Hi folks,
I have a 17' RX Penobscot. Later this week I may have a used 17' Kevlar Mad River Sundance. I'm also in the market for a used solo canoe, but until one comes up, this is what I have and I'm ready to get on the river for morel season while my partner is at work.

So my questions:
1) Are these tandems canoeable solo in mild rivers and lakes?
2) If so, what's the best method for making it work, as I've never solo'd before?
3) Any additional advice?

Thanks!
Travis

I frequently solo in my SR Q17. I believe your Penobscot has bench seats with webbing, so you should be able to do the same (This doesn't really work well with tractor/molded seats, etc.).
Sit reversed/backwards in the bow seat to better center your weight, and you're on your way (paddle the canoe backwards). Additional ballast in the bow (what is normally the stern) helps with evening out the freeboard and improves handling, especially in any wind. I use a dry bag and fill it with water (fill up at the lake/river, and you don't have to carry/portage/lug the additional weight on land). Good luck!

I have soloed my 17 foot old town tripper for the last 6 years exclusively. Yes to all of the above, sit in the front seat facing backwards, I NEVER have put ballast in it, although you can. If the forecast shows above 12mph winds I dont usually get out on the larger bodies of water, too much work fighting the wind. Even better on the rivers. Sharpen up your paddling technique, and bring enough paddle, one that will move enough water if you need it to. If it does get windy I kneel near the center thwart/yoke. I have not found it to be difficult at all and I know my boat intimately. I did just purchase a solo northwind last month however. The only downside I really see is it can get a bit heavy for long portages (mine is royalex). Enjoy.

Canadian Style solo with kneeling thwart
Like Becky Mason Canadian Style solo

This is all excellent advice! So glad I posted.

I kneel in the chines. One needs to have their paddling strokes pretty solid, but you can spin a tandem on a Dime if need be.

I mostly do it the way Othello describes. The SR Q17 has an easily removable thwart behind the bow seat that makes it easy. I do use the extra weight as it just makes it easier to sit and switch. If I just want to paddle for a bit, such as to get water from out in a lake, then I kneel in the middle.

I paddled an 18.5’ SR solo last year for a month in Quetico and sat in the stern seat. I don’t think I will do that again. The wind was a constant foe but I do think it improved my paddling skills and my ability to navigate through the wind. This year I am getting a 16’ SR and paddling backwards from the bow seat. I expect it will handle like a dream compared to last year.

Johnh: ".... am getting a 16’ SR and paddling backwards from the bow seat. I expect it will handle like a dream compared to last year. "

That works good - having done a whole trip in the SR Quetico 16 in 2003, and I might paddle this way solo again way in the future. Last year I tried out the Wenonah Encounter, but found it a little tippy for me. What worked best last year was taking out the back thwart in my Bell 17 Northwind and using a drop-in seat (now a little bent though).

I might paddle my Bell again solo, but I'm going to try installing a seat, using Northstar's drops with a contoured web seat; I'll just have to drill four holes in the aluminum gunwales. Seats & Drops That's the plan anyway, to be ready should I go solo again.

Oregon Dave Goes Solo

OregonDave,

What did you use to film this trip? I really enjoyed the quality of the video, not so much the sound.

Yeah Dave, great video but take the sock off the microphone! Just kidding, there must have been some audio issue though.

I paddled solo in a Grumman Eagle in the mid 1980's and sat in the stern seat. It's certainly doable but like others have said, stay out of the wind. You will definitely get better paddling skills doing this. Good luck!

Paddle a tandem solo only if you must. Yes, paddle it backwards, and yes put ballast in the 'front' A 25 pound rock is all you need to keep it trim.

I beg you to find a solo canoe and experience how solo canoeing should be done. I don't drive a bus to the grocery store and I don't paddle a tandem canoe when I paddle solo.

There are a lot of solo canoes for sale out there right now. Duluth Craigslist has at least two. And one is an amazing wood Merlin (not mine) that I cannot believe hasn't been snatched up.

Tom

Johnh: "I paddled an 18.5’ SR solo last year for a month in Quetico and sat in the stern seat. I don’t think I will do that again. The wind was a constant foe but I do think it improved my paddling skills and my ability to navigate through the wind. This year I am getting a 16’ SR and paddling backwards from the bow seat. I expect it will handle like a dream compared to last year. "

I have done both of these boats solo on a local lake. You will think you have hit dreamland with your new paddle.

Would love to buy an affordable used solo. I've been looking for a couple of months though now and not finding many or their too expensive.

Primarily looking for a Wenonah Wilderness, Voyageur, or similar, made out of Royalex (or similar material) for 2 week lake and river (class I-II+) trips.

If you hear of anything...

Tom -

I appreciate your encouragement on the solo boat. I do want to try one but in Northern California they are hard to come by. I have about 100 pounds of gear/food for 15 days plus a 45 pound dog so I feel a little safer in the tandem. I really don’t want to dump on a lake by myself. A solo dump seems like the ultimate canoeing disaster other than a portage fall resulting in a serious leg injury. Safety is numero uno for me on solo wilderness trips. I put a dry bag in the bow and fill it with about 4 gallons of water so I get some ballast from that and it is easy to dump and refill on portages.

I once did a 30 day trip using an 18.5 foot Wenonah Jensen CII tandem. When wind was not an issue I sat in the stern seat. When needed I would slip forward and kneel behind the center thwart and sit back on a pack with contents I could not harm. The canoe was loaded so there was space for this at any time. On narrow twisty streams I would kneel facing the stern seat. I was kneeling in front of the stern seat and looking over the stern as I paddled. I called it having "front wheel drive." It made going upstrNeam a lot easier. If we needed the canoe for another trip like that I would not hesitate.

Not absolutely necessary, but when paddling from the bow backwards I've had good luck with my long kayak paddle.

Othello: "I frequently solo in my SR Q17. I believe your Penobscot has bench seats with webbing, so you should be able to do the same (This doesn't really work well with tractor/molded seats, etc.).
Sit reversed/backwards in the bow seat to better center your weight, and you're on your way (paddle the canoe backwards). Additional ballast in the bow (what is normally the stern) helps with evening out the freeboard and improves handling, especially in any wind. I use a dry bag and fill it with water (fill up at the lake/river, and you don't have to carry/portage/lug the additional weight on land). Good luck!"

What Othello said. Works great, but avoid going out if there’s a stiff wind/chop.