Due to unfortunate circumstances for one of our group members there is a pretty good chance we are down to only 3. I will be paddling solo for the first time, I will have a solo canoe. We leave Saturday Morning at 5 am. That doesn’t leave me much time to research although I’ll do what I can. Anyone have any quick tips or tricks?

Thanks!

JC

Have someone help you get in or out until you get the hang of it, just like they might hold the bow in a tandem for the rear person getting in or something.

You'll have differing opinions on this, but I'd recommend taking a kayak style paddle for the solo. Easier to hold your course into a head wind vs hit and switch all the time or using different stroke styles. (the quick and easy way to go straight)

Be prepared to re-arrange your load in the boat to change the trim if needed. Once you find a happy medium setup you'll probably be good, but be flexible. Otherwise, have a good time! You'll be fine

Yes, and hopefully the tandem paddlers can be mellow at times: the tandem tends to be faster. It is good to stay within reasonable distance of each other. Of course, that may not be the case, if you are more the experienced paddler...

I also recommend the yak paddle for solo (rent a long one, if you don't have one), and have your regular blade along for breaks and such.

I suggest taking both a double blade and single blade. Getting in you want to hold both gunwales, keep your weight low, and step right on the center line and get your butt down. The pack will be good behind you, but you may need to have a smaller one to put weight forward for trim. And you'll have a removable yoke to put on/off at portages. It goes right in front of the seat at the balance point.

I was thinking of taking the kayak paddle since we usually carry a spare anyways. Would it be helpful to have a smaller pack, maybe 20 lbs to use for the trim? I feel like it would be a pain to slide around my main pack that will be closer to 50 lbs.

boonie: "I suggest taking both a double blade and single blade. Getting in you want to hold both gunwales, keep your weight low, and step right on the center line and get your butt down. The pack will be good behind you, but you may need to have a smaller one to put weight forward for trim. And you'll have a removable yoke to put on/off at portages. It goes right in front of the seat at the balance point. "

Thanks Boonie, you answered my question while I was typing it. How heavy should that smaller pack be for using to trim?

rtallent: "Yes, and hopefully the tandem paddlers can be mellow at times: the tandem tends to be faster. It is good to stay within reasonable distance of each other. Of course, that may not be the case, if you are more the experienced paddler..."

We are all similarly skilled paddlers, however I feel like I’m willing to work harder to keep up then they would be. That is why I volunteered to be solo. I also like a challenge and always wanted to try solo paddling.

You might consider renting a 3 man canoe?

A dry bag, filled with water to whatever level makes sense, can be used to trim a solo if you only have one pack and would otherwise be struggling....

adam: "You might consider renting a 3 man canoe?"

We talked about it, but I’m not sure when the next chance will be for me to go in a solo. So I’m going for it! I’ve paddled on and off my whole life even as a kid. I’m no expert but I’m also not in a race. I’m looking forward to it!

sns: "A dry bag, filled with water to whatever level makes sense, can be used to trim a solo if you only have one pack and would otherwise be struggling...."

I just repacked. I’ll have two packs in my canoe. One will be about 40 lbs, the other 15-20 lbs. We typically double portage anyways.

ALWAYS have a second paddle handy. If you group's pace is casual you should be just fine. Solo canoes being narrower have nice glide and are usually more efficient than a wider tandems. It might take your fist day getting used to it. I also like to have about a 10 foot length of rope tied to the bow grab handle. It comes in handy at poor landings. Hold on to the rope to keep your canoe with you at those poor landings you're likely to encounter.

Papa09: "

sns: "A dry bag, filled with water to whatever level makes sense, can be used to trim a solo if you only have one pack and would otherwise be struggling...."

I just repacked. I’ll have two packs in my canoe. One will be about 40 lbs, the other 15-20 lbs. We typically double portage anyways. "

That's typically the way mine is and works fine. I put the small one in front of me and push it farther forward as necessary.

If your solo canoe style is such that you partially kneel while in the seat, I'd recommend some knee padding. My Bell Wildfire is designed this way, your legs tucked under the seat, so I use a piece of closed cell foam pad which runs gunnel to gunnel on the floor, so I can shift my knees around for comfort, but always be against the pad, vs. floor of boat. I'd also suggest painters (ropes, each end, secure to canoe w/ Velcro or bungee-dealy-bobs). If your yoke is separate (as is mine, it's held on to seat w/ friction when in use) - get into the habit of securing it to a thwart or some such, when not portaging, so you don't lose it, or forget it at a stop! You will figure out the balance/trim once you are under way, by using your packs. If your seat is off-center, most likely you'll put your heavy pack up front, and day pack behind you. You may not keep up w/ tandem, but solo paddling is oh so fun!~

Our group always uses solos. Our outfitter has Prism solo canoes and they are great. A very stable,fast canoe. We always get the ones with the tractor style seats. They are adjustable and can move forward or backwards. They also have adjustable foot rests.
We all use kayak paddles. I don’t think you will have any problems keeping up with a tandem.

Pick up or fashion a paddle leash. Balancing the double paddle across the canoe is a good way to lose it overboard. Mine is a bungee looped on the paddle and a clip to my pfd

I just did my first solo canoe trip and found my kayak paddle worked great!
Being a bigger guy, I put as much ballast as possible towards the front of the Prism as "counterweight".
If you want to fish out of the solo, you may want to put counterweight in the front for the helping fight the wind. Someone suggested dry bags filled with water. Experienced solo paddlers may not need this, but I felt very uncomfortable without the extra payload in front.
FISHONFISHOFF

I am new to a solo canoe and I love the kayak paddle if I am trying to keep up with a tandem or if it is windy. My control is much better in wind with the double blades and my cadence tends to be faster so easier to keep up. I like the single blade when the wind conditions are just right or I am feeling leisurely.

I am sure with more experience it won't matter as much, but definitely as a beginner the kayak paddle is a huge help.

Have you been out in the solo yet? Borrowing? or renting? Practice really helps the comfort level so if you are renting, plan on a short day the first day so you have time to get comfortable and you don't overdo it...I find my butt muscles get more tired as a newbie in a solo. Probably because I still tense up more for balance.

Do not overestimate your skill in windy conditions.

Make sure you have a bow line and can tie off the canoe so it doesn't blow away.

Have fun. My first ever canoe trip I went solo, in a rented Magic. I had both a kayak and a single paddle, and it was nice to try both out. As a beginner, I thought the kayak paddle was easier into the wind, but way harder on twisty rivers and streams. Now i just take 2 bent shafts, and see no advantage of a kayak paddle. You will have lots of time on even a 3 day trip to figure out and practice controlling a solo. C stroke, j-stroke, Canadian stroke, hit and switch...you can get good enough at all of them in a few days if you try them all over the course of the trip.

fishonfishoff: " I just did my first solo canoe trip and found my kayak paddle worked great!
Being a bigger guy, I put as much ballast as possible towards the front of the Prism as "counterweight".
If you want to fish out of the solo, you may want to put counterweight in the front for the helping fight the wind. Someone suggested dry bags filled with water. Experienced solo paddlers may not need this, but I felt very uncomfortable without the extra payload in front.
FISHONFISHOFF"

Unless you rented a modified Prism (with the seat position changed from the center and mounted towards the stern; Sawbill likes to do this (which I think is idiotic)) the usual problem with wind and center-seated solo boats is not enough weight in the stern. Though the bow has more surface area exposed to the wind the process of pushing through the water "plants" the bow in place and the stern gets blown downwind, the bow to "weather vane" and to point into the wind. Being bow heavy in a solo makes you slow and hard to control the boat.

gymcoachdon: "Have fun. My first ever canoe trip I went solo, in a rented Magic. I had both a kayak and a single paddle, and it was nice to try both out. As a beginner, I thought the kayak paddle was easier into the wind, but way harder on twisty rivers and streams. Now i just take 2 bent shafts, and see no advantage of a kayak paddle. You will have lots of time on even a 3 day trip to figure out and practice controlling a solo. C stroke, j-stroke, Canadian stroke, hit and switch...you can get good enough at all of them in a few days if you try them all over the course of the trip. "

Don,
You looked like you were having fun in your Magic on Red Rock Bay. I admire your stylish stroke. I was in the Curtis Nomad.
Jeff

Papa09,
You are already enjoying the BWCA, but one of the best ways to learn a new solo is to push it's limits for an hour. If it isn't a Kevlar boat, then paddle it into every rock, stump, and submerged log you can hit. Hit them straight on, side ways, and backwards. Run into them from different angles. Also, practice high braces and low braces on each side of the canoe. If it is Kevlar, then have a couple buddies stand at bow and stern and tip it multiple ways for you to react to. I also find that standing in the canoe, or on the gunnels, gives me a better sense of the hull for when I am sitting or kneeling later.
This hour of practice helps me avoid a panic reaction and just react when I hit the unexpected or get caught by a gust of wind.

DownStrm: "

gymcoachdon: "Have fun. My first ever canoe trip I went solo, in a rented Magic. I had both a kayak and a single paddle, and it was nice to try both out. As a beginner, I thought the kayak paddle was easier into the wind, but way harder on twisty rivers and streams. Now i just take 2 bent shafts, and see no advantage of a kayak paddle. You will have lots of time on even a 3 day trip to figure out and practice controlling a solo. C stroke, j-stroke, Canadian stroke, hit and switch...you can get good enough at all of them in a few days if you try them all over the course of the trip. "

Don,
You looked like you were having fun in your Magic on Red Rock Bay. I admire your stylish stroke. I was in the Curtis Nomad.
Jeff"

It was fun, all down wind until I had to turn the corner for home. My GPS said my top speed through that section was 5.9 mph! That was a pretty canoe you were in, hope you had a good trip!

When I first started to solo, I was given the same advice of having foam for kneeling. I grabbed a pair of foam knee pads that worked great for me at the start. It helped my knees and gave me a feel for what I wanted in the long run.

Nomad.