Ranger wrote on May 13^th, 2014 at 12:31am:


You do have drip rings on double shaft?
Also how long is your double paddle?
I can't remember your canoe Ranger, but on-line research told me that for a tandem width canoe, you need a paddle at least 9 ft long.

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I'm 5' 9", so a 9ft paddle is just a little longer than they recommend,

The added length is needed because a tandem canoe or even a big solo is much wider than a kayak.

Shorter paddle might seem the answer, but with the higher gunnels in a canoe, a paddle that's to short forces you to "windmill" paddle, which puts the shaft/blade more vertical which in turn puts more water in your boat, drip rings or not.

You want what they call a "touring" stroke, with the paddle being almost horizontal compared to the "windmill" stroke.

The experts call it high angle or low angle paddling.

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I paddled almost exclusively with the double in tough head-on winds and got very little water in boat considering how hard I was paddling.

I can't see any downside to a pink sail, unless getting dive bombed by pink phlamingos is a downside. Darned birds think its their mother ship.

Blue, on the other hand, only attracts mosquitoes and friendly flies...



Jimbo, you could pitch it to Stu to test market it for his store. Maybe he would take it on one of his trips... not much he doesn't take.

Jimbo wrote on May 14^th, 2014 at 8:40pm:


Jimbo, for your next trip you should put in at Stanton Bay, paddle out into the middle of Pickerel, and just spend a week going wherever your sail takes you. 

I too have a sail somewhere in the basement. Not only will it take you in an indeterminate direction, but it will often do so at terrifying speeds. Mine is blue, not pink. Not sure if that would make a difference in the resale market or not.

Ranger

Old Salt wrote on May 13^th, 2014 at 10:14pm:



Next year I'm going to market my sail as a "collector's item" as it is now approaching "antique" status.

You know, the kicker is that the doggone thing works!  Um, of course, it may not always take you in the direction you wish to go but it DOES work.

So, I say, why not get there (or somewhere) quick in pink style?  It doubles as a colorful umbrella during those unpredictable Quetico frog-strangler gully-washers, too....

Jimbo   

On the product that I purchased it lists some of the materials it can be used on.  It includes fabric (not clothes) and hard surfaces like plastics.  I have an area in my basement where capillary action wets a large area next to a wall.  There is a small trough for the water to follow to a drain and it does but the floor gets wet beyond the trough.  I sprayed a section of the trough wall and a couple of inches of the floor. Success the floor is dry with water in the trough.

PhantomJug wrote on May 13^th, 2014 at 7:38pm:
don't they sell different compositions? one for fabric, one for hard surfaces, etc...? a reviewer mentioned that but the rustoleum site just shows one product. the example of the glass and iphone underwater doesn't look like 60 grit...pack bottom sounds like great application

Jimbo, I'm pretty sure we had a sale on your sail at last Copia, but alas, you must have been suffering from sellers remorse because you 'forgot' to bring it with you.  Sort of a virtual sale of a sail if you ask me, which you didn't...

BTW, a few years back, a guy I used to paddle with had your idea to glide his canoe easier & faster over the waves. He sprayed WD-40 on his hull. As he was bragging about how good his idea was, I quietly pointed out the slick he was leaving on Pickeral Lake.

I just finished my last coat of Never Wet on my canoe blade.  I was expecting a smooth finish but it's like 60 grit sandpaper to the touch.  It also finished in a dull, gray cloudy chalk like substance.  If you're not particular about the curb appeal of your gear, this stuff seems to work.  (However, it won't be applied to my whisky jack paddle or my boots.)  I'm gonna do my Teva sandals next and the bottom of my canvas packs.  Will field test June 1-8.

Magic,

Man, I need to get me one of those babies!  That guy was going NEARLY as fast as I fly along when I deploy my specially-rigged pink flamingo "wind paddle sail"!  Here's a pic: (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)

I might add that this very rare wind paddle sail remains available to the highest bidder (see: (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links) ) just in time for this year's soft-water canoe sailing season!

Actually, I'd take a good bottle of Scotch in trade... or a bottle of Magic's Never Wet product, whichever comes first!

Jimbo   

Jimbo
I think Neverwet creates a high surface tension like wax causing water to bead up.  Canoe racer say wax slows the canoe down. 
This guy may have the boat for you
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Ranger
You say you use a “long double blade”. If the muscle behind your collar bone starts burning on those hard travel days try a shorter paddle or one with a smaller blade.