My "store bought canoes" all have carry handles bow and stern. These handy little "mini thwarts" serve also as a place to tie a line..... and lines are really nice to keep the canoe from wandering off on it's own.
I also like to see bow lines (hooked to my hood) as I travel along the highway. In transport I lash my canoes to the load bars with nylon straps. The load bars also have blocks to keep the canoe from wandering side to side (very secure set-up). The bow line is just a bit more insurance just in case the "unthinkable occurs"
So, I am sitting on the fence. I do not want to drill a hole through my hull for a painter line. Also, I really didn't want "mini thwarts" in the bow or stern to break up the clean lines of the canoe........ (I was thinking that my small decks could serve as lift handles)
So, the question. If I don't have a hole through the hull and I don't have bow and stern handles how do I attach a painter line(s)?
"Boredom, Tyler - that's what's wrong. And how do you beat boredom, Tyler?... Adventure...(Never Cry Wolf, 1983)
I had some of the same thoughts, ended up going with the grab handles. I've also seen openings incorporated into the decks or and a brass rings attached to the stems. I don't know if you read the Bear Mountain Boats forum pages, but they have quite a bit of discussion about it.
Another possibility is to run the lines through the spacers on the inner thwart. This would set you back 2' or so from the ends.
I install painter lines, drilling the holes then lining the holes with PVC epoxied in the stems. I place these about 6 down from the top of the stems. I also always install carry thwarts at the stems about 8-10 in from the ends. It was hard to drill a hole in my first stripper but after a few its no big deal. Just outfitting parts of a tripping canoe. Built to be used. CB
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