Hello,

My family of 4 - son (20 yrs), daughter (15 yrs), me (53 yrs), wife (won't tell you) - are going to the BWCA. I went there three times as a Boy Scout in the early 80s.

My question is about ONE of the canoes I will be taking.

The canoe is an 18' foot aluminum. I think the brand is Sea King (but not 100% sure). Anyway, I am interested in finding out any tricks, tips, suggestions that will help make that canoe more comfortable BOTH PADDLING AND PORTAGING. Please, please, please save me from myself. Nothing is too small/too big of a suggestion.

Sounds like a heavy boat. Definitely practice portaging it before you leave, if possible. Having rented kevlars for a number of years and then switching to bringing my own aluminum boat, I found the biggest adjustment was that I needed help getting the canoe up on my shoulders, and it became a two-person operation. Once I had the canoe up and properly balanced, I didn't find portaging to be too much more difficult, but that's also because 1) I have a lightweight Alumacraft (64#) and 2) I purchased the Spring Creek Canoe Seat Yoke, which is a very comfortable yoke.

But maybe the best advice I can suggest is to make your 20 year old portage it and save your back!

I, myself, lugged an 18' aluminum canoe through the Quetico many, many times. Since its a heavier boat, I can't stress enough to make sure your yoke pads (shoulder pads) are as tight as can be and also the crossbar bolted to the canoe that the pads are connected to is secure. I've had a number of portages where, all of a sudden, the bar or pads came loose and nothing sucks more then a heavy aluminum canoe that comes crashing down on you, especially on a tough portage.

I recommend new bolts, washers, and screws if you have had a pair on there for awhile. And before you leave, tighten them as much as you can. I'd also recommend thick shoulder pads, as you're gonna want as much comfort carrying the aluminum canoe as possible.

Sounds like a fun trip! Nothing like enjoying the BWCA with the family. Have fun.

Sounds like the perfect boat for your 20 year old son. You can practice lifts and carries before the trip. He can probably handle a pack with the canoe.

I prefer an aluminum canoe as they have keels, are easy to paddle, are far more stable when loaded with rocks in high winds, and you don't have to pamper it when landing on shore.

If the canoe is real old, the brand Sea King was sold by Montgomery Wards and it may be one of theirs. Shouldering an aluminum canoe is a lost art, but easy to learn. Most people today can only use the Kevlar lifting technique, and are beyond help!! :)

If you are ever in Ely, stop by the shop and we can show you the proper way to do so.

It's all about balance baby!

We flipped aluminum -- and fiberglass and Royalex -- canoes onto our shoulders for many years in the past, mostly because that was what we were taught and we didn't know any better. The same technique we now use to flip the Kevlar boats... it's just a lot easier now on these older muscles. :-)

What's the second canoe? If it's a rented Kevlar, make sure you are nice and take turns...

Definitely practice lifting it. We used to lift aluminum canoes by grabbing it by the front thwart and fipping it on our shoulders while leaving the stern resting on the ground. It's a lot easier and the aluminum can take the abuse.

marsonite: "Definitely practice lifting it. We used to lift aluminum canoes by grabbing it by the front thwart and fipping it on our shoulders while leaving the stern resting on the ground. It's a lot easier and the aluminum can take the abuse. "

Agreed. Most of our guys wound up doing it this way pretty often, but we were borrowing or renting, so I shuddered to see the owners' reactions when they were returned. Apparently, no worries. :-)

Make sure you have a good yoke. If the canoe does not have one, install one. You may be able to remove the center thwart and replace it with a n ash yoke. Try to have the placement so the canoe is balanced. Otherwise you can attach items (such as pfds) to balance it.
Get a good set of yoke pads for the yoke.
Practice getting the canoe up onto the portager's shoulders. You need not worry about damaging it, so you can rest it on its point and walk it up. Use two or more people for the lift.
The canoe can be cold or hot and noisy. Be aware of that. You'll probably want foam pads to sit on.
On the water, you'll be fine.
In camp, you can use it as a table.
You'll be fine. Remember at one point, not all that long ago, aluminum was the lightweight canoe.

We used to use a 74# aluminum canoe. Wearing a pack made it more difficult to lift the canoe onto my husbands shoulders. So I would hold one end up with arms straight overhead (keeping the other end on the ground) while he would slip under and get in position. Then at the end of the portage I would get under the front again and together we would lift the canoe up and gently (haha) put it on the ground.

schweady: "

marsonite: "Definitely practice lifting it. We used to lift aluminum canoes by grabbing it by the front thwart and fipping it on our shoulders while leaving the stern resting on the ground. It's a lot easier and the aluminum can take the abuse. "

Agreed. Most of our guys wound up doing it this way pretty often, but we were borrowing or renting, so I shuddered to see the owners' reactions when they were returned. Apparently, no worries. :-)
"

I see no issue with this method. It has been done many times to my aluminum canoes from the newbies. I used to pick up the canoe and flip it. But in looking to change it up. I can now pick up my Grumman and shoulder it with one arm.
You may ask what's the point, no point just something different. I get bored with same ol same ol.

marsonite: "Definitely practice lifting it. We used to lift aluminum canoes by grabbing it by the front thwart and fipping it on our shoulders while leaving the stern resting on the ground. It's a lot easier and the aluminum can take the abuse. "

This is a good idea. An alternate additoin since you have a group, is one person in front doing the above suggested on coordination with the , with the middle carry person can create an easier lift for the carrry person.

Two other items to check ahead of time at home. Check the shoulder pad width for the most likely carry person. A good fit there helps a lot with heavier canoes.

Second, check/correct the balance on the canoe. Neutral, or slightly tail heavy is much better than front heavy.

Before your trip, load up backpack with 50 pounds and mow your lawn or take a walk with it on. Practice walking with a heavy load. Don’t over train, next day muscle soreness good, joint pain bad. I am currently doing this while getting ready for a trip on a treadmill at an incline. I can already feel a difference. Don’t do it everyday.

As others have suggested practice both getting the boat up on the shoulders and carrying it until you can complete what you think will be your longest portage. I started carrying a 70# royalex boat last March for a three week trip in Canada last July. After two months I could carry it comfortably for about 1/3 of a mile and I was almost 70 years old at the time of the trip. Or have 20 yo carry it.

Carried many an aluminum canoe in my earlier days. Some pointers, many of which have been addressed already:

Make sure you make lifting it onto your shoulders a two-person operation. It is very easy to become injured in any number of ways just getting the canoe lifted up.

Secondly, make sure another person in your party (your son in this case) is able to carry the canoe, should you become injured. That means that another person in your party (your wife and/or daughter) must be able to assist getting the canoe onto your son's shoulders. So, it's a family affair.

Lastly, practice before you leave. Practice in a grassy area where the boat will not become hurt, dented, punctured, etc, should she get dropped.

Good luck.

Mike

Practice swearing.sometimes it helps

One thing I haven't seen brought up yet, is good footwear for the portages. You can do everything right getting it up on your shoulders and such, but one slip on a portage because of poor footing and nothing matters at that point. Not sure what you wear, but I would personally avoid sandals and find something that has good ankle support and decent lugs for traction/footing. There are all sorts of threads on here about boots/footwear you can search. I know a lot of people wetfoot, but that seems like an invitation to blisters to me and they're not fun when you're trying to carry 80lbs+ on your shoulders.

Interesting ideas. A few suggestions. NEVER pick up a canoe on land unless you have to. Been going to the Boundary Waters since 1957 and we always followed the wet feet rule. We had wet shoes and dry shoes. Before the advent of real wet shoes low cut Converse All Stars were the best. Picking up a canoe in the water means if anything happens you and the boat end up in the water, not banged up on the land. Portaged my first aluminum when I was 13 and picked it up out of the water. There is no more wretched sound than a canoe scraping gravel because no one wants to get their feet wet. When the Somers guides used green Seligas the unwritten rule was you had to bring them in without a scratch.

Picking up a canoe is all technique. Get some one who knows what they are doing to show you. Then practice it. It's all in the flip motion you make. If you are having trouble getting it up, bring it up to your hip first and rest it there, then do the flip. Having watched people portaging the last few years, it seems like the art of doing the flip is becoming endangered. One of the best I saw at this was none other than Dorothy Moulter.

As for portaging the advice about a yoke is well taken. Patty Borquin in Ely used to make great yokes. I used to make my own out of high density foam. That way I could customize the fit.

Once you have the boat up take a second to balance it. You should be able to portage a well balanced canoe with no hands, using your neck muscles to make small corrections. You definitely should be able to portage using one hand. Having done the nine mile a number of times plus bush whacking portages up in the Canadian bush, you need to be able to switch hands on a long portage.

You don't know portaging until you've picked up a Grumman with water in the bow tank while standing there with an 85 pound food pack. Or try a square stern that weighs in at 125.

Thanks one AND ALL for the suggestions, advise and guidance. I can tell I got a hold of the right group of people.

Put the pack on that the person who is carrying the canoe will be wearing. The pack straps can affect how the canoe pads sit on your shoulders. Adjust the pads if needed.

Old guide2 is correct, but left out a bit of instruction in the lifting method. When you grab the canoe with your right hand, lift up one side and lean it on your thigh-then grab the middle of the yoke and pull it up still resting it on the thigh. Hold it in this position with your left hand on the edge of the canoe next to where the yoke is attached.
Then wrap your right forearm underneath the canoe and flip it up using your legs to move upward at the same time. The pads of the yoke should land squarely on your shoulders when you do this.
Like he said, try it with a square stern with gear strapped in, and a pack on the back-now you're portaging!!!!! :)

I would find a lighter canoe. I have two alumacraft canoes that are basically aircraft carriers. They weigh around 95 lbs. I'm also 53, and I don't want to portage those more than 20 or 30 rods. My canoes are very wide, and very stable, and are great for basecamping, when I don't have to portage, or portage much, but they are brutal for portaging.

For any who don't know, you can often rent canoes from local universities and community colleges. The Univ of Minnesota will rent canoes and camping gear to you. It's cheaper than other options if you have a way to transport the canoes. The community colleges are even cheaper than the U of M.

Last time we went to Crooked lake in 2005, we rented 63 lb fiberglass canoes from Inver Hills community college. I think they might have been Old Town Pack canoes or something like that. If you had a student ID, they were $27 for a week. We did not, so they were $45 for the week. Granted that was 13 years ago, but even at that time those canoes would have rented for over $100 for the week elsewhere.

So if your son is 20, and a college student somewhere, I would check and see what he can rent with his student ID. You might be able to get into something that's 50 or 60 lbs instead of 85 or 90, relatively cheap, and your knees and shoulders will thank you.

When I was younger, 33 or less, did old Gruman and/or Old Town. It is doable for sure, but does basically hurt on longer portages. Might wanna rent kevlar or have son do it, with the boat his primary responsibility. I always want others to want to come back, so tend to make easier trip when with family/etc., than if doing solo or with other guys.

For any who don't know, you can often rent canoes from local universities and community colleges. The Univ of Minnesota will rent canoes and camping gear to you. It's cheaper than other options if you have a way to transport the canoes. The community colleges are even cheaper than the U of M.

Sadly, when I looked at the U of M's site this year, they no longer list Duluth Packs for rent. I rented from them in the past (they were cheap), but now it's going to be outfitters near the BWCA that get my money if I need an extra pack.

dasunt: "

For any who don't know, you can often rent canoes from local universities and community colleges. The Univ of Minnesota will rent canoes and camping gear to you. It's cheaper than other options if you have a way to transport the canoes. The community colleges are even cheaper than the U of M.

Sadly, when I looked at the U of M's site this year, they no longer list Duluth Packs for rent. I rented from them in the past (they were cheap), but now it's going to be outfitters near the BWCA that get my money if I need an extra pack."

I'm kind of at a loss for words when reading this post about renting canoes and camping gear from local universities and Community Colleges.
With all the talk about northern Minnesota not needing mining or other jobs frowned upon by certain groups, one would assume the canoeist would do everything they could to help the local economy by renting their gear (if needed) from an outfitter that tries to earn a living in a community on the edge of the BWCA.
Amazing!! :(

I may have missed how many portages or how many days you plan to be out. I used to use the old metal canoes. Probably did so for 25 years. I am built to run distance, not hoist and carry canoes. But I was able to do it even though I often thought I might just die.
By the time I hit about 50 i had switched to Kevlar and never looked back.
My advice? If you are taking a limited number of portages I would certainly take the aluminum canoe. If you are out for a number of days and are taking a fair number of portages I would give some serious thought to renting a Kevlar. Unless, of course, your 20 year old is a strong young lad!

The Great Outdoors: "

dasunt: "

For any who don't know, you can often rent canoes from local universities and community colleges. The Univ of Minnesota will rent canoes and camping gear to you. It's cheaper than other options if you have a way to transport the canoes. The community colleges are even cheaper than the U of M.

Sadly, when I looked at the U of M's site this year, they no longer list Duluth Packs for rent. I rented from them in the past (they were cheap), but now it's going to be outfitters near the BWCA that get my money if I need an extra pack."

I'm kind of at a loss for words when reading this post about renting canoes and camping gear from local universities and Community Colleges.
With all the talk about northern Minnesota not needing mining or other jobs frowned upon by certain groups, one would assume the canoeist would do everything they could to help the local economy by renting their gear (if needed) from an outfitter that tries to earn a living in a community on the edge of the BWCA.
Amazing!! :("

Point is that he plans to rent from NO ONE at the moment. Assuming $$ is the reason, why not point out options that will help him love the BWCA within a budget?

But YES - you would also have tons of rental options closer to the BWCA as well, and many reasonably priced. Some even "rent to own", lol!

BWP - a fellow TarHeel!

BWPaddler: "

The Great Outdoors: "

dasunt: "

For any who don't know, you can often rent canoes from local universities and community colleges. The Univ of Minnesota will rent canoes and camping gear to you. It's cheaper than other options if you have a way to transport the canoes. The community colleges are even cheaper than the U of M.

Sadly, when I looked at the U of M's site this year, they no longer list Duluth Packs for rent. I rented from them in the past (they were cheap), but now it's going to be outfitters near the BWCA that get my money if I need an extra pack."

I'm kind of at a loss for words when reading this post about renting canoes and camping gear from local universities and Community Colleges.
With all the talk about northern Minnesota not needing mining or other jobs frowned upon by certain groups, one would assume the canoeist would do everything they could to help the local economy by renting their gear (if needed) from an outfitter that tries to earn a living in a community on the edge of the BWCA.
Amazing!! :("

Point is that he plans to rent from NO ONE at the moment. Assuming $$ is the reason, why not point out options that will help him love the BWCA within a budget?
But YES - you would also have tons of rental options closer to the BWCA as well, and many reasonably priced. Some even "rent to own", lol!
BWP - a fellow TarHeel!"

True enough, but point is the more a person attempts to save from getting their gear to use in the BWCA by purchasing them from businesses far away, will make more and more businesses that rely on the summer visitor's tourist dollars, go out of business.
When traveling through Ely, look at the number of empty buildings.
Every dollar spent elsewhere has contributed to this happening!

Not to be too feisty but NEVER pick up a canoe by the yoke or a pack by the ears. If you have aluminum yokes for the canoe its probably OK to use the yoke. But the wrong amount of pressure at the wrong time can crack a yoke or screw up a yoke pad. If you are going to use the yoke you put one hand under the yoke closest to you like you are doing a curl and the top hand over the yoke, then do the flip.

If you are at all worried and have enough portages to make it daunting for you, then I agree with several posters that you should rent Kevlar. I also support using local outfitters whether in Ely or Grand Marais. One of them can even walk you through how to put up a canoe. If you see someone at a portage doing it well ask them for tips.

One final last minute suggestion. If nothing else you can always put the front end on a tree branch or in the crotch of a tree, then walk under and pick it up.