I am looking for a canoe design that will do well for fly fishing in Nor. Calif lakes.
My concerns are mostly weight and stable / steady as I am now getting up in years
(73) and the old body is not as agile as it once was. I usually go out alone, but,
the craft should be able to handle two people.
"Bob's Special" at 15' seems to be the best that I have looked at for my purpose.
Am I headed in the right direction or is their other designs that I should consider ??
I do like the traditional lines of the Hiawatha , but is it as stable as the Bob's Special ??
THANKS in advance. fisherguytoo[/b]
Looking for a stable fishing canoe
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Glen Smith
- Posts: 3719
- Joined: Sat May 08, 2004 9:08 am
- Location: Baie-St-Paul, Quebec, Canada
This link shows that the Bob's Special is more stable than the Hiawatha: http://www.bearmountainboats.com/canoetechnical.htm
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Dean in Eureka, CA
- Posts: 267
- Joined: Mon May 10, 2004 10:23 am
- Location: Eureka, CA
Hey Fisherguy,
Where in Northern California are you residing?
Where in Northern California are you residing?
Everything will be OK[img::]http://www.mikenchell.com/forums/images ... uryi3b.gif[/img]
Dean in Eureka, CA
Dean in Eureka, CA
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Juneaudave
- Posts: 522
- Joined: Sat May 08, 2004 12:42 pm
- Location: Juneau, Alaska
- Contact:
I built the Bob's last winter and have had it out quite a bit this summer. It paddles extremely well solo and can easily handle two. I think the stability is more comfortable when loaded up a bit, which is probably true of most canoes, I guess. As the literature suggests the lower ends make it less susceptable to crosswinds, easy to fish from, and easier to portage, load and unload from a cartop.
I think I would also look at the 15 ft. Prospector Ranger as well. The optimum capacity is from 150 to 450 lbs. (as opposed to 350 to 540 lbs. for the Bob's) and it has a bit higher stability factor. I haven't paddled one, but the wider optimum capacity range suggests to me that it should be pretty steady lightly loaded.
I think I would also look at the 15 ft. Prospector Ranger as well. The optimum capacity is from 150 to 450 lbs. (as opposed to 350 to 540 lbs. for the Bob's) and it has a bit higher stability factor. I haven't paddled one, but the wider optimum capacity range suggests to me that it should be pretty steady lightly loaded.
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Dean in Eureka, CA
- Posts: 267
- Joined: Mon May 10, 2004 10:23 am
- Location: Eureka, CA
Hey Ken,
That's a funny question to me. I live in the Redwood Capital of the world and thought that finding good cedar lumber would be a cake walk, it wasn't. I did find one place close by that could get green clear cedar for me, but I wanted kiln dried. I also found a guy out in the sticks that could have milled me up some awesome Port Orford Cedar. He had his own specialty mill and dry kiln, but only if I bought a minimum of three units of lumber. I haven't won the lottery yet, so that was out.
I ended up finding my Western Red Cedar in Bend, OR, which was about an 8 hr. drive for me one way. I'm on the twisting highway 101 corridor here on the coast, not Interstate 5.
The whole experience of getting the cedar was like my introduction into the world of boat building. The local lumber places kinda cringe when they see me coming now, but I'll tell you, it pays to be picky about your wood. You are the one that is going to be laboring away with it, not the salesperson at the lumber yard.
One other thing: I had this notion of not having to use any scarf joints period. So, all the cedar that I got was 20' long, which took me some time to find. Now that I've got my feet wet building this hull, I've found that a good scarf joint is almost invisible. I'm going to be using scarf joints on my ash gunnels and I used one on my basswood waterline stripe.
I past up a good amount of quality cedar because it wasn't 20' long. If I had to do it over, I would have bought some of the shorter lengths.
Enjoy the quest!
That's a funny question to me. I live in the Redwood Capital of the world and thought that finding good cedar lumber would be a cake walk, it wasn't. I did find one place close by that could get green clear cedar for me, but I wanted kiln dried. I also found a guy out in the sticks that could have milled me up some awesome Port Orford Cedar. He had his own specialty mill and dry kiln, but only if I bought a minimum of three units of lumber. I haven't won the lottery yet, so that was out.
I ended up finding my Western Red Cedar in Bend, OR, which was about an 8 hr. drive for me one way. I'm on the twisting highway 101 corridor here on the coast, not Interstate 5.
The whole experience of getting the cedar was like my introduction into the world of boat building. The local lumber places kinda cringe when they see me coming now, but I'll tell you, it pays to be picky about your wood. You are the one that is going to be laboring away with it, not the salesperson at the lumber yard.
One other thing: I had this notion of not having to use any scarf joints period. So, all the cedar that I got was 20' long, which took me some time to find. Now that I've got my feet wet building this hull, I've found that a good scarf joint is almost invisible. I'm going to be using scarf joints on my ash gunnels and I used one on my basswood waterline stripe.
I past up a good amount of quality cedar because it wasn't 20' long. If I had to do it over, I would have bought some of the shorter lengths.
Enjoy the quest!
Everything will be OK[img::]http://www.mikenchell.com/forums/images ... uryi3b.gif[/img]
Dean in Eureka, CA
Dean in Eureka, CA
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Bob/PA
Not Hiawatha
I have two canoes, a 17-foot Micmac (Hazen design) and a 15-foot Hiawatha. The latter is by far the best looking boat, but for fishing I always use the Micmac. Stability is the issue. Although the Hiawatha paddles easily and is 15 pounds lighter on the carry, and I have never dumped it, I find it just "tippy" enough to be uncomfortable when it is not moving, as it usually isn't when I am casting. The extra motion of false casting to get line out produces disconcerting lurches. (BTW, I'm 74.) I would not recommend the H. for your purposes. I've never seen a finished Bob's Special, but I suggest you need a boat with a shallower arch than the comparatively sharp Hiawatha.
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Rev320
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J.D.
fishing canoe
I, too am looking for a stable fishing canoe and am seriously considering building the Grey Owl from Carrying Place Canoes, but can't seem to find anyone who is familiar with this design.
http://www.carryingplacecanoeworks.on.c ... _list.html
Carrying Place has several good designs that would work very well for fishing. Bear Mountain designs are good designs, but appear to be more tripping/camping oriented than fishing oriented.
J.D.
http://www.carryingplacecanoeworks.on.c ... _list.html
Carrying Place has several good designs that would work very well for fishing. Bear Mountain designs are good designs, but appear to be more tripping/camping oriented than fishing oriented.
J.D.
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Bayport_Bob