California is well worth the trip.
Early morning at Gonzaga Bay, when the sea was calmest.
Dawn at Gonzaga Bay.
On the beach at Santispac. I might have been to more beautiful places, but I can't remember when.
Enthusiast III
Used inflatable kayaks. I failed to take care of 'em an UV ate 'em up here at home. I'll replace eventually. Just stay under 10'. 10' and over (at least here in Oregon) require invasive species permit to put in water.
I used cheap inflatables to bomb the North Fork of the American. Too much fun!!
I used cheap inflatables to bomb the North Fork of the American. Too much fun!!
Advocate III
- 5,584
- First Name
- Michael
- Last Name
- Rose
- Member #
-
20990
- Ham/GMRS Callsign
- W7FSB
- Service Branch
- US ARMY Retired
That changes this year Marty... its all watercraft regardless of size or power. But not sure how they are going to do that since you can’t get a permit or a registration in some counties... like mine where the Marine Officer is places on “other duties” and the Marine office is closed.
Enthusiast III
Good to know. Wifey is an office manager for ODFW, and she just mentioned some changes... something about a "waterway access permit". I won't be buying a yak anytime soon (not a fan of flat water, too boring), but will keep in mind for when I do.
Enthusiast I
Enthusiast I
When you go, talk to me. I have spent 35 day there so far this year. I have pretty good knowledge of most the trade routes and a few out of the places I will share.
Enthusiast I
Will do, thank you.
Last Jan (2019) my son and I stayed in Las Pas for 12 days, we really enjoyed the people and the area, did some great snorkeling with Whale Sharks and Sea Lion pups. This past Feb I was in Ensenada for a week helping to build a small home. Didn't get to see much of Ensenada but found it was definitely cooler there in Feb than it had been down in La Paz, but I don't think I could handle La Paz in summer. That whole Sea of Cortez Baja Coast would be amazing to camp along, with a kayak, snorkel and fishing gear. I like to hunt, gather or catch wild food and cook it. For me that would be paradise down there. I now live in eastern Manitoba, not far from Lake of the Woods. I grew up in Eastern Quebec just inland from the Ottawa River. My parents had a Fly In Camp out of Kipawa Quebec (Bush Country Camp). So I've always loved the bush and water.
Not a lot of luck with the rod and line but at Santispac the fishermen sell their catch on the beach. In fact you can get just about anything from the beach vendors; fresh fruit and veg, tamales and pastries, fresh water and even the propane truck swings by once a week.
Enthusiast I
Thats amazing and supports the local economy to boot. Looks like a perfect spot, with the deep inlet/bay, more sheltered from those winter winds. Be a great spot to spend a month or two in winter. Be fun to see if the fishermen would take one out as a helper for the day, how cool would that be eh!
Advocate III
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My canoe goes everywhere I go. It's a 14' Hornbeck Nomad Solo/Tandem. I even put racks on my van so I can load it up there those rare times I don't take my trailer, or have camp all set up but want to put in somewhere else.
Since I picked up my canoe almost two years ago, I've spent over 550 nights out adventuring and lord knows how many miles, and it has been with me every night. I tend to go out for several months at a time with no real itinerary, so never know if I might run across a spot I want to explore by water. I wanted something light enough I could load and unload by myself without strain, portage long distance by myself for overnight trips, and that would not be in my way if, for example, I am out in the desert and not using it for weeks.
I started searching for kayaks first, but failed to find anything that quite fit the bill for me and the way I travel.
Here's a seven page thread I started two years ago on Kayaks - Inflatable, Rigid, Folding. . . whaddya have and how do ya like it?
As you'll see in that thread, I ended up with a canoe, not a kayak, and could not be more pleased with my choice. It has not prevented travel for me in any way. It is super light at only 28lbs empty. Seriously, only 28lbs. I can pick it up with one hand. I can balance it on one shoulder and still walk if I really wanted.
Here's a few images of how I keep it when rolling and when camped:
This is the way it is transported, though with a strap over the bow, too. The black bungee on the bow is merely backup.
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I regularly load all sorts of stuff on the tonneau cover of my trailer. The canoe hasn't prevented me yet from hauling anything I wanted, or been in my way.
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I don't do this very often, though when I need to, can just bungee it to the rack when raised instead of removing it altogether, so I can roll my cover back and still access my cargo.
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This is where the canoe goes most of the time when camped. I sometimes bungee or Bolt Lock it to the trailer wheel if it's likely to be windy or if I'm going to be away from camp for long.
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Loaded up, ready to roll. It often puts me in mind of a French Voyageur.
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An example of what having a great, quiet, canoe can do. I glided right up to this Great Blue Heron so close my canoe bumped the rock he was on.
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Above and below are part of a Limited Horizons series I worked on over the summer.
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When basecamped, the canoe is not very noticeable or stick out like a sort thumb, especially on approach to camp. It's on the ground to the left of the trailer in this image:
Even from the back of camp it's not as noticeable as it would be if red or bright blue.
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Lake camping in New England.
This canoe is one of two best investments I've made--besides my trailer--in adventure gear that helps me stay fit and happy. The other is my bike.
Hope you find something that fits the bill for you, Steve, as well as my Hornbeck Nomad canoe does for me.
Stay safe, stay clean, stay positive!
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Roaddude - On the Road In North America - ROADDUDE
Roaddude - Traveling Photographer/Writer/Artist On the Road In North America. Gear, reviews, people, places, and culture.
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Enthusiast I
Wow that is amazing. Had no idea such a canoe was out there. I built a couple different skin on frames to try and acheive that but it didn't work. A 28 lb solo canoe would be find for me. Thanks for the suggestion. I'm going to look into this further. I know the canoe does offer much more room and I prefer canoe paddling over kayak paddling. I build a 10' skin on frame solo pack canoe but it turned out far too tippy, like a drum; it weighed 15 lbs. My tandem kayak weighed about 28 lbs. But I would prefer a tougher skin, I'm rough on gear.
