Canoe Day 2024 is on Wednesday, June 26, 2024: Is a canoe catamaran a good idea?

Wednesday, June 26, 2024 is Canoe Day 2024. Junior Ranger campers enjoy canoe day at Fort McAllister ... Back

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There's a unique day for nearly every hobby nowadays, and canoeing doesn’t lose out around the fun, with a unique day's marine paddling celebration. Canoeing is an excellent hobby, and together with being eco-friendly and relaxing, it is also an excellent type of outside exercise that’s appropriate for any age.It's no shocker that canoeing will get its very own day's celebration, because of so many fans all over the world. Canoeing is a straightforward activity to understand, with some fundamental safety gear anybody can hit water and revel in this healthy hobby.Regardless of the huge recognition of paddling a canoe, Canoe Day started in 2007. Ever since then it is the highlight of each and every canoe loving fan every year, and you may find activities in most regions around the globe to savor paddling with new buddies.

Twin canoes or a canoe with an outrigger have been a normal means of sailing long distances in the South Pacific for over a thousand years. It's OK on lakes too where there is plenty of space but on rivers you may get some trouble on the rocky bits and white water.

You'll have stability but reduced manouvering ability so you could find yourself on the wrong bit of water because you couldn't get to the right bit in time. You also need to think about how wide you are.

Single canoes are more versatile in white water and rocky rivers with narrow sections and you can use your weight shifting as part of the manouvering and balance to get some tight turns if necessary. On a twin canoe that doesn't work.

Twin canoes are easily lashed together with two poles bound with ropes right round each canoe and the space between them can be used for storage by putting a deck or a net on it and is also good for fixing a mast for a sail.

A centreboard would be useful if you put a sail up to counter the pressure of the sail and increase stability and directional tracking. It stops the boat slipping sideways with the sail pressure, and also getting blown right over, so it controls both the track and the roll.

The centreboard can be a simple piece of wood shaped like a boomerang held down in the water by tying one arm to a suitable fixing point, leaving the other arm vertical in the water. It can swivel on one of the poles connecting the two canoes. A three pole arrangement is usual if a centreboard is to be fitted, with one arm of the centreboard tied to the forward or rear pole for the up and down positions of the board and the board swivelling on the centre pole.

All it needs is a simple hole through it with the centre pole threaded through it.

A sail and centreboard and a strong deck between the canoes is a common arrangement in carrying supplies for a long trip but only on wide enough water. I've used them on wide rivers in Malaysia on a malaria survey and for Army manouvres in a jungle warfare school and on a backpacking trip.

My daughter has used a similar arrangement in the Cook Islands for sailing between islands.

It works fine where there is space.

For narrow rivers a supply canoe is best towed behind , fitted with a couple of short outriggers for stability and with everything sealed in with a waterproof cover and tied right round the canoe.

Have a good trip either way. It's a load of fun.

What should I bring on a 3 day canoe/camping trip?

Clothing:

You can save a lot of space by dressing and packing appropriately instead of bringing a lot. You choice will depend largely on the weather, but basically bring:

Rain/wind coat

sun hat

sunglases

warm hat if cool

Insulation layer if cool - such as polar fleece - stay away from cotton!

2 t-shirts

shorts - nylon prefered

wear a swim suit instead of underwear - or just nylon shorts

long wind/rain/mosquito protection pants if needed (Again avoid cotton)

Shoes and socks that can get wet such as canvas sneakers.

You don't need to bring spare jacket, insulation layers, etc. Bring a second pair of shoes and socks to wear around the campsite and changes of underwear or what ever, maybe second t-shirt. Rain pants, polarfleece, etc can be rung out if wet and be almost dry. Again, stay away from jeans, sweatshirts, etc which get heavy and miserable when wet.

General equipment

Canoe

paddle per person and a spare

PFDs (lifejackets) - note can be worn for warmth too, work as pillows

packs

sleeping pad

sleeping bag

tent (maybe with ground cloth)

lighter/matches

cook kit

basic utensils

Tarp - optional, but nice if it might rain.

Stove & fuel if you are not cooking on the fire

Grill may be needed if cooking on the fire

water purification system if no potable water available.

Rope - hang food away from animals, for tarp, clothes line

First Aid Kit

Duct tape and/or other needed repair materials

map, maybe compass

Flash light - (I prefer a headlamp)

dish soap, scrubby/sponge

Trowl, toilet paper

toiletries as needed

spare glasses if you wear them

water bottle(s)

insect repellant

sun screen

Don't bring - axes, saws, lanterns, coolers, etc. Your head lamp is plenty of light. You can break firewood with your hands and axes and saws cause many injuries and you don't need the space/weight.

Generally, I have one pack for equipement and food and a second for 2 people's personal gear. Duffel bags would work fine for a river trip with no portages.

Food:

I find one pot meals easiest for dinner

Mac and cheese - throw in some canned veggies,

Saghettie - Can add fried sausage and onion, mmmm

Burritoes - fry beans and ingredients - throw in a warm shell

Rice meal

Bring spices - this makes all the difference!

For lunch

Trail mix

crackers, peanut butter, jam, sausage, cheese,

snacks - chocolate, hard candy, candy bars, beef jerky etc

Hint - keep a butter knife with your lunch food

Breakfast

Hot cereal, pancakes (takes time), granola

Drinks: Coffee, tea, herbal tea, hot chocolate, kook-aid type drinks,

Cheese, summer sausage, onions, peanut butter jelly in ketchbottle type tubes all keep for days. Stay away from sausage that has any poultry or ham in it! There is no need to bring a cooler/refigerated items.

Hang your food at night to keep it away from the animals

Pack all food in ziplock freezer bags - git rid of original boxes. (Hint - squeeze out all air before sealing so they don't blow up in your pack)

Keep all your stuff in organizational bags and in your packs, not just loose in the canoe. Organize it where you camp, so you can find it and don't loose it.

You can help keep your sleeping bag dry, by either using water proof back or by using a kitchen garbage bag between it and it's stuff sack.

Where around Hinckley Lake can I rent a canoe for a day?

Hi!

At Hinkley Lake itself is a swimming area, but if you drive around the corner to the other side of the lake there is the boat area. You can park, and either walk around and hike in the woods, or you can rent a canoe. I think I remember that they only let three or four people in the canoe (we had two adults and three kids and they didn't let us all go on one). I believe that it was ten dollars an hour to ride in it, and it is very beautiful and fun! They give you life jackets and everything you need. There is also a snack bar there, and a small store.

I almost moved to the area I loved it so much!