canoe camoing..

[floatingwoody2006]

Heres a strange question for you all.. I have a Butt Ugly lincoln canoe that floats but looks really beat. I found at a local discount store a huge surplus of Camo duct tape. What i would really like to do is cover the entire thing with the Camo tape, and find some sort of spray on laquer to cover the entire thing with to seal the tape so it doesn't come right off again. DOes this sound possible to anyone? I used some of it to cover an outboard cowling, and it looks great..but im sure it will peel shortly unless i can seal it somehow. Thanks for looking..

 

[mike64]

Re: canoe camoing..

Hah, when I saw the post I thought it was a typo for canoe CAMPING, like a 5 day trip down a river, and I was going to weigh in on that topic.

Sounds to me like it would be easier and more practical to paint your canoe camo instead. Why don't you take all that camo tape and make some clothes? A nice hunting vest or something

http://ezinearticles.com/?Duct-Tape-Clothing&id=353977

 

[floatingwoody2006]

Re: canoe camoing..

Thats funny..I don't have any room to really paint as im outdoors under pines and pollen central. And i tried to camo a john boat once, but it looked terrible. I really like the looks of this tape.. Just don't know if it's feasable. And if not.. No big deal. I see no reason not to change the topic to a camping trip if that's where it's headed though. Camping up in nothern Maine on baxter state park last year, we had my 14" aliminum, 6 HP yamaha, with 2 adults completely loaded with gear dragging this canue filled with coolers, gear, and misc. stuff.. If you have ever dragged a canoe full of gear behind a small boat freighted across 14 miles of open water in a Massive thuunderstorm.. Im sure you can sympathize..

 

[mike64]

Re: canoe camoing..

Wow, that sounds like some trip. I have been caught in a thunderstorm in an aluminum canoe before, not loaded down with gear though (except for cooler & beer ) Was out on a huge swampy flood plain area called Blind Sucker in Michigan's U.P. Couple miles away from the camp site. My friend and I saw a nasty thunderstorm coming our way and tried to outpaddle it. We were unsuccessful Lightning started getting way too close for comfort, and the bank had thick reeds growing everywhere. We eventually bushwacked through the reeds to dry ground and waited out the storm. Yeah, aluminum canoe + open water + lightning is a scary combination.

I don't know what kind of laquer or other substance would make that camo tape permanent, but others here will probably have a better idea than me.

 

[INJUN]

Re: canoe camoing..

I thought it was a typo too. I used to camp out on Pine Island (CT.)

If the camo tape is anything like duct tape, you may want to consider the weight and then the resin used for fiberglass might do the trick. Again consider the weight.
Myself, I'd spray paint it using odd shaped stencils. I'm not clear on your description of what's limiting you from painting outside.

 

[floatingwoody2006]

Re: canoe camoing..

Hadn't thought about the weight at all actually..Ok then. Ill paint her up. (poorly) and post the results here. We were in an aluminum Vhull during the thunder towing that canoe. It was so bad that i finally just stood up in the boat, looked to the heavens and said.."well.. If it's gonna happen, it's gonna happen". Nothing i could do but pray all the way across.. Those storms continued for the entire 3 days we were up there, and there was a news story someone in the area we were in was struck and killed. We has scheduled a 5 day trip, but cashed it in early due to oppressive humidity, The maine state bird (blackflies) and goose crap all over the campsite. Not to mention being circled by "Yotes" all weekend. ALl that and we caught 1 decent Brook trout, and a bunch of junk whitefish. (chub) Man.. what a weekend. Im no quitter, and i have camped in everything imaginable, but that was enough.

 

[mike64]

Re: canoe camoing..

Yeah, I hate blackflies. I like camping in the cooler weather, like labor day and after-- not as many bugs, no thunderstorms. Nights get cold enough to really appreciate a fire.

That time we got caught in the canoe in a thunderstorm was an exception-- 4th of July weekend. Almost as bad as blackflies are these little biting flies that hovered around our ankles in the canoe and nip away. They're too fast to swat until they commit themselves and really get a good bite going on your leg-- then you can kill the little #?&*s

--was going to ask you what "Yotes" were, but I figured probably coyotes.

 

[floatingwoody2006]

Re: canoe camoing..

Yup.. The Coyotes were circling us all weekend. Not a bother except for the sleepless nights listening to them..

 

[arboldt]

Re: canoe camoing..

Re: Camo tape

I'd be concerned that (1) I'd never be able to get a perfectly smooth application as the tape tried to find the hull curves, keel, etc. (2) The nose point of the canoe are going to wear away the tape and start undermining it. (3) Abrasion areas where you beach the canoe are goingto wear away the tape. (4) That much tape is going to weigh more no matter what you do, and I'd do almost anything to lighten the load, especially at a long or up-n-down portage. (5) No matter what coating -- laquer, varnish, or (?) is going to wear away at some point, and the underlying tape would wear and separate. (6) No matter how ugly you think it is now, wait until parts of the tape begin to wear, and you really can't do much about it.

I'd figure out a way to hang a tarp or something to protect it while I cleaned, sanded, and painted the canoe.

re: Camping

Yeah, my bride and I did some canoe-camping in the Boundary Waters (Minnesota - Ontario border) before we had kids (our oldest is 32 now).

When we were first married, I wanted to introduce the love of my life to the wonders of camping, so we did the wilderness canoe - Boundary Waters thing In retrospect, I could have avoided that tactical blunder by easing her into camping a little at a time. Oh, well. The next year, she was 3 months pregnant, and it was the thunderstorm situation giving 3' waves, and us in a canoe. Not nice.

But all in all, many fond memories.

 

[wres112ad]

Re: canoe camoing..

there is a site on the internet called Camo Clad and it has all kinds of camo applications and you can buy perminate or removable and its glare free you should really check it out really cool stuff you could even camo your truck or gear its very versatile material!

www.camoclad.com

 

[mike64]

Re: canoe camoing..

Oh, well. The next year, she was 3 months pregnant, and it was the thunderstorm situation giving 3' waves, and us in a canoe. Not nice.

But all in all, many fond memories.

My wife and I went canoeing when she was 3 months pregnant too, with our now 5 year old-- not a great idea! Just a day trip on the Pere Marquette River (northern L.P. of Michigan) with a group of friends. We thought it would be a nice easygoing trip, but the river was really fast, and we had to paddle hard to keep control. We finally flipped trying to limbo under a low-hanging tree. My wife was ok (whew) and we got the canoe & gear out of the river, then another couple flipped at the same spot, and lost their canoe! I jumped out to rescue their canoe, and started getting pulled along by it like a dead leaf. I was tumbling against submerged trees and stuff in the water like a cartoon character Fortunately another guy jumped in to help me drag it to shore.

--I've heard Boundary Waters is a really nice area, been wanting to canoe-camp there one day.

 

[amynbill]

Re: canoe camoing..

Either way, please pas son to all of the other non powered, easy to tip boats out there to please stay to the SIDES of the rivers?

Too many jackarses out there this past weekend on the river in the middle of the traffic puttering around ladee dah while giving evil looks to all of the powered boats going by.

 

[floatingwoody2006]

Re: canoe camoing..

That camo clad is neat stuff..Ill look into it. Basically the same idea i had, but different. (better) No offense Amynbill but i think everyone has a right to float where they want to. Not trying to stir up trouble, but if i go thru the trouble of getting my Canoe, kyak to the water, I have the Same rights to it that the power boats do. I wouldn't be giving all the powerboats the stinkeye though..

 

[amynbill]

Re: canoe camoing..

That camo clad is neat stuff..Ill look into it. Basically the same idea i had, but different. (better) No offense Amynbill but i think everyone has a right to float where they want to. Not trying to stir up trouble, but if i go thru the trouble of getting my Canoe, kyak to the water, I have the Same rights to it that the power boats do. I wouldn't be giving all the powerboats the stinkeye though..

lol...the stinkeye.

I agree to a degree. It solely depends on the body of water and the size and width of an area. Too many conoe/kayak riders decide the best place to be on a busy river on a Saturday where the shore to shore size is merely 200 feet or so is in a group of 4 or 5 in the middle of the river and then look angry when 3 powerboats need to go by. Or they meander up and down in the middle. It doesnt make sense to me.

I dont know, maybe its me, but if I was in a non powered floater, Id stay closer to shore and enjoy my day on the river rather than get angry at the other 90% of the river traffic.

How much trouble IS it to take it off the roof and throw it in?

 

[floatingwoody2006]

Re: canoe camoing..

10-4. If i got tossed around a bit by power boat wake, it would be my problem and not yours. Personally i do agree.. i stick close to shore.

 

[amynbill]

Re: canoe camoing..

10-4. If i got tossed around a bit by power boat wake, it would be my problem and not yours. Personally i do agree.. i stick close to shore.

Well, it goes beyond that...I am responsible for my wake. If I go by and tip someone over who maybe isnt a good swimmer, or has heart problems...any list of things...I COULD be held liable. Most likely not, but ya never know. I do my best to stay far away from them, but sometimes you have no real choice, or regardless of my speed im going to make some waves that would probably be annoying to them. Thus as you perfectly put it...

I have paddled a canoe and did kayaking a few times. We had both growing up on the river. It just, to me, always seemed so much more peaceful, relaxing and interesting to stay near the shore anyway. Look up into the woods, explore the shore, so much to see.

I dont get the fun of being in the middle of a busy river full of people powerboating, but everyone is different.

 

[mike64]

Re: canoe camoing..

I've never had a problem with powerboaters, but mostly canoed in places where they don't go, like smaller rivers or swampy areas.

I did go out fishing in my canoe with a friend last summer on a big lake near my house. Was a busy Saturday, and we were bobbing like a cork from the wakes (and yes, we were close to shore). Still had fun tho, and didn't give any powerboaters the "stinkeye". Looks of envy, maybe.

 

[floatingwoody2006]

Re: canoe camoing..

That would depend on the kayak i guess.. seriously though im going out in the yak tomorrow on a 20? acre lake with browns, rainbows, and bass as targets. Any suggestions on early season flies to use?.. The hatch up here isnt in full swing other than the blackflies and ants,.

 

[amynbill]

Re: canoe camoing..

lol...true enough!

Sorry, I am useless with any kind of fishing advice. I am happy with a cheap pole, a bobber, and worms from the yard, hanging with the kids on the dock, mostly entailing me putting the worms on the hook and taking the fish off when they catch them.

 

[arboldt]

Re: canoe camoing..

Just a day trip on the Pere Marquette River

--I've heard Boundary Waters is a really nice area, been wanting to canoe-camp there one day.

The Pere Marquette? I've never canoed on it -- my impression from crossing it on M-37 south of Baldwin was that it was small and slow. The family cottage is north of Baldwin, so we will sometimes canoe the Pine River. Some current but no white-water. Nice family summer outing. The only time I've ever tipped in a canoe was when I came around a bend and had to quickly maneuver to avoid hitting another canoist who didn't know what he was doing. Oh, well, going swimming on a sunny summer afternoon isn't all bad, is it?

I thoroughly enjoyed the Boundary Waters, although it's been 33 years since I've been there, and I'm sure much has changed. We did have to paddle across the middle of some larger lakes, but not to worry -- as official wilderness area, motors etc were verboten.

A little consideration from everyone's part -- paddle, sail, and power -- can let everone enjoy the water. I've posted before that, on our lake, common usage dictates certain areas for each type, and everyone's happy.