Post trip update:  Used the new cam yoke on MP's Bell Magic for our 12 day BW trip in June.  It worked like a champ!  A breeze to put in and take out.  The springs kept the clamp open for putting it into the canoe and kept things from jingling around/shaking loose when just riding in the canoe during paddling. 

Bonus - I have my first order for a custom yoke.

pd

Nice job pd.  Don't ya love it when a plan comes together.

Stay safe.......

I've used a couple of different clamp-on portage yokes and didn't care for the way they slipped.  So I made my own.
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Nothing to see here folks...(well, hopefully yes....) just working on figuring out this posting pics thing.  After a year of COVID quarantine, I should have had this figured out already.

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Daaaang! That was easy.

Okay...so I've been yoking around this fall/winter with some new stuff.  On my trips last summer with Magic Paddler, I noted his homemade Placid Rapidfire portage yoke was looking a bit ragged.  He's posted some pics here before, but here's a reminder and what it looked like last summer. 

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Having loaned me his Magic for the trips, I figured I'd take a shot at tackling a new one for his Rapidfire.  This was a bit of an engineering challenge because there are no flat, horizontal surfaces to clamp to, just a crowned top and a 37 degree inside bevel.  I took a bunch of photos and measurements, then at home, I made a mockup of his gunnels to work from.  After a bit of trial/fitment/retrial process, here's a few pics of how it came out.  I was able to send it to him for Christmas.  It fit amazingly well and very solidly.  MP tried it out in his yard and is quite pleased with it.  He's looking forward to putting it to a real test once the waters thaw out.  I did make a minor mod to it at his request to fit his mounting preference - not reflected here. 

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And mounted on his canoe.

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The wood is cherry and the pads are EVA foam block.  I was having a hard time sourcing some reasonably priced foam from suppliers, then I found this purple yoga block at Walmart for $6 that was of decent firmness.  The clamping hardware, you've seen before.  Even using hardwood, it weighs in at 36 ounces - 6 less than his old model.  Stronger, prettier, and lighter - how can you beat that! 

pd