Click to View the Full Thread

Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Group Forum: Solo Tripping :: New Solo Canoe and Ka-yoke paddle
 
Author Message Text
MacCamper
07/20/2016 03:50PM
 
Pretty canoe Cloz, darn pretty. No opinion on yoke as mine is removable. I like my double blade for all the right reasons, just as I like a single blade too.
Mac
 
Cloznuff
07/18/2016 08:32PM
 




"



Kevin, is that you? Is that frame-world or 80-20 extrusion?
Bryan "


Yup Bryan it's me! I guess I owe you that beer now. I happened to know a guy in the Alexandria area that had some Frame World extrusion in his garage that he donated to the cause.


I modded the yoke I had built a couple of years ago to also fit this canoe but I will still try the paddle yoke, which I think will work fine. The finished weight is 47#, 15'11" long. Here's a pic of the finished (for tonight) project. I haven't put it in the water yet and still plan to add a footbrace at some point.





 
pswith5
07/06/2016 11:29AM
 
So, is this yak paddle together or apart as a yoke?? If together you might have problems with narrow portages.
 
Cloznuff
07/06/2016 11:33AM
 
Alan, I've never tried a kayak paddle in a canoe before so I guess that's causing my question. Seems some love it and some hate it from what I've read but it also seems some that don't like it were using a shorter kayak paddle. Either way, I will probably hold off on making a removable yoke until I give it a try. I was thinking I would just use the spare paddle to do the same thing so maybe my real question isn't about yoke system as much as using a double blade in a solo canoe. This is my first solo canoe so in my mind, if I could not have to lug along a yoke it seems to have merit.


The video I saw of the guy doing it had the 2 piece paddle taken apart and had it lashed like the attached pic.



 
bhouse46
07/06/2016 12:31PM
 
The visual helped, and yes breaking down a kayak paddle or using two single blades (always good to have the backup) in such a manner would work. The noodles could then go on the gunnel to soften knee rub. I doubt bungees would be secure enough but something like in the photo should work. Getting a good balance point might be an issue with thwart positioning a possible concern.
 
hobbydog
07/06/2016 01:25PM
 
I would think it would be too easy to break one. If you trip or or stumble and put extra pressure on it could break. That is not how I would treat such an important piece of gear.
 
Cloznuff
07/06/2016 10:26AM
 
I'm just finishing up a cedar solo canoe and I saw a Ytube video before where the person used a "spare" 2 piece kayak paddle as a yoke for portaging. In an effort to be minimalistic, this seems like a good idea. He had some swimming noodle segments that he put around the 2-piece paddle and the paddles were bungeed to the thwarts for portaging.

I'm maybe putting the cart before the horse here as I haven't put the new canoe in the water yet, but does anyone have any recommendations for a 2 piece kayak paddle that I should look at? How about a length? I'm 6' and the canoe is 28" at the gunwales. I was looking at the Bending Branches Slice Solo. They make a 260 or a 280cm version. I don't want to spend a bunch to start out with and was even thinking about a super cheapy (although it would be too short to be a realistic paddling option) just to try out the yoke system a little. The Bending Branches would be in my price range if I knew what length I'd want and would be satisfied with the yoke system. I've used 2 canoe paddles before as a yoke on a 75 pound aluminum without the swimming noodles and I can't say I enjoyed it but it worked.

 
Alan Gage
07/06/2016 11:05AM
 
If you're set on getting a double blade paddle anyway I'd pick the paddle you wanted (length, weight, etc) and then figure out how to make it work as a yoke. How it performs on the water is most important.


If you're not set on getting a double blade paddle you could do the same thing with two single blade paddles.


Alan
 
Alan Gage
07/06/2016 11:07AM
 
More thoughts:
The last wood removable solo yoke I make with Chosen Valley pads weighed about 2 pounds if I remember correctly. That's 32 ounces. The Bending Branches Slice paddle is listed at 39 ounces, which I'm guessing is for the 260cm model. Add the pool noodles to that.


I guess if you're going to be carrying a double blade anyway it's not a bad idea. But otherwise it seems heavier, more expensive, more complicated, and less comfortable than a clamp-on yoke with pads.




Alan
 
DeterminedOrange
07/16/2016 12:39PM
 
quote Cloznuff: "My seat is adjustable and will slide about 12" back of the Center of Gravity. The rear thwart is actually the point at which the seat adjustment ends and the front thwart I located as close as I thought possible when the seat is all the way forward as I like to hang a map from the front thwart. We are heading out of town for a family vacation so I won't be able to mess around with the yoke question for a couple of weeks but I appreciate all the input and will keep you posted. I have an adjustable clamp on yoke with pads I made for an aluminum canoe a few years ago that would be easy to modify to use for the new 'noe. In my mind, like I said, if I have 2 paddles anyway (2 singles or 1 single and 1 yak) maybe yokeless option would be viable since the canoe weight will be significantly less than I'm used to.



"



Kevin, is that you? Is that frame-world or 80-20 extrusion?
Bryan
 
Cloznuff
07/25/2016 07:54AM
 
She floats! I am very happy with how it handles without a load. Quite stable. It is the Northwest Merlin pattern.

 
1JimD
07/25/2016 01:57PM
 
Nice Canoe !


At 47# and bouncing up and down a portage trail, I'd make a clamp on yoke . Breaking a paddle would not be good, way out in the bush !
Obviously you have some builder skills !
If done right it could double as a back rest.


Jim
 
nctry
07/08/2016 07:54PM
 
quote hobbydog: "I would think it would be too easy to break one. If you trip or or stumble and put extra pressure on it could break. That is not how I would treat such an important piece of gear. "




Kind of what I'm thinking.
 
jcavenagh
07/08/2016 09:38PM
 
Hey,Cloz...how about a few pics from various angles.
That looks to be a mighty pretty boat!
 
jdevries
07/08/2016 02:05PM
 
Not a bad idea, would definitely save the weight of the yoke but I don't know how well it would work in a solo. The yoke is typically immediately forward of the seat in order to balance the canoe correctly.
I'll have to fiddle around a bit with these to see if I can get it to work.


JD







 
jdevries
07/08/2016 02:12PM
 
Just looking at the pictures I just posted, it would require a new bow thwart installed further back.


JD
 
Cloznuff
07/08/2016 02:52PM
 
My seat is adjustable and will slide about 12" back of the Center of Gravity. The rear thwart is actually the point at which the seat adjustment ends and the front thwart I located as close as I thought possible when the seat is all the way forward as I like to hang a map from the front thwart. We are heading out of town for a family vacation so I won't be able to mess around with the yoke question for a couple of weeks but I appreciate all the input and will keep you posted. I have an adjustable clamp on yoke with pads I made for an aluminum canoe a few years ago that would be easy to modify to use for the new 'noe. In my mind, like I said, if I have 2 paddles anyway (2 singles or 1 single and 1 yak) maybe yokeless option would be viable since the canoe weight will be significantly less than I'm used to.



 
jhb8426
07/06/2016 05:56PM
 
My own opinion is to go with the correct functional choice for each. Choose the paddle you feel will work and get a true yoke with proper pads. The right yoke and pads makes a huge difference in carrying. Don't sacrifice the right paddle for a mediocre yoke choice.
 
HighnDry
07/06/2016 06:23PM
 
quote bhouse46: "The visual helped, and yes breaking down a kayak paddle or using two single blades (always good to have the backup) in such a manner would work. The noodles could then go on the gunnel to soften knee rub. I doubt bungees would be secure enough but something like in the photo should work. Getting a good balance point might be an issue with thwart positioning a possible concern. "


I'd agree with bhouse46 in terms of thwart positioning and your solo seat. The latter may likely be your balance point which means that you will need enough clearance between your head and the seat (or balance the boat on your head) to carry. The alternative is to move the center of gravity a bit forward so that the seat is effectively centered over your upper back or purchasing a solo yoke that lifts the boat high off your shoulders.


The least expensive (and easiest) is try the double paddle set up at home with a couple of bungies wrapped around the thwarts and see where your balance point is and how the boat rides on your shoulders. Good luck with all of this -- you'll work it out I'm sure!
 
mr.barley
07/06/2016 11:39PM
 
I have a BB Slice in 260cm. It's a decent paddle, but I don't use it very much. I decided I like a single blade paddle better.