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02/18/2020 03:14PM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
Like WIMIKE in the gear forum, I possibly have a need to tow. A group of 5 with only 3 old enough to effectively paddle make our crew. Has anyone tried to tow one canoe with another? With or without an adult in the canoe being towed? What made it work if it did?

We could rent a large canoe, but would like to have 2 canoes in camp for fishing the area there.

We will not be using a kayak, so that is off the table. Single paddling in the 16 foot canoe seems a lot of extra work to keep up with the other canoe. Your thoughts.
 
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02/18/2020 03:50PM  
I think that will lead to frustration. Invariably one boat will move not in line with the other and the cycle of slack/snap will get to be a pain in the butt and make you go slower. Put a strong adult in the stern of the boat with one of the kiddos in the bow, maybe the other riding duffer in the space behind the bow paddler to help trim. The other canoe can paddle a little more gently if the effective soloist is unable to keep up.
02/18/2020 04:13PM  
totally agree with MIRTH. The back and forth movement can also lead to the following boat to tip dumping everything inside.
02/18/2020 04:23PM  
Not a good idea. Wind and waves will be a big issue. I would go with a big tandem or 3 person and a solo. Solos are faster than you might think.
cyclones30
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02/18/2020 06:20PM  
No way I'd tow unless you could guarantee low winds (not possible) and if you were only going a lake or two in from the entry.

I'd get a solo and 3 person like a Seneca. Put the 2 kids in the middle of the 3 person. You're going to be portaging 2 boats...you might as well have someone paddle/control it. Solo's can be faster than you think if done right and loaded properly. (and practiced ahead of time)
nooneuno
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02/18/2020 07:16PM  
Kayaks get way to bad of a rap around here.

Can the kayaker not throw his pack in the canoe and carry his boat across and come back for the pack?

Believe it or not there are quick attach yokes that can clip on a yak in seconds and make it very easy to carry.

I often wonder how many of the folks bashing kayaks have any personal experience with them....

02/18/2020 07:33PM  
bwcadan: "Like WIMIKE in the gear forum, I possibly have a need to tow. A group of 5 with only 3 old enough to effectively paddle make our crew. Has anyone tried to tow one canoe with another? With or without an adult in the canoe being towed? What made it work if it did?

We could rent a large canoe, but would like to have 2 canoes in camp for fishing the area there.

We will not be using a kayak, so that is off the table. Single paddling in the 16 foot canoe seems a lot of extra work to keep up with the other canoe. Your thoughts."


I hear you on this one. I’ve got a very similar issue for a June trip this year. Two kids (9 and 6) each along with me and my dad. I was debating towing my solo behind us when traveling, but I decided that it makes more sense for someone to paddle it. If the weather and waves are friendly, I’ll have my 9 year old use a kayak paddle and go for it. He can cruise at a good clip and will have no problem keeping up with us. If there’s some chop out there, I’ll have my dad paddle the solo and my son will take the bow of my tandem with my daughter sitting right behind him for trim purposes. We’re heading across Snowbank toward the Disappointment portage if the weather is good. If choppy, we’ll head for the Parent portage. I would recommend having someone paddle solo, solo boats can go just as fast as tandems if the paddler is competent. Good luck!

Tony
Ohiopikeman
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02/18/2020 08:37PM  
Do not plan on towing a canoe! As others have said, it will be an exercise in frustration as the towed boat will not track in a straight line.

I suggest putting your strongest paddler in the stern of a tandem canoe. Put your heaviest kit in the bow, and the lighter kid set-up right behind them on the floor of the canoe with a small chair (low as possible center of gravity). I've done this multiple times and it works quite well; generally the kids like to be together as well. I don't count on the bow paddler for any real pulling power, but encourage them to help as much as they can.

When fishing, make sure to stay relatively close to canoe #2 as unhooking a bigger fish from the bow paddler can be a bit challenging.

Dave
02/18/2020 09:14PM  
I'd second the general consensus of not towing the second canoe. When my kids were younger (and because I solo a lot), I usually took the youngest and placed her in the bow as "ballast" and I paddled the boat as though i were solo. We usually chose routes that were at least somewhat protected from the wind and the kids got a kick out of holding the paddle and occasionally paddling. If there are two adults in your group, you could follow a similar strategy. You'll make it work I'm sure!
02/18/2020 09:41PM  
unless you've had some experience towing a canoe , i agree with everyone , can be very dangerous especially in windy conditions , but this is the proper way to tie up , which will keep it from swaying from side to side. canoe tow
luft
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02/19/2020 02:07AM  
shock: "unless you've had some experience towing a canoe , i agree with everyone , can be very dangerous especially in windy conditions..."


Disappointment is one of those lakes that can really get rocking and rolling with big waves so be careful.

It might be worth it have a day to test drive that solo if your Dad hasn't had experience in that type of boat. Some find a double blade paddle easier to use in solos, others are partial to single blade use.

Personally I prefer to use a double blade on bigger water. It gives me better control over the wind effects on my solo.
ZaraSp00k
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02/19/2020 07:15AM  
nooneuno: "Kayaks get way to bad of a rap around here.


Can the kayaker not throw his pack in the canoe and carry his boat across and come back for the pack?


Believe it or not there are quick attach yokes that can clip on a yak in seconds and make it very easy to carry.


I often wonder how many of the folks bashing kayaks have any personal experience with them....


"


yes, and people seem to miss the obvious:
you can portage a kayak without emptying them if you have two people, one grab the front T handle and the other grab the rear, these two people can even be hauling a pack on their back from the canoe

portaging a kayak can be quicker than a canoe done in this fashion, but of course there is a law against two people portaging a boat in the BWCA/Quetico ... must only be done by one person with boat riding on shoulders, the fine for breaking this rule is extremely harsh so few do it
02/19/2020 08:02AM  
I've done a 5 day 25 mile trip with two 10 year olds lillydipping in the front, and me providing 110% of the propulsion with a double-blade in the rear of a meyers sportspal - one of the least efficient hulls known to man...
I can't say I want to repeat that, but it is certainly possible, and would be much more manageable in a better canoe.
Then your other two capable paddlers have a regular tandem situation.

But I'd rent an 18 or even 20 footer and put 4 in it, including your two nonpaddlers, and then rent a solo as well.
02/19/2020 02:21PM  
ZaraSp00k: "portaging a kayak can be quicker than a canoe done in this fashion, but of course there is a law against two people portaging a boat in the BWCA/Quetico ... must only be done by one person with boat riding on shoulders, the fine for breaking this rule is extremely harsh so few do it"


I've done that a few times but over any real distance, carrying a load like this is bad for your back. You have all the weight on one side and that also tends to push you off the trail. I've done it where 2 people carry the canoe at once too. That is worse because every step needs to be aligned in order to not be fighting each the whole way, but you still get pushed and pulled off the trail or into mud/puddles. Carrying canoes and kayaks alone is how people tend to do it for a reason, that way you can manage the load easier. If you ever have to cross a boardwalk, 2-man carries are dangerous.
02/21/2020 06:39PM  
Pontoon them together will be stable as all get out, but not the fastest. we used to do it all the time on big lakes
Acook13
  
02/21/2020 09:15PM  
ZaraSp00k: "
nooneuno: "Kayaks get way to bad of a rap around here.



Can the kayaker not throw his pack in the canoe and carry his boat across and come back for the pack?



Believe it or not there are quick attach yokes that can clip on a yak in seconds and make it very easy to carry.



I often wonder how many of the folks bashing kayaks have any personal experience with them....



"



yes, and people seem to miss the obvious:
you can portage a kayak without emptying them if you have two people, one grab the front T handle and the other grab the rear, these two people can even be hauling a pack on their back from the canoe


portaging a kayak can be quicker than a canoe done in this fashion, but of course there is a law against two people portaging a boat in the BWCA/Quetico ... must only be done by one person with boat riding on shoulders, the fine for breaking this rule is extremely harsh so few do it"



Where did you find the rule that only one person may carry a boat?
Gomer
Guest Paddler
  
02/23/2020 07:02AM  
ZaraSp00k: "
nooneuno: "Kayaks get way to bad of a rap around here.



Can the kayaker not throw his pack in the canoe and carry his boat across and come back for the pack?



Believe it or not there are quick attach yokes that can clip on a yak in seconds and make it very easy to carry.



I often wonder how many of the folks bashing kayaks have any personal experience with them....



"



yes, and people seem to miss the obvious:
you can portage a kayak without emptying them if you have two people, one grab the front T handle and the other grab the rear, these two people can even be hauling a pack on their back from the canoe


portaging a kayak can be quicker than a canoe done in this fashion, but of course there is a law against two people portaging a boat in the BWCA/Quetico ... must only be done by one person with boat riding on shoulders, the fine for breaking this rule is extremely harsh so few do it"


Is it more than the fine for double portaging?
 
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