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Wintersguy80
senior member (59)senior membersenior member
  
03/13/2019 02:56PM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
It's been almost 20 years since I have been in the BW. Couldn't be more excited about this trip with my dad. We decided to switch it up and take kayaks. I have a dagger axis 10.5, I know small boat for the bw. I have sized down my gear to fit it all I will need. Dad has a 126 OT loon and again has downsized equipment. Any tips or stories to tell about kayaking in the bw. Any other ideas for home yolks? Or even good premade was worth the money? Hope to hear fro. Some of you. Have a great day.
 
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03/13/2019 06:25PM  
Welcome. .
One of the primary issues with kayaks is portaging. Some kayaks are not designed to be weight bearing around the cockpit and yokes that work well for other boats run the risk of cracking the plastic. Without a yoke most kayaks are lousy to carry more than a few rods. And with the smaller boats you won't want to be on the bigger lakes. All of this and more with a few solutions can be had by reading other posts on the kayak special group forum.

Enjoy and let us know how it goes.
 
Wintersguy80
senior member (59)senior membersenior member
  
03/13/2019 07:07PM  
Yep very aware of the postings in here about kayaks.. lots of good info. I have had mine out on bigger lakes and even lake michigan.. though it was fairly calm that day. Portaging will be done either with a homemade yoke or shoulder carry as my boat is only 49 lbs. Gear will be in a number of dry bags in the rear hatch, pulled out and quickly pack in a Portage pack then put back. Not worried about the little extra time it takes to do this. And honestly my experience has been that in wind on bigger lakes kayaks do better (wearing a spray skirt) than canoes. On flat water there is no difference I feel. Couldnt be more excited and just trying to get the topic of kayaks rolling again as many posts are years old. Technology changes and gear advances, just looking to see what people have been trying.
 
BearBurrito
distinguished member(979)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
03/15/2019 10:37AM  
I take my 126 loon to the BWCA every year, I love it. I pack like a backpacker so gear has never been a problem. I bought a solo yoke and it works great for me. I single portage. Sleeping gear and clothes goes in the dry hatch, cooking supplies and food goes in a dry bag in front of my feet. I don't remove anything to portage, just slap the yoke on and go.
 
Wintersguy80
senior member (59)senior membersenior member
  
03/15/2019 11:06AM  
What kind of yoke did you buy? I'm in the middle of buying smaller lighter gear... I love the mobility of a kayak. Portaging shouldn't be to bad we ate base camping and day tripping so light weight hauls most of the trip..
 
BearBurrito
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03/15/2019 12:47PM  
 
katoyaker
member (17)member
  
04/05/2019 06:14PM  
I have some pigs for kayaks. Native Slayer 13 and 10 (pedal drive not installed, of course). They weigh 113 and 90 lbs or so and we carried them on two 80 rod portages on Fall lake last year.

Although a pain in the butt, moved slow and tried to kill us portaging, we were only ones out in the chop, super stable in strong winds and can stand up and stretch without tipping.

We have dreams of coming up with better portage equipment.... Or just avoid portages, which is why we are going to Quetico next year.
 
Wintersguy80
senior member (59)senior membersenior member
  
04/05/2019 06:23PM  
Wow those would be alot to Portage. Our boats are both 50 er so pounds. Shouldnt be to bad for the couple portages we will have when loaded down as we will.be base camping and day paddling with lighter loads.. already have testbloaded besides food,allowed room, and a couple things I know will fit everything fits great with room left and nothing outside the boat.
 
katoyaker
member (17)member
  
04/06/2019 04:03PM  
They are.... Have an idea to make a litter-carry that is portable and reduce the strain on the handles (and on the people carrying them). It would limit our ability to portage over extreme terrain and tight turns, but at least enables us to portage.
 
ockycamper
distinguished member(1372)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
03/27/2021 06:15PM  
We have taken kayaks twice to BWCA. One year we took 3 17 foot sea kayaks. Water was rough and they sliced right through. Down side was they were the heavy plastic type and were a bear to portage.

Another year two guys brought "rec boats". . .12 foot large cockpit kayaks. They never did keep up with the canoes and has a terrible time on portages.

My current kayak for BWCA is a 17 1/2 foot composite touring kayak with water tight front and rear hatches. I used large tapered drybags in the two hatches. At the portages, just slide out the font and rear drybag, and carry them over the portage using the kayak paddle as a yoke. Then come tack for the kayak and using a "noodle" shoulder carry it through.
 
DianeG
  
04/23/2021 12:36PM  
A noodle! What a great idea. Do you slit it and slide it over the edge of the cockpit?
 
marrowoflife
member (46)member
  
04/25/2021 07:23PM  
DianeG: "A noodle! What a great idea. Do you slit it and slide it over the edge of the cockpit?"
Not OP, but I do exactly that. I seem to have misplaced my designated noodles [at least it'll be a cheap replacement :) ], otherwise I would include a picture. Honestly almost any size works, but if you want to experiment it's worth it to see which works best for you. I like it so much that I put one on each side (and have them wrap around and meet at the rear of the cockpit) so that it cushions my shoulder and the lower edge is cushioned against my hip. Additionally, I don't go crazy with the thickness of the noodle (here's where experimentation comes in...) so that I can leave them attached the entire trip. I have a pretty narrow cockpit I can get in and out of and these aren't a hindrance while traveling, but rather a nice cushion your legs sometimes push against... instead of the plastic edge.
 
ockycamper
distinguished member(1372)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
05/05/2021 06:56PM  
Yes. I slit the noodle and slide it on the edge of the cockpit, then carry the kayak one shoulder.
 
ockycamper
distinguished member(1372)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
05/05/2021 06:56PM  
Yes. I slit the noodle and slide it on the edge of the cockpit, then carry the kayak one shoulder.
 
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