Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Gear Forum :: Portage pads/yoke
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MeatHunter |
quote KJo: it's looking like it would probably be worth it to just rent a lighter canoe. You will probably be getting a "thank you card" from your neck, shoulders and back after your trip LOL Good luck and have fun...... |
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KJo |
Thanks again! Kjo |
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jeroldharter |
Seriously. Unless you enjoy some punishment, a kevlar canoe is so much better for BWCA. In general they are bigger, lighter, more stable (especially loaded in rough water). My friend has been with me twice, once in a rented aluminum canoe and once in my Souris River Quetico 17. No comparison. Portaging is so much easier with the kevlar. Water that was frightening in the aluminum canoe was passe in the kevlar. Costs a little, but you save the hassle and expense of outfitting the aluminum canoe and you will save some on gas traveling without the canoe. |
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yellowcanoe |
It's possible to portage a 17 foot Grumman, but not fun. If you have a whitewater PFD with foam over the shoulders the bar won't bother you. We tripped many years when we were younger with a 15 foot Grumman portage pads |
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KJo |
My family and I are heading up for our first trip in the BW this week. Even though we're just base camping, we do plan to do some day trips with some short portages. Our aluminum canoe (17' Grumman) doesn't have portage pads or a yoke and I can't seem to find them at any of the major camping/fishing outlets (REI, Gander Mountain, Fleet Farm). Any idea where we can find them? If we can't find them, we might just have to go without or maybe rent from an outfitter? Any suggestions would be much appreciated! Thanks! |
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MeatHunter |
Check the vendors listed on this site. I have purchased from Northwest Canoe in the past. I know they offer pads and yokes. You can install a nice wooden yoke on there for fairly cheap. |
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jeroldharter |
Yoke for aluminum canoe |
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Bannock |
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Cedarboy |
CB |
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yellowcanoe |
And the pads do not rotate if properly installed. I have no doubt that the above poster had a negative experience, but for fifteen years in BWCA/Quetico and Algonquin our Grumman experience, save for weight, was positive. |
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Beemer01 |
This is an awful idea on a number of levels. The pads WILL rotate on the bar creating a lot of pain, the bar has essentially zero give, while a wooded yoke has a slight bit of flex as you walk - trust me this is important. And -as noted above the straight center thwart will dig deeply into your neck. These problems are made larger by the weight of your heavy canoe. Many outfitters carry proper ash yokes and a variety of portage pads - removing the center thwart and properly mounting a wooded yoke is however not a trivial exercise and needs to be done correctly, mounting brackets and location are essential. Here is a picture of how I set up my Sundowner. |
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Beemer01 |
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mpeebles |
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CanoeSue |
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BWPaddler |
If you opt to take what you already own, it can be done... I've portaged a monster Grumman using pads plus a Tshirt duct taped around the thwart. Pain is a great motivator for invention. Have a great trip! |
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WalkerS |
yellowcanoe: "I respectfully disagree with the above. Using the center aluminum thwart and Bourquin style pads the neck was never never even touched. Would you mind sharing what brand of portage pads you are using on the aluminum center thwart? I would like to get some, but wasn't sure which are the best and most compatible with my 1974 17' Grumman aluminum thwart since most of the ones I see are advertised for wooden thwarts. |