Paddled solo today on my lake. Gentle (benign but present) breeze most of the trip, picking up on return to shore.

Lake very high, so "landing" was a partially submerged flat rock that is technically the last step of a stone staircase. Covered with slime of course and slippery. Wind coming in directly to this landing, so when pulling canoe alongside to end the trip, the wind was hitting the boat broadside. NO ballast in boat (other than an unused jacket and rope).

So... pulled alongside, tried steadying with paddle on the lake side - water about 2 feet deep. Tried grabbing rock on land side with my hand - boulder, hard to actually "grab".

In the end, I stood in canoe bent over, holding center thwart and edged lakeside foot toward center of canoe, lightening landside foot until I could eventually set it out on the slippery rock. It was a trick that took about 3 tries. Wind was rocking canoe back and forth as well as pushing it ahead past the landing. Timing was everything.

Where's the manual to teach me what I SHOULD have done? There's got to be an easier way :-)

BWP, you just wrote the manual. Sounds like you did it right. Now do it another dozen times or so and it'll be just as scary - but you'll know what to expect.

I'm thinking on a solo trip, the campsite landing is as important or more than the tent pad/location!!

When I've paddled "solo" lately, there's still a kid in the boat duffing and acting as ballast. Didn't realize how important they were for just getting in and out of boat together. Lesson learned.

Sounds dangerous to me. Standing in a solo is not a good idea IMHO. You said 2' of water. I would have gotten my feet wet.

OK PJ, so HOW do you do that? I am serious and all ears. I tried sticking one leg over the edge to the rock while sitting, but then how to shift the rest of you over without dumping, as you're not really standing on the rock yet either?

I also considered going over head first, lean over to rock and keep a foot in the canoe as I crawled out (call me grace!)... didn't try it.

Even to wetfoot (2 feet of water would be up to my knees at least) with a mucky soft bottom, how to just get out in 2' of water... there was no slope to shore, had to get out IN 2' of water that was up to a rocky shoreline. Swing two legs over, go quickly, and hope for the best?

"I also considered going over head first, lean over to rock and keep a foot in the canoe as I crawled out (call me grace!)... didn't try it."

ive done that at some landings that were too deep or too iffy to step out on. it was far from elegant but atleast i remained dry.

I also went out today to practice my solo skills(?) Paddled across the lake and got out to stretch. Realized I always get in or out right foot first. thought I would try left foot first to get in.
Things I learned.
1-My waterproof cell phone is.
2-Rubber boots hold a lot of water.
3-magic holds a lot of water.
4-The water isn't too cold yet.
5-I need some work yet.
Rather than being afraid, I laughed loud and long. I found myself more relaxed and confident I can do this.
I also found the concrete boat ramp very slippery. Couldn't keep my balance very well so I went down the shore and exited on the lakeshore after that.

thanks rookie, I'm grinning ear to ear thinking of it.

I knew the water wasn't bad today - I tried using a regular paddle and a double bladed kayak paddle. The yak paddle was a bit short for this, but gave a good estimate of what it would be like to use a longer one. And it dripped water all over inside the canoe - on my sandaled feet and bare legs. It was "refreshing" but not overly cold at all. So yeah, it would have been OK to dump if it worked out that way... my cell phone was in a zip lock just in case :-)

Nice practice session!

2 years ago I rented a Prism and used a yak paddle. I used a shorter one a little today and it dripped alot more water than the long one I used then. Solo is a new experience but I am going to enjoy it. Just have to live and learn.

I have a 240cm yak paddle for my solo, and it's not long enough. Drips everywhere. When I use it consistently while paddling I end up wet from my knees to my toes! So definitely find one that is long enough!!!

no wonder kayaks have closed tops :)

My hands didn't get wet due to the drip rings, but my legs and feet and floor of the canoe sure did. At one point I pushed the drip rings down farther toward the blades, but it didn't seem to help much that I could tell.

I use a 260 cm yak paddle in my solo. My canoe stays alot drier with it over my old 240 cm paddle.

260cm is how long the ones I found online are... sounds like the ticket if I go that route - not sure I'm ready to buy at $150+ yet. Suppose the used market is pretty slim too.

And that would be why I have a 240. I don't have the $$$ for a longer one at this time.

quote BWPaddler: "OK PJ, so HOW do you do that? I am serious and all ears. I tried sticking one leg over the edge to the rock while sitting, but then how to shift the rest of you over without dumping, as you're not really standing on the rock yet either?


I also considered going over head first, lean over to rock and keep a foot in the canoe as I crawled out (call me grace!)... didn't try it.


Even to wetfoot (2 feet of water would be up to my knees at least) with a mucky soft bottom, how to just get out in 2' of water... there was no slope to shore, had to get out IN 2' of water that was up to a rocky shoreline. Swing two legs over, go quickly, and hope for the best?
"

Ankle deep, knee deep, wet footing is wet footing. I'd probably draw the line at crotch deep. Butt stays on the seat... One foot goes in the water.

Now that you added the mucky bottom...if it's too mucky to step in I'd seriously look for another place tom take out. How and where did you get in to the boat?

Got in off same rock. Much easier heading in, right? Just step in grabbing both sides of boat and drag hind leg in as you glide away. Getting in was no issue.

Muck is not BW muck, I know this muck well and it does have a bottom, thank goodness.

Still, suppose I could have found a different place to get out, but I never thought of that... how funny is that. Neighbors to the left of me about 5-6 houses have a sandy beach and flat yard. Could have taken out there and portaged uphill home I guess... or found someone who hasn't taken their dock out yet. Never even entered my mind. I knew there was a reason I ask you guys these questions!

Sounds like a good practice idea. Should be a good wing night event maybe for spring ;-)

quote PJ: "Sounds dangerous to me. Standing in a solo is not a good idea IMHO. You said 2' of water. I would have gotten my feet wet."

I agree. I wear chotas, so I step out into the water. As I get close to shore, I hang the leg that's closest to the shore, over the side of the canoe. When it gets shallow enough, I step out and stand on that leg and pull the other leg out. Almost the reverse of how I get in. I put one foot in the center of the canoe, and sit in the seat, and pull my other leg in at that point. I've only slipped and fell in once, but I did that just to make Mr. Barley laugh.

getting out on the side is always nasty. finding the right place to step out is problem #1.if i need to and i can i'll land away from the portage and walk the canoe over to it.if i have to go over the side i'll use the paddle out the outboard side as a brace.i get the shaft against the side and hold it there,jammed in the bottom or between rocks,to steady the canoe as i step out sideways.i semi dry foot,my Bean boots have four inch tops so i can get onto submerged rocks and stay dry.i use run of the mill beaver tail paddles most of the time and never had one break doing this.what really helps is having a paddle with a T grip.if i'm a bit clumsy getting out and the canoe starts to drift off from the push off the exit i can snag it before it gets away.i keep the paddle in hand as a balance and walking stick because some times you do a quick two-step on the rocks and such as you hit the shore.the landing,loading and unloading is about the most hassle for the solo tripper.i like to come in bow first and gripping the gunwales knee walk over the packs and out.good subject for a post that i have not seen addressed before.

quote wetcanoedog: "i like to come in bow first and gripping the gunwales knee walk over the packs and out."

Exactly my preference too. This time, no packs and blunt shoreline so I wonder if that still might have been possible as bow would have been pushed to blunt rock by repeated waves. Definitely something to experiment with. Who knew I had such good BW simulation available in my back yard? ha.

Thanks all.

My problem seems to be getting half out (one leg on a rock or land, the other still in the canoe) and suddenly my canoe wants to go back OUT! All of a sudden, I'm trying not to do the splits ... I usually end up back in the canoe for a 'do over'.

Amok - I can just see it... :) and yes, been there done that too.

One of my issues this time was that I had a rope along in case I decided to paddle to the restaurant for a drink on the deck, but I didn't actually attach the rope to the boat. So, I had to get out without sending said boat back out to sea. Lesson learned there too.

Anyone know how long this nice weather will last? I was wishing right about now I had left the canoe at the lakeshore and been able to more easily sneak off for another "last paddle"...

headed to "normal" temps by Friday....still won't prevent the Thanksgiving paddle.

My process is foot, butt, foot. Getting in I put one foot in the center, then my butt on the seat, then pull in the other foot. Sometimes I go straight to kneeling but usually I sit first.

Getting out is the reverse. One foot out, stand, step out.

One little variation I've done recently is what I call side saddle. Butt goes in first, swing both legs around together. It's easier with ballast. I don't recall ever getting out this way though.

The first time I ever did this was on my solo this year. On the Lujenida Lake side of the portage to Zenith the landing is very mucky. On the Zenith side I had rinsed the mud I picked up on Frederick out of my canoe. I got in the canoe with both feet hanging off one side so I could rinse the mud off my boots before putting them in. Found it was pretty easy and have done it a bunch of times since.

Amok..try the trick of holding the canoe in place by jamming the paddle into the lake bottom so the shaft is on the side of the boat,that will keep it in place for the side step out.

Another way to stabilize the boat is to lay the paddle across both gunwales with the blade on the shore. To do this the shore (or rock) has to be approximately the same level as the gunwale. Hold onto both the paddle shaft and the near side gunwale and lean in that direction. That puts pressure on the blade and gives you a margin of error. Be sure to have the painter in hand when getting out because as soon as you release the pressure on the blade the boat will want to slip sideways.
It's important to have the paddle across both gunwales. Otherwise there's little or no benefit.

Just another aspect of the high entertainment factor of paddling solo!
One problem with the step out method is that you will always find the shallowest most sturdy footing on that first step. It's the second step that gets ya wet!

butthead

quote butthead: "Just another aspect of the high entertainment factor of paddling solo!
One problem with the step out method is that you will always find the shallowest most sturdy footing on that first step. It's the second step that gets ya wet!


butthead"

Just ask Mr.Barley about his dismount at a campsite on McIntyre Lake a couple years ago......he went swimming.

up to my neck......

oh my... funny. Would love to see some fast speed videos of solo dismounts - bet we could make a funny film.

You know that's a great idea....it would be funny

quote Merganser: "My process is foot, butt, foot. Getting in I put one foot in the center, then my butt on the seat, then pull in the other foot. Sometimes I go straight to kneeling but usually I sit first.


Getting out is the reverse. One foot out, stand, step out.


One little variation I've done recently is what I call side saddle. Butt goes in first, swing both legs around together. It's easier with ballast. I don't recall ever getting out this way though.


The first time I ever did this was on my solo this year. On the Lujenida Lake side of the portage to Zenith the landing is very mucky. On the Zenith side I had rinsed the mud I picked up on Frederick out of my canoe. I got in the canoe with both feet hanging off one side so I could rinse the mud off my boots before putting them in. Found it was pretty easy and have done it a bunch of times since.
"

ditto merganser and mooseplums. Foot in center, if possible for me prefer right foot fist entering canoe, then sit and pull other foot in. exit opposite. only problem use crazy creek chair and sometimes I end up sitting on the back and then re-adjust butt after get into canoe.
SunCatcher

Well, BWPaddler- when I solo, Grace takes a backseat and sometimes she gets left behind altogether. And sometimes she's all wet. I usually grab a painter in one hand, grab a gunwale with each hand, lean forward with my weight low, and get out. Sometimes it works better than others :0.

suncatcher briefly mentioned this which make me ask...

do you favor one foot over the other for that first step in?

i do. for me it has to be my left foot in first. ill do a 180 with the canoe if i have to...just to be able to step in left foot first.

for the dismount it doesnt matter.

Dismounts were iffy when I was new at soloing (age 61). After big initial improvement, dismounts are getting iffy again as I close in on 65 years. After only about 45 minutes in the canoe, I temporarily lose use of my legs. I sometimes find myself staggering out of the canoe at a perfectly safe and easy landing, followed by about 2 minutes of random staggering until the blood is flowing again.

quote kanoes: "suncatcher briefly mentioned this which make me ask...


do you favor one foot over the other for that first step in?


i do. for me it has to be my left foot in first. ill do a 180 with the canoe if i have to...just to be able to step in left foot first.

for the dismount it doesnt matter."

I never really thought about it, but I guess given a choice, it would be left in, rofgt out, although I'll do it either way.

quote boonie: "

quote kanoes: "suncatcher briefly mentioned this which make me ask...



do you favor one foot over the other for that first step in?



i do. for me it has to be my left foot in first. ill do a 180 with the canoe if i have to...just to be able to step in left foot first.


for the dismount it doesnt matter."

I never really thought about it, but I guess given a choice, it would be left in, rofgt out, although I'll do it either way."

It depends on which way I need to 'shove off' as to which foot goes in first. Because if I can, I'd rather 'push off' from shore while getting into my canoe. My prob is getting out, haha!

quote Amok: "

quote boonie: "

quote kanoes: "suncatcher briefly mentioned this which make me ask...



do you favor one foot over the other for that first step in?



i do. for me it has to be my left foot in first. ill do a 180 with the canoe if i have to...just to be able to step in left foot first.



for the dismount it doesnt matter."

I never really thought about it, but I guess given a choice, it would be left in, rofgt out, although I'll do it either way."

It depends on which way I need to 'shove off' as to which foot goes in first. Because if I can, I'd rather 'push off' from shore while getting into my canoe. My prob is getting out, haha!"

I don't have a problem getting out, Amok - the problem is staying dry when I do :).

quote Jeriatric: "Dismounts were iffy when I was new at soloing (age 61). After big initial improvement, dismounts are getting iffy again as I close in on 65 years. After only about 45 minutes in the canoe, I temporarily lose use of my legs. I sometimes find myself staggering out of the canoe at a perfectly safe and easy landing, followed by about 2 minutes of random staggering until the blood is flowing again."

Do you kneel or sit?
I'm a kneeler and find it helpful to stretch one leg out, then the other, or both, from time to time. It's especially helpful to stretch out for a few minutes before coming to a portage or campsite landing.

quote BWPaddler: "260cm is how long the ones I found online are... sounds like the ticket if I go that route - not sure I'm ready to buy at $150+ yet. Suppose the used market is pretty slim too."

MWM has 160cm in plastic and a nice looking 280cm wood one. Both somewhere between 100-200 bucks.

ok. Im in the market for at least a 260cm, apparently. are there even longer ones? lol

yeah, that surprised me too... would be nice to be able to try before you buy!

double blades for canoe

fwiw,

butthead

Thanks for the link Butthead! that certainly makes finding the right paddle easier!

here's a photo from page one of the Dry Foot chapter.

quote Koda: "

quote Jeriatric: "Dismounts were iffy when I was new at soloing (age 61). After big initial improvement, dismounts are getting iffy again as I close in on 65 years. After only about 45 minutes in the canoe, I temporarily lose use of my legs. I sometimes find myself staggering out of the canoe at a perfectly safe and easy landing, followed by about 2 minutes of random staggering until the blood is flowing again."

Do you kneel or sit?
I'm a kneeler and find it helpful to stretch one leg out, then the other, or both, from time to time. It's especially helpful to stretch out for a few minutes before coming to a portage or campsite landing."

I am a sitter, Koda. I do try to stretch and bend my legs constantly, while paddling.
The same problem, to a lesser degree, has been bothering me while driving the car long distances. I sometimes stagger when I get out of the car if I have been passing up rest stops. I pass up a lot fewer rest stops today, than I did in the past, for duel purposes. I am sure some of the more "seasoned" people on the board are experiencing the same changes.

you definitely need to stop ever 45 minutes or so, then, when driving. anywhere will do as long as u are not in traffic!

Amok,
I go 1 to 1 1/2 hours when driving. The car seat is a lot more cushiony than the canoe seat, without the sharper front seat edge. In addition, I don't have to sit as vertically in a car as in a canoe.
I start out driving in one and one-half hours stretches early in the day (my bladder has something to do with that) and shorten that to one hour later in the day. Even so, my legs still begin aching after 8-12 hours of driving and it always feels "oh-so-good" to get out occasionally and walk around.

why not try it like kayakers?

I use a kayak paddle in a solo canoe. Pull the canoe (I have a Vagabond) up along the shore. . .put one end of the paddle on the shore, the other behind you. Grip the shaft of the paddle with your lake side hand and the thwart behind your seat at the same time. . .paddle acts like an out rigger. . .then step out.

Get in the same way

I just know I'm falling in the first time I try this when I'm truly by myself.

;-)

quote nojobro: "I just know I'm falling in the first time I try this when I'm truly by myself.


;-)"

Just make sure you're truly alone and not just solo ;).

remember what they say on the Hammocking forum. . .if there aren't pictures. . .it didn't happen!