anyone use a canoe in rough water?

[buckslayer]

anyone use a canoe in semi open water, 1-1 1/2 feet seas, or 15 mhp winds? i got the duck bug but cant afford a boat, but have any oldtown canoe. i need to cross about 1/4 mile of open water in the conditions mentioned. ya think its safe? thanks for any info!

[deltecs]

When I lived in Pa almost 40 years ago, I nearly lived in a canoe.  We had 2 of them, both aged Old Town that had been fiberglassed over.  I used to run the Alleghany river from Port Alleghany to Oil City, at least twice a year.  Lots of rapids then before the Kinzua dam.  I also used them on Lake Erie during summer months.  I think for a 1/4-2 miles, there is little likelyhood of too much danger, if appropriate safety precautions are taken.  Wear life jacket, paddle from the middle of the boat instead of from the ends, kneel in the centerline with knees against the chine, strap an extra paddle to the thwarts, and learn to be proficient in canoe strokes and paddling, like "j" stroke, sculling, and back strokes.  Learn how to upright an overturned canoe, the stern downward push to partially empty one overturned, and the proper method to get into a canoe from the water.  Use common sense, like not wearing heavy boots or waders in the canoe.  Footgear in a canoe should be easily removed, if he finds himself in the water.  One ought to be very proficient and comfortable with his craft, before attempting any questionalbe outing.  Learn how to manuver the canoe on a calm lake and practice paddle strokes to get the feel of the canoe's capability.  I'm sure there are some Boy Scout troops in your area and think they might be able to lend you the canoeing merit badge manual.  All those techniques are covered in the book and easily learned.  Have fun.

[Chilachuck]

I only know two people who tried that sort of thing.

The canoes were found, washed up on the shore, many miles away.

Use a kayak, and learn to roll.

[AWS]

Being from northern MN and WI you get your canoe before your first car and you spend the year fishing, ricing, trapping and hunting out of it.  I take mine out on Puget Sound, most of the larger bays along the pacific coast, and larger inland resivours here in WA.  Most of the locals think I'm nuts but I'm comfortable in a canoe.

My suggestion is take your canoe out now in August in warm water and see what it takes.  Wear a life jacket.   Set your canoe up so nothing is loose and can shift if you get too far over.  I had a couple boxes of traps shift on me once and I ended up in the drink with the air temp -20, only the grace of God, a life jaceket and a match safe let talk about it.   Before your venture into open waters with a canoe you have to be very very comfortable and experienced.

One thing don't be afraid to spend the night somewhere and be prepared for it.  If a unexpected wind comes up build a fire, cook something for dinner and get comfortable being late for work the next day is better than never getting there again.

I carry a drybag in the canoe with a change of cloths also.

AWS

[deltecs]

Being from northern MN and WI you get your canoe before your first car and you spend the year fishing, ricing, trapping and hunting out of it.  I take mine out on Puget Sound, most of the larger bays along the pacific coast, and larger inland resivours here in WA.  Most of the locals think I'm nuts but I'm comfortable in a canoe.

My suggestion is take your canoe out now in August in warm water and see what it takes.  Wear a life jacket.   Set your canoe up so nothing is loose and can shift if you get too far over.  I had a couple boxes of traps shift on me once and I ended up in the drink with the air temp -20, only the grace of God, a life jaceket and a match safe let talk about it.   Before your venture into open waters with a canoe you have to be very very comfortable and experienced.

One thing don't be afraid to spend the night somewhere and be prepared for it.  If a unexpected wind comes up build a fire, cook something for dinner and get comfortable being late for work the next day is better than never getting there again.

I carry a drybag in the canoe with a change of cloths also.

AWS

This was my exact point.  An experienced canoeist can go a long way on most any water, if he is competent and keeps his common sense.  I venture to guess the 2 accidents mentioned were not by competent canoeists or they did not use their common sense.

[PartsMan]

I've flipped a canoe in calm water if that helps?

Seriously get some practice first.

[Chilachuck]

I venture to guess the 2 accidents mentioned were not by competent canoeists or they did not use their common sense.

I don't know much about them but that they'd been using canoes for years.

Don't know if they were sober, either.

[deltecs]

I've been a water rat for my entire life, first in PA as swimmer, life guard, canoeist, and motor boating.  I live in Alaska with my house on piling where the high tide actually goes beneath the house.  I own and use, 5 aluminum 22' open skiffs with 100 HP outboards, a 36' fiberglass seine boat, a 75' fiberglass commercial fishing tender, and myriads of small rowing and paddling boats.  One the first rules learned was that alcohol and water do not mix.   I have a 0 tolerance for anyone on my vessels, either in port, at anchorage, or traveling.  In the past, I've found this to be an excellent policy.  It wasn't until 20 years after I implemented my policy that the drunken captain of the Exxon Valdez hit Bligh Reef and cost me untold hundreds of thousands of dollars in the resulting oil spill, which I have and will not be compensated for fully.  I might get $.10 on the dollar.  I don't care if my friends when out out hunting care to drink in the crew quarters or my home at night, but no drinking whatsoever during the day, if we are going to do anything by boat.  Too many other dangerous variables can negatively impact boating without the addition of alcohol induced stupidity.  I make no exceptions to this hard and fast rule.  It is immediate termination on discovery for my crew.