I leave Saturday morning at Oh Dark Thirty. Yesterday my trip partner went to the doc for an outpatient procedure. I found out today it was for kidney stones, it was more invasive than he thought it would be. Long story short, he ain't gonna be up for the trip.

I"m going anyway. The catch? I've never portaged like this or paddled a solo canoe. I'm good with a map and compass. I solo hike, hunt and kayak, so being alone isn't a big deal. I actually kind of like it.

I need to cram some knowledge into the next 48 hours and I'm hoping for some help.

My rods are 7 foot and one piece. Will they fit in a solo prism, given it's shorter length and what I assume will be faster taper to the bow? I'm worried them being in the way and I'm thinking about buying a couple of 2 piece rods. At 70-80 each for a decent 2 piece, I'd like to avoid buying them.

Since I've never paddled a solo canoe before and all of my time in a canoe has been as the motor, I'm thinking about taking one of my yak paddles. I have 220 and 240 cm. Which would be best for a 31" gunwhale or would it make a difference? I'm 6'3 with a 37" sleeve.

Anything else I should consider, like how the hell do you get in and out a solo? In my yak, i just swing my legs out of the cockpit and stand while the paddle is behind me on the cockpit bracing.

I think your kayak experience is a big plus. I'd take the longer yak paddle with a bent shaft canoe paddle for a spare. A prism is a good boat. You'll figure out fast what works for you. The long rods should bungee dealee bob to your thwarts. The reel close to you. I tuck mine there under and never a problem. Just keep your line snug and not flopping. You'll love the solo thing. Have fun!

If you feel comfortable in a canoe, paddling, you should do fine solo. Take your time, think about what you're going to do, before you do it, until it becomes second nature. As for your fishing rods, you should be able to lash them in and out of the way, on one of the sides, without any problem. Also, that way they won't be in danger of getting broken during the portage. Or, last resort, you could put them in the stern, standing up, and leaning backward, that should keep them out of hams way also, but you'll have to carry them over every portage.

A solo canoe takes a little getting comfortable with. They can be a little more unstable, but after a lake crossing or two, you should be comfortable. But, remember, you could still use a tandem canoe and go solo. Nothing says you have to be in a Prism, or solo canoe.

I've done both, and actually, I like my tandem, which is a Mad River 16 foot. A little wide in the beam, but very stable, and with packs and dog, it gives me plenty of stability and room. Just a thought. Do what you feel comfortable with.

Thanks guys. Good to know I won't have an issue with the rods. I'll take the 240.

I hadn't thought about paddling a tandem backwards. Now I'm thinking about it. Is the Prism tippy feeling, but with good secondary stability or the other way around?

I think you'll find that once the Prism is loaded it's fine. It will be a little tender until you get underway. You might find fishing from it, especially empty, difficult. A souris river Quetico 16 might be more stable for fishing but less efficient to paddle.

Be sure to sit your ass down in the canoe before lifting your leg from shore or firm footing or you will get wet. Also as you paddle think of keeping your shoulders inside the width of the gunwales and your hips on a swivel. If you are tense or stiff it could lead to trouble.

Good luck, be safe and enjoy.

Hooky,
Welcome to the world of solo tripping. Having partners cancel out for one reason or another is precisely how I wound up with a basement full camping gear only suitable for one person. I decided if I was going to spend money on gear I needed to be prepared to go even if everyone else canceled.

I would suggest a solo boat rather than a tandem paddled backwards, although I do both. The Prism will simply be more efficient when paddled solo.

Good luck and stay safe.

Goat

Definitely bring the longest yak paddle. With someone your size the 240 may actually be too short. I paddle a Prism, I am 6' 4" and I got a 260 and that was barely long enough before I went away from yak paddles. Remember you will be sitting much higher than in a kayak so you need longer paddle to reach the water easily.

First time with a prism, solo, with a dog, and fishing, is interesting. A tandem will give you a lot more comfort of mind.

I did my first solo trip last fall and had never paddled a solo canoe before. You'll do just fine. It was awesome and I'm doing it again this year! Since it was my first time solo I rented an SR Quetico 16 and was glad I did. I had the dog with and it gave me good piece of mind on stability. Now that I have a trip under my belt I'm going to try a dedicated solo on the next trip but I am very glad I used the SR Q 16 for the first one.

I rented it from VNO in Ely because they have ones set up as a solo with 1 seat in the center and they charge the same price as a solo canoe when you rent it set up that way. I think Hungary Jack on the Gunflint trail has the SR Q 16 set up as a solo but I'm not positive.


Have a great trip!

Yeah, the tandem would be more stable fishing. I figured the prism would be good for you because you have kayak experience and some of the tippyness would be the same or similar. And I thought you were sort of locked in on it. Like mentioned, when solo tripping you need to take your safety to a higher level. I like it because it forces me to be busy and organized. I forgot to say welcome to the board and hope to meet you someday at a wing night gathering or in the BW.

Whichever boat you take do take the 240 and a single blade. I started an advice for first timers and there were lots of good pieces of information. I also saw a thread about trim in a prism so scroll down and read some threads that catch your interest.

Think about how the trip will be different such as do you eat differently when alone or when with groups? and what will you do with the time you would spend socializing around the fire? Reflect? and finally figure the time it will take to set and break camp alone.

Glad you are doing it anyway; you might want to go alone more often once you get the taste.

Gotta do what ya do!

Take it easy and a bit slow, the handling IS different, even when paddling a tandem as a solo. I recommend a Prism just to get a good experience of paddling a solo canoe, one of the most stable hard tracking solos I have been in. Tandems can be a handful paddled solo, only real advantage is width and associated initial stability. More prone to wind and wave, and paddled solo do not track or steer as well.

butthead

quote hooky: " I solo hike, hunt and kayak, so being alone isn't a big deal. I actually kind of like it.

Since I've never paddled a solo canoe before and all of my time in a canoe has been as the motor, I'm thinking about taking one of my yak paddles. I have 220 and 240 cm. Which would be best for a 31" gunwhale or would it make a difference? I'm 6'3 with a 37" sleeve.

Anything else I should consider, like how the hell do you get in and out a solo? In my yak, i just swing my legs out of the cockpit and stand while the paddle is behind me on the cockpit bracing.

"

Rods as mentioned are not a problem. Similar to what you will be doing I've transitioned from a kayak to a solo Prism. You will find the prism to be very close stability wise as what you are used to in a kayak. I have no trouble fishing from my Prism. I don't bring any fish into the boat which I do not intend to keep.

Getting in and out of the prism can be much like you are accustomed to also. Sometimes in deeper water, I will, when getting out, lean forward in the seat getting my feet behind me and transfer from a sitting to a kneeling position. Then from the kneeling position, I can grab a gunnel in each hand while swinging the first leg out and into the water to touch bottom.

If it's similar to a kayak, I think I'll stick with the Prism. Bill @Sawbill was nice enough to offer to let me try both to decide.

One more thing that I realized last night - a #4 pack is way too big for one person. I think I'll just rent a smaller one from Sawbill and use my daypack to carry my bear vault and tackle box.

I appreciate all the help.

Welcome to the solo board Hooky, I just got back the other day, remember to always keep a dry set of cloth handy, the water is still very cold, saved me a few times because of snow and rain on long travel days, really pay attention to the portage trails lots of rocks, roots and water.

Have fun and a safe trip and always where your life jacket.

It will be awesome!!!

You will adjust to a solo canoe easily.

My typical gear packing is a small book type backpack for my food barrel and kitchen gear that is placed in the bow for travel. All my gear, tent, etc goes in a CCS Pioneer pack with rain gear in the top flap. That rides right behind me in the canoe. The bow bag can move fore and aft as needed for trimming.

Old mans' tip here. I put a short length of 1/4" rope around the thwart that I can reach when I need to exit the boat. That gives me something to pull myself up with and holds the boat steady while I do so. Worked well in my Prism, should work for you as well.

Goat

Everything is packed up and ready to go. I've got way too much food, so I'm sure some of that will stay in the car at Sawbill. Probably have too much tackle. But I'd rather have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.

Can't wait to get up there and on the water.

Don't overthink it and have fun. Make sure to check in here when you get back.

Hope you are having a safe drive and have a great trip. Can't wait to hear about it when you get out.

I am a kayaker and canoer. I have a 17 1/2 foot sea/touring kayak and another 14 foot tour boat. I also paddle a Wenonah Wilderness solo canoe. My point is that those that are primarily canoe guys go for very long kayak paddles when in solo canoes. The primary reason is that they don't want to get water in the boat and they use a very flat stroke. Kayak guys typically use a high brace/stroke and shorter paddle as it is more powerful. Its physics. . .the farther you extend that blade from you the harder it will be to pull through the water and the lower/flater your stroke will have to be. I use a 230 or 240 in my Wenonah Wilderness. Yes you will get a small amount of water in the boat, but a high brace/angle stroke will allow you to paddle much longer then a flat stroke.

I made it back alive. Work was a killer last week and I"m still trying to get caught up.

Long story short, I ended up in a Vagabond and the 240 was plenty of paddle. Portaging takes some getting used to and the long portage on the way to Wine on Day 1 was a hump. I caught my first lake trout. Took way too much tackle and food, but not enough ibuprofen after jacking up my foot on day 1. I saw people on the way in and on the way out. I didn't see anyone in between. I saw I could buy leeches at Sawbill, but didn't realize they'd be $4.95/dozen. No live bait for the trip.

I had a lot of fun. I read a couple of books during a rainy memorial day and before falling asleep each night. I caught fish in every lake where I really tried to catch fish. I came out a day early because of my injury and running out of ibuprofen, but still loved it.

I'd go again.

Glad to hear it went well except for the injured foot.

Everybody takes too much food the first time :). It took me several trips to get it dialed in pretty good.

Tackle weight (or camera gear, or whatever) adds up in a hurry.

I think a lot of us started to solo the same way - nobody to go with and just didn't want to miss the trip.

Glad to hear you had fun and are ready to do it again. I hope the foot heals well.

What route did you do? For my solo later this year I'm thinking of heading to the Wine area.

Good to hear you had fun, sorry about the foot, I always take double the ibuprofen, portages can be a challenge, lots of looking down, almost baby steps sometimes.

This was my 1st trip I didn't carry live bait, and caught my 1st lake trout also.

Just do it. Go and have a blast. Don't over-think the whole thing.

quote hooky: "Everything is packed up and ready to go. I've got way too much food, so I'm sure some of that will stay in the car at Sawbill. Probably have too much tackle. But I'd rather have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.


Can't wait to get up there and on the water.


"

Be careful about leaving food in your car during a trip.

Be careful about leaving food in your car during a trip."

I ended up giving some away and pitched a little into the secured dumpster.

I went out of Sawbill to Alton and then north to Wine. Hit Mesaba, Dent, Trail and all the little connectors in between before coming back out and spending my last night on Alton. I had a couple of really long days in there. I spent Sunday & Monday nights on Wine at the island campsite. it rained all day Monday with the exception of a couple of 20 minutes windows. Here's what it looked like breaking camp Tuesday morning.





This was my view for most of Monday.





The rest of the time my view was a lot better, as the weather straightened out.

Thanks for the info. How many nights were you out? (sorry if I missed that info earlier in the thread). I'll only have 3 nights and would want the last night to be fairly close to Sawbill (like on the Sawbill side of the long 400+ portage (Kelso or Alton). Would I kill myself trying to get to Trail for a night? Do you think it would be better to camp on Wine and Mesaba or maybe Dent for nights 1 and 2? Thanks

I went in Sunday and came out Thursday. You could make Wine or Mesaba in a day without killing yourself. I made it to Wine on a bad wheel in about 6 hours. I don't think I'd try to make Trail and back in that amount of time if you want to be on the other side of the portage for your last night, but it's certainly doable.

hooky: "

I spent Sunday & Monday nights on Wine at the island campsite. it rained all day Monday with the exception of a couple of 20 minutes windows.

I spent that Monday stuck on Cherokee on my way to Frost.

Drove up all day Sunday in the rain. Left Sawbill Monday morning in the rain(and kind of enjoyed it). Then it got old. Then the wind picked up halfway up Cherokee. Two people could have soldiered on, solo I figured I better stop. Spent the rest of the day sitting in the rain on the big rock by the water on the peninsula site on the west side in awe that it could rain/drizzle for so long.

Boiled some water in one of those 20 minute breaks, put up the tent in the other. I'd rather deal with a quick strong storm or two than a constant rain like that.

nm