Have enjoyed reading the threads on solo tripping. Have done some, first with tandem canoe, later with solos (various Wenonah models) rented.  Will one day purchase a solo, maybe a Bell Magic if I can find one.  Anyhow, not real keen on those screw-on yokes I had with solo rentals (ended up just carrying the canoe with gunwale on one shoulder, if carry was under, say, 60 rods).  What rigs or methods do you folks use? PS, I usually do a double: big pack and paddle on one and small pack and canoe on the other; the double back is a pleasant delay.

Just curious, what didn't you like about the clamp on yoke?

Nothing major, just dinking around to put it on and off on the short hops; and more used to one piece across behind my head, as opposed to the box configuration of the solo yoke I rented.  Certainly no deal breaker, but I'm aware that there're plenty of ideas and experience out there...

I know Souris River uses a clip-in portage yoke for their Tranquility model. I saw one in passing. It has two clip pins similar to what you use on trailer receiver/hitches. Just clip and go. I bet SR might sell the yoke/hardware for retrofits?

Here's an idea that I think has some merit. When I buy my own solo, I plan on giving it a try as well as getting a clip-in yoke.
Cheap enough to make. I think it would work well for many folks but it would require a willingness to let go of previously conceived/learned perceptions.

Anyway, it makes for interesting reading/viewing.

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Interesting!  Thanks for the link; course I notice he is rigged on a tandem with a centered thwart.  Will check out the Souris yoke, too.

My last two trips were with borrowed solo canoes and clamp-on yokes. I remember having to remove them since they were in the way so I'm not sure if I get where your aiming.

Come to think of it. Last year's had the sling type pads (i think) which I've hated in the past but at that weight I couldn't complain. Well, there was that one time I needed to back-out of a tight spot and was really pissed when the seat made turning the yolk around a no go. It clamped on and off pretty easily though.

Box configuration? Pictures/links help.

edit:  first link didn't work - this one does

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see the link above for my portage set up  (or search for " Knupack" and or "frame pack" and or "pack frame" there are several threads I posted comments in) - I use a frame pack to carry the canoe - has the option to hook the straps of a daypack on to carry canoe and pack together, and I can lash a duffle bag to the frame for second carry (equiv to large gear pack)

Wenonah canoes with tractor seats are probably best portaged with their
clamp on to the seat frame yoke.  I have a bench seat in my Wenonah Rendezvous and have the clamp on the seat frame version yoke for that - but I don't like it very much - the pads seem to want to slide off my shoulders, and I'd probably break my neck in a twisting fall - but I don't have a framepack rigged for it.

My other two solos and tandem lake boats I do have frame packs setup for, and I much prefer to use them than a shoulder yoke - more comfortable, easier on the neck and shoulders, better control of the boat. - it can be a bit tricky to get the boat onto the frame by yourself, but once its up, its superior to a shoulder yoke in my not so humble opinion.  You do need to customize the frame setup to match the seat frame of the solo, so it wouldn't be too good a choice for a rented canoe unless you had the spacing ahead of time.


edit:  Just looked at that link that ST posted - I also use my painter line in a similar fashion, thouhg my hand is down at my side on the rope - helps a lot in changing the angle of the boat when going up or down steep slopes.  I will say I'm not a fan of the tump line concept - seems a bit "dangerous" to the neck

"Box configuration? Pictures/links help."

I'll bet its the Wen seat yoke - that does sort of box in your head  -

while I don't particularly like mine, it does the job and has never loosened up or slipped on the seat frame - likely, with a lighter boat it might be that I'd find it not too bad - my vous is 58# spec weight, and add two floatation bags, bag cages and a spare paddle tucked in behind, its more like 65 pounds

I also have on that boat a strap yoke from Mohawk, which works well enough for shorter carries and would be worth considering for a lighter solo boat - not an option for a rental though.

I feel your pain ripple. It seems like such a hassle to put on and take off. For me it's the first thing that gets stowed, so when I forget to take it off before I put in my packs I'm just stashing it best I can. I normally have a bungee thing that it clips to. Mine is a curved bar with pads.

I can't tell for sure, but it doesn't appear that the tumpline is carrying the full weight of the canoe, just partial, the rest is spread across your back by the round aluminum thwart he describes? I do believe the tumpline is something worth investigation, as its been used around the world for centuries and still is to carry loads most of us would never attempt. I wouldn't put all the weight on my neck muscles at first, but I could see using an adjustable tumpline and adding it in as a way to take the load off aching shoulder muscles.

I believe its Cliff Jacobson (?), who describes making a variation of the tumpline using a piece of canvas/ Heavy duty bungee cords. This stayed in canoe as sort of " table" and went directly over the top of the head. You could rig it any way you wanted. He still used the traditional portage yoke/pads, but this allowed some of the load to come off the shoulders and onto the neck muscles.

I guess in the end its like everything else we discuss. There are some definite no-no's, but other than that, it's open to what works for you.

One thing about having your own canoe, you can experiment all you want and find the perfect set-up for your paddling style. With the wealth of ideas/techniques out there, with a little effort and maybe combining some out of the box thinking, anyone should able to get to that near perfect Tri-fecta of comfort/safety/ease of use on their canoe.