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Boundary Waters Quetico Forum Gear Forum Removable solo yokes |
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04/07/2018 01:53PM
I started tying it to the thwart with a short piece of paracord after Mike at Rockwood did that with the one I rented from him. I may start just moving it back and forward on the gunwales and tightening like some others; not sure which will ultimately be the simplest.
04/07/2018 03:56PM
I just set mine on the floor under the seat. My philosophy is the less steps on a portage the better. Oh sure. A bunch of little things to do adds up. I have my routine and like it. if I ever take a swim it will go in the drink. It floats. I'll be able to get it.
04/07/2018 06:31PM
I should mention that when it's tied on with a proper length of cord just long enough to reach to where it clamps on, it's not tied, untied, and re-tied every time - just the first and last time. It seems like it would only be a tad more to slide back and forth on gunwales and might be more out of the way . . .
04/08/2018 07:48AM
I don't normally tether it but I keep one of those 12 inch "gear ties" (like a big rubber twist tie) wrapped around a thwart. Then if I'm doing a rough crossing I will make sure the yoke gets tethered to the thwart in case of a capsize.
Usually I'll just stick the yoke up by my small pack in the bow.
Usually I'll just stick the yoke up by my small pack in the bow.
"Life is not about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself." --- George Bernard Shaw
04/08/2018 01:16PM
I always secure my removable portage yoke in my solo canoes. I just use a simple elastic 'paddle leash' that always stays connected to my solo canoe. They can be found at many canoe, kayak, and SUP board retailers.
North Water Bungy Paddle Leash PRO
Consider the conditions that may have swamped or overturned my canoe in the first place; large waves, erratic current, an over active dog, or I just plain screw up. I want the ability to recover my yoke and not have it float away in the event I send put myself and my gear in the drink.
Hans Solo
Water reflects not only clouds and trees and cliffs, but all the infinite variations of mind and spirit we bring to it. – Sigurd Olson
04/08/2018 09:47PM
mr.barley: "I'm pretty sure a wooden yoke with foam pads would float."
I get that but in a rough water capsize it could be lost. I usually clip my packs in the boat too if I'm in a somewhat dangerous situation on a large lake.
"Life is not about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself." --- George Bernard Shaw
04/09/2018 06:38AM
TomT: "mr.barley: "I'm pretty sure a wooden yoke with foam pads would float."
I get that but in a rough water capsize it could be lost. I usually clip my packs in the boat too if I'm in a somewhat dangerous situation on a large lake.
"
From personal experience, everything ends up at about the same place on shore. But that is my concern - dumping in the middle of a lake.
04/09/2018 06:57AM
To be honest, bill, I can't find any downside in my experience to tying it on and it would be one less thing to worry about in a capsize. It takes less time than it takes to attach the painters, then it sits behind the seat same as before until I need it, then just gets clamped right in front of the seat at a portage same as before. At the other end, it just gets unclamped and set back behind the seat again same as before. Maybe I'm missing some disadvantage to it, but I can't imagine what it would be . . . ?
Blatz mentioned extra steps add up - and I agree - but there are no extra steps at a portage, only at the entry and exit. Otherwise everything remains attached and works just the same as before.
You can always try it for a trip. A short piece of paracord just long enough to tie to the thwart behind the seat and the yoke and reach to where you attach it on your canoe. It takes a few seconds to tie it to both or remove it any time it's not working out for you.
Blatz mentioned extra steps add up - and I agree - but there are no extra steps at a portage, only at the entry and exit. Otherwise everything remains attached and works just the same as before.
You can always try it for a trip. A short piece of paracord just long enough to tie to the thwart behind the seat and the yoke and reach to where you attach it on your canoe. It takes a few seconds to tie it to both or remove it any time it's not working out for you.
04/09/2018 07:36AM
billconner: "
From personal experience, everything ends up at about the same place on shore. But that is my concern - dumping in the middle of a lake. "
I thought Stu made a great point in the latest Boundary Waters Journal when he said he canoes on the windy side of a lake, not the lee side protected by trees, if he thinks it's dangerous. His reasoning is you will be blown into the near shore if capsized. Otherwise you could drift across the lake and potentially die of hypothermia if capsized.
I've always known this but it's not intuitive to paddle on the windy side of the lake to me. But it's the smart move logically.
"Life is not about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself." --- George Bernard Shaw
04/09/2018 08:52AM
I paddled in a wind shadow up the length of Agnes Lake in Quetico.
No way would I have paddled on the lee side.. The waves were crashing up 15 feet onto shore and a capsize would have resulted in serious trauma fast
I was about two feet from shore.. If I had capsized I would have been able to swim out.
Bodies IN the water are affected by currents and much less by wind.. Bodies ON the water have to worry about wind.
Thats why you will be safe but your canoe may very well be blown across the lake.
And why you should use painters and wear a ditch kit.
Not just my opinion. Its the principle for kayak SAR planning on the ocean in Maine and is taught to prospective Maine Guides
No way would I have paddled on the lee side.. The waves were crashing up 15 feet onto shore and a capsize would have resulted in serious trauma fast
I was about two feet from shore.. If I had capsized I would have been able to swim out.
Bodies IN the water are affected by currents and much less by wind.. Bodies ON the water have to worry about wind.
Thats why you will be safe but your canoe may very well be blown across the lake.
And why you should use painters and wear a ditch kit.
Not just my opinion. Its the principle for kayak SAR planning on the ocean in Maine and is taught to prospective Maine Guides
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