…That you don’t read about in paddle-mags.
[Article updated from 2005.]
I’m presently flipping out about small boats. I don’t quite know why. First, I’m simply captivated by all the amazing events and races that use little boats. Then there’s just the going out in a boat. Going on an adventure. Packing up and heading out. I can’t resist.
I also almost always immediately start getting multimodal in my notions. The idea of a bike in a boat and then pulling a boat with a bike just cranks my tractor. Hmm, all you need is a folding bike, say, and a yoke that clamps to its seatpost and a sling with a couple wheels on it…
I drive around our mid-Michigan region and see little ponds in dales, with lillypads and portions wending their way into the hills, out of sight—they make me want a tiny little (15-lb kevlar) boat to hop in and go check it out. Catch some fish.
Or a boat you can take a little family in, down a coast, for a weekend. Pull it up on a beach. Row it if the wind dies down.
It just gets me going beyond words!
I’ve lately been exploring the small boat adventure scene online some, following up old leads, and it’s taking me to the freakiest places. I about can’t handle it.
I plan to act on this nutty boat vibe I have next weekend by entering the 55-mile Hugh Heward Challenge right here in town. A few years ago Verlen and Jim realized that a 1790’s explorer paddled thru Lansing, MI, on his team’s way across the state. In mid-April they paddled 50 miles right thru town. So the local canoe club has started commemorating that day. Can we paddle like they did for just one of their days? People start early and see how far they can get. The route goes thru a bunch of towns. I’ve paddled a few times this year now. I think I’ll try it. With my friend Tim. We’ll go in his sweet carbon race boat loaded with snacks and drink. I can never seem to actually prepare properly for any long event I want to do so I’m going to try the “do it anyway” approach. My plan is to go easy and just see if I can keep going. (News story.)
[I caught a cold and can’t do the HH. But here’s a further big thought about Verlen: he did some canoe adventures that will never be repeated. Mostly because they were so nutty, but still. (Paddle across Canada in one season?) But the main thing, no, two things, is that he raised awareness for expedition canoeing and inspired many. But maybe most of all: he left behind a GREAT BOAT design. I bet the Sea Wind is going to endure, well, forever for versatile tripping. What a neat, rare way to contribute. Only a few out there in recent years have done this, really. Jensen, Bolger and Michalak (or however innovated stitch’n’glue) come to mind. But Verlen is the king of the paddle voyage innovators, thanks to his trips…and his boat.]
Here’s an outdoor action website I just discovered by way of the WaterTribe site. (Man, one thing just leads to another out here in the wilds of the Net.) Marek Uliasz does neat things outdoors, big adventures, then writes em up and takes pics and vids. Yeah! He has cool boats, too. Man… Check it out: Wayfarer’s World. I kinda like his surfrigger canoe…
Speaking of WaterTribe, they do adventure races in small boats around Florida, including the Ultimate Challenge that just finished, where they went 1200 miles in a month. They offer events for several types of boats. As I said, I’m into versatile boats. Quite a few people use Kruger boats in various configs. Here’s one below that I like, used by Seabisquit. It’s set up for paddling and sailing. (And here’s , full of pics and boats from the big event.)
Here’s some more paddle action you don’t always see:Hullspeed: hot webmag. The photo to the left is of the kind of paddler you see when you paddle what they call an Oly/ICF high-kneeler—check out top paddler Pam Boteler’s website and photo gallery.
Another gallery for a photogenic Olympic Gold Medalist and boat designer: Birgit Fischer—she just helped produce a folding racing kayak for Nautiraid.
Euromaniacs of Wildwater (vid clips!). USAWildwater.
Here are some amazing boat builders: Futura — cool boats. Current Designs, Simon River and Savage River have the goods. Crazy Euro boats: Nelo, Kirton, Zastera.
Verlen Kruger did paddle adventures that no one else did and which I suspect no one else is ever going to attempt again. He also invented a touring canoe that I believe will be around forever. It’s a boat you can do anything in. I like the seat (a critical thing in a tripping canoe!) and how you can raise it and lower it and move it all around, including out of the way entirely if you want to sleep in the boat. But what a neat thing to contribute. I guess a feel very much the same about a bunch of different small boat designers. They give so much out of so little. Kruger Canoes. But also DuckWorks!. THANKS everyone for somehow feeding my brain and life with your wild and useful boat ideas.
Races for people who can’t stay away from water: Water Tribe’s month-long ’round-Florida race for various small boats, Texas Water Safari and AuSable Canoe Marathon, General Clinton, FIBArk, Dusi.
…Calming down for a moment: CLC for great kits for all kinds of boats.
Freaking out all over again, how about the now-regular rowing races across the Atlantic? They seem to use the same boats over and over again. Buy yer boat, row across, sell your boat to the next guy. I think it’s taking them 40-80 days to do it—some have more rowers, so they’re the faster boats. I don’t think they’ve lost anyone yet.
