OK, first, I am a neophyte canoeist. I have been the occasional float down the river, fish a pond guy. Last year I took my first BW trip in a rented Magic, loved it. I am considering building a strip canoe, and a thought occurred to me. Watching Bill Mason in "Waterwalker" I noticed that he used a tandem canoe, loaded his gear in front, paddling "backwards" apparently. I wouldn't want to solo trip in a true tandem, but one thing that bothered me on my trip was the portage yoke. Once attached, it was fine for the portages, but having to attach, remove, and stow the thing was kind of tiring, especially for multiple short portages.
Are there plans for a solo that maybe move the seat far enough to the rear to allow the yoke to remain in place, or would that be a choice when I build? Or would other things like moving the bouyancy of the canoe rearward be needed? Asymmetrical, with a finer entry, and the widest portion moved rearward? Or would that just necessitate moving the yoke back more to balance for the carries?
I hope this makes sense, how do you guys handle it? Just attach, remove the yoke every portage, and quit complaining? I read somewhere that someone shaped the front seat support as the carrying yoke, but there wasn't a picture, and it seems that would bury your head into the canoe, if the seat is high enough for your head to fit in there anyway.

Your thoughts appreciated!

Although taking the yoke on and off is fast I do agree that it gets annoying, especially when there are lots of portages/day. If you want you can move the seat back in any solo canoe to leave room for a permanent yoke. You'd just have to add more gear weight in the bow to achieve the correct trim. Some people do this. I don't. I have better control of the canoe from the center and am willing to put up with the hassle of a removable yoke.

Alan

I have a large kneeling pad, and I fold it up to use it as a cushion and put the canoe directly on top of it. It works well and is way easier to do than it sounds. It's fairly comfortable, even with a 50+ lb cedar canvas canoe.

I find removable yokes super annoying.

quote amhacker22: "I have a large kneeling pad, and I fold it up to use it as a cushion and put the canoe directly on top of it. It works well and is way easier to do than it sounds. It's fairly comfortable, even with a 50+ lb cedar canvas canoe.


Do you have a picture...maybe its my mind but I can't envision your description. I am curious.
Thanks,
Mac

Now I am thinking about day trips, having the seat back further would necessitate adding weight I wouldn't normally take for a float down the river, or while out fishing. What type of removable yokes do you guys use? Maybe there is a system that is simpler than the one I was using.

I rented from Piragis, and this is the one I used.

https://www.boundarywaterscatalog.com/hidden-river-yoke-shop/universal-solo-yoke-6724

weighs about 4 lbs

I must say that I actually timed how long it took to set up, and after doing it several times, it added only about 1 1/2 minutes to a portage. I remember being surprised, because it felt like such a hassle.

Maybe having permanent mounting points, with a quick release attachment would be the answer.

Mine is similar but lighter. Can't remember the weight for sure but I think around 2 pounds, including the Chosen Valley pads. I made my own but copied the design that Bell used to use. Pretty sure that yoke is still available, I believe I saw them for sale at Midwest Mountaineering, but a quick Google search didn't turn up anything.

The more you do it the quicker it gets. I doubt it takes me more than 15 seconds to attach the yoke. Less to remove. But yes, it's still annoying when you have to do it repeatedly on those annoying back to back to back portages over small ponds. Sometimes, if I only have to paddle a 1/4 mile or so, I'll leave it in place and kneel in front of it. Totally screws up the trim and makes the boat hard to control but I can deal with that for 1/4 mile.

I made one from foam and carbon fiber but it wasn't quite stiff enough. Plenty strong enough to carry the canoe but the clamps compressed it too much. It shaved off about 12 ounces though. Maybe I'll try again this winter.

I've thought a lot about integrating one into the seat but haven't come up with a viable DIY solution for that retains all the functionality I want in my seat.

Alan

quote gymcoachdon:

Maybe having permanent mounting points, with a quick release attachment would be the answer."

I wouldn't like permanent attachment points. I like the ability to move it slightly forward or backward depending on what gear I'm carrying in the canoe and where it's attached.

Alan

quote Alan Gage: "

quote gymcoachdon:


Maybe having permanent mounting points, with a quick release attachment would be the answer."

I wouldn't like permanent attachment points. I like the ability to move it slightly forward or backward depending on what gear I'm carrying in the canoe and where it's attached.


Alan"

After I wrote that, I had the same thought about balancing the canoe depending on what you have strapped to it.

The yoke that Bell made for the Magic, is the same as what I use. I've been tweeking it, so I can use it as a back rest also.
Here's a pic.

This works. I'm kind of a keep it simple kinda guy, and I'm still working on this.

Jim

quote 1JimD: " The yoke that Bell made for the Magic, is the same as what I use. I've been tweeking it, so I can use it as a back rest also.
Here's a pic.


This works. I'm kind of a keep it simple kinda guy, and I'm still working on this.


Jim"

Beautiful canoe Jim, what woods did you use for the accent stripe?

Thanks !
The dark, is dark Western Red Cedar, but Redwood works too. The White is Aspen. I really like the Aspen, as it stays white better than any cedar I've used.

Jim

quote MacCamper: "

quote amhacker22: "I have a large kneeling pad, and I fold it up to use it as a cushion and put the canoe directly on top of it. It works well and is way easier to do than it sounds. It's fairly comfortable, even with a 50+ lb cedar canvas canoe.



Do you have a picture...maybe its my mind but I can't envision your description. I am curious.
Thanks,
Mac"

I don't have a picture, but think of it as the pad being used like a pillow on top of your head, and the boat resting on the pillow. Is that more clear?

The pad is the large T-style pad. Mine is branded Bell, but I'm pretty sure it was made by CCS, and I believe you can still get them from the CCS website. If you're not kneeling, though, it probably doesn't make sense to have one, so I'd go with a yoke. My solo is a cedar canvas designed to be kneeled, and the pad is critical to keep the ribs from digging into your knees and the top of your feet. It feels great with bare feet too. I love it.