Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Gear Forum :: Stowing paddles for portaging
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mkvnwk |
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justpaddlin |
I also have a Mountainsmith Day pack that can carry two paddles by just sticking the shafts through the shock cord webbing with the blade ends up. |
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Sandman2009 |
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Minnesotian |
I was wondering, for those that stow your paddles in the canoe for portaging, what are your methods? I usually rubber twist tie my two paddles together and carry them over the portage, but I was wondering if there is a slicker way of portaging paddles. thanks. |
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LarrySw45 |
Larry S |
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Grizzlyman |
but I installed bungies under the seat. Just cut a piece of bungie cord and fastned to the seat underneath. They’re hidden when not in use(they’re under the seat). When portaging- just reach down, grab the bungee and pull up. Slip you paddle between the seat and the bungie. The pressure of the bungie hold the paddle against the seat very firmly. I installed a bungie loop under the thwart/ yoke. Same thing, slide the handle through the loop above the thwart and the loop holds it tight to the thwart. Pics below will help. I have one on each side of the seat and each side of the thwart/yoke. So a spot for two paddles in front. I also did the same on the rear seat / rear thwart. So actually I can hold 4 paddles total. When done portaging simply slide the paddle out and the bungie pops back down below the seat until next time. Super simple. Fast. Holds them tight. |
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straighthairedcurly |
When I solo, I use Bungee Dealie Bobs (BDB) that are mounted to each of my thwarts. The blade end of the single blade paddle stuff under the bow plate and the shaft is held with a BDB. My double bladed, 2-piece paddle has both blades stuffed under the stern plate and the shafts held by BDBs splayed out to each side. The BDBs are fastened to the underside of the thwarts with these: Nylon Bungee Deck Loops That way, the BDBs never get lost and are always right where I need them. The canoe stays balanced because one paddle is toward the bow and the other toward the stern. |
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Blatz |
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MidwestFirecraft |
Grizzlyman: "I stole this idea- which is why this site is so great!! I use BDB's or twist ties, but I like your idea much better as it would be even quicker. I have found that smooth transitions at portages greatly increases my joy and outlook on portages during the trip, especially on many short portages. Thank you for sharing! |
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bobbernumber3 |
Grizzlyman: "I stole this idea- which is why this site is so great!!.... How 'bout a picture of the bunjee attachment below the seat or thwart? |
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HappyHuskies |
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unshavenman |
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Grizzlyman |
Easily accomplished with $2 with of eyelet screws and a few bucks worth of bungee cord. You could just as easily tie, loop, or zip tie the bungees in place if you had steel seats. Also- there is a 3rd eyelet underneath that “splits” the bungee so it can be used on both sides independently. Just one bungee running through 3 eyelets. |
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EddyTurn |
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andym |
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boonie |
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bobbernumber3 |
Grizzlyman: "Here are the pics..... " Thanks a bunch. I have a little project now for my tripping canoe! |
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A1t2o |
Personally I find that you can cut out 3-5 min of messing around on portages. You just grab your stuff and go. I wish there was a quick and easy way to strap the paddles to a pack, but I haven't found one yet. Long portages though, as in more than 80 rods or so, I will spend a few minutes strapping the paddles in place because carrying them does suck. |
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TipsyPaddler |
HappyHuskies: "Another happy BDB user. Like others here I use BDB to hold my spare paddle and the paddle I am using while portaging. Quick, easy, and economical!" +3 or 4 or more. Although I only stow the paddle this way on solo trips when single portaging. With two people, one person grabs the paddles and their pack, other person gets the canoe and their pack and off we go. I like to clear portages super fast, no portage garage sales :-) |
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jhb8426 |
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Jaywalker |
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dschult2 |
canoe portage setup |
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Minnesotian |
Thanks everyone for the ideas and suggestions. Grizzlyman: "but I installed bungies under the seat. " This idea looks great. I think I could modify it to be used in my solo Vagabond. I already have a bunch of bungee for stashing stuff on the canoe based off Cliff Jacobson's idea. Looks like I'll be adding some more! straighthairedcurly: "That way, the BDBs never get lost and are always right where I need them. The canoe stays balanced because one paddle is toward the bow and the other toward the stern." I like this idea too. And thanks for pointing out keeping the canoe in balance. I will have to figure out which paddle goes where, as they are different weights. Having portaged once or twice with paddles in the canoe, I found it frustrating because I couldn't figure out the balancing. Blatz: "On single portages my main paddle is in my hand but here's something unique. I have an 8 foot length of rode tied to the bow grab handle. It's main purpose is for rough landings getting out of the solo, but on portages I hold onto to the rope to balance the canoe. Keeps my hands by my side." Thanks for the explanation. I have tried doing the method of using the painter line to help balance the canoe. I have not liked it so far, but will practice some more. I like the idea with the painter line to have my arms down and at least one free to slap at bugs. A1t2o: "I've done it both attached to the canoe and carried." I agree with using both methods depending on the portage. I personally like to double portage, so I am used to carrying the paddles. And it does save some strapping in time at the portage landings by just carrying the paddles. And you raise a good "thought experiment" as Einstein would say; how could paddles be strapped to my canoe pack? Hemm... TipsyPaddler: "Although I only stow the paddle this way on solo trips when single portaging." Exactly. I double portage, but I want to have a better way of making it easier to single portage, just to have that option in case I want to. andym: "We've been using the rubber twist ties called Gear Ties by Nite Ize." Jaywalker: "So many people on this site love BDBs. I always bring some but I hate them." I also use those Gear Ties by Nite Ize. And while I bring some BDB's along, I find I don't like them for binding the canoe paddles together. I find the Gear Ties have a better grip and therefor keep the paddles from working loose over the course of the portage. I do like the BDBs for zipping things down while in the canoe, and I have also attached them to my canoe bags and backpacks as a lightweight solution for attaching things to my bags in an emergency. dschult2: "Here is a short video I made on how I set up my canoe to portage." Thanks! With the sound of the crunching leaves, your video really made me miss autumn canoe trips right now. Can't wait for September/October this year. |
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cyclones30 |
If the portage is like 10 rods....just carry. |
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cmanimal |
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EddyTurn |
fadersup: "Anybody stuff paddles into the side pockets of a portage pack? I've seen it but never tried it. " Yes, sometimes in our GG Superior pack. It can be convenient on high-travelled portages, but will be abomination if one has to negotiate overgrowth or a downed tee to duck under. |
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A1t2o |
Minnesotian: "A1t2o: "I've done it both attached to the canoe and carried." What I've come up with so far is that you would need a material with enough grip to hold on to the paddle since they are pretty slippery and a second loop at the bottom of the pack to keep it straight up and down. I could probably do all that with a gear tie. The problem I run into would be ducking branches and going downhill. You go under a branch but the paddle snags behind you or you step off a rock and the paddle hits it. The paddle hitting the ground is my big issue because it would most likely be upside down and I don't want a damaged handle. Maybe if I could get the paddle to sit on the side of my pack with the handle coming past my hip and coming out to about knee height it would work. Maybe if there was a little harness it hung from that would work so I could easily maneuver it around obstacles without supporting the weight with my hand. |
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fadersup |
Anybody stuff paddles into the side pockets of a portage pack? I've seen it but never tried it. |