Solo Canoe Set-up

[msamatt]

Gents:

Like Al and Gavin I also paddle a Wenonah Vagabond and really enjoy it. I wish it were about a foot longer and maybe one or two inches wider but I really enjoy it otherwise. No one canoe is perfect for everyone. Al and Gavin are shorter and ligher than I am so that why I would like a little more length and a little more width. Al's photos of his setup are great. One thing he omitted was a photo of his anchor rigging system. He probably wasn't using it in Montana. I regularly use a drag chain and am reworking my rig this winter. I customized something to fit the stern of my Vagabond two years ago but the plywood I used as its base finally succumbed to stress and water and cracked at its weakest point. So, I took one of our older poly cutting boards, and am using it to fabricate a replacement which will, hopefully prove more resistant to the wear and tear posed by water, movement and sunlight. I'll post pics when I finish.

BTW I do most of the cooking in our home so I didn't catch any flack from my wife about appropriating the cutting board!

[Gavin]

If your a big dude...you might like the Wenonah Solo Plus, it works pretty well for Ness..Think he's in the 220lb class as opposed to my 180. Bought my Vagabond from Mike Shelby. Guess he's around 6'4" or so, and a big bear of a man. The Vagabond wasnt a good match for him. Cheers.

[ness]

If your a big dude...you might like the Wenonah Solo Plus, it works pretty well for Ness..Think he's in the 220lb class as opposed to my 180. Bought my Vagabond from Mike Shelby. Guess he's around 6'4" or so, and a big bear of a man. The Vagabond wasnt a good match for him. Cheers.

Actually, I've plumped up a bit for the winter, but thanks.

Yes, it does work good as a solo. Not so hot as a tandem. It did work great when my babies were smaller: me in the middle one in front and one in back.

[msamatt]

Gavin:

Mike bought his vagabond at the same time several other guys in the club did several years back and you're right he was too darn tall for that canoe. He bought an Old Town Predator which is a bathtub to paddle but he seems to really like it. I typically run between 195-200 lbs and I'm 6'2" but most of my height is in my torso. I'd love it if the Vagabond had just a little more volume so I could lower the seat a little. I already can't rig a battery box rig like Al uses under my seat without raising it. Doing so would throw off my center of gravity. Anyway, I love tinkering with my boats. They're just tools and unless your've building your own I think you have to modify to tool so that it best fits how you like to use it. Right now I'm working on repairing and customizing a scanoe I got for nothing. It's one heck of a fishing platform. It sucks as a canoe. It's heavy and paddles like a barge but how great is it to have a watercraft in which you can put swivel seats and stand up in?

[RSBreth]

I kind of feel like the poor cousin still stuck with the OT Pack but I really haven't had any issues with it. I didn't move the seat down or forward, and aside from the bad camo job, haven't modified it. I use longer rods than Al does, so I need the room up front, too.

Of course eventually I'll paddle the Wenonah, or another bigger, better solo and then have a large balance on the credit card.

After looking at the header picture on my blog, I realize I do look like a big guy in a tiny boat.

[grizwilson]

Thanks for the helps. I am more of a stump or fire plug, 5'10 240, so need a pretty good size boat, just like the lighter weight to drag. I spin fish some but mostly fly fish so length helps with rods. I do snag a few suckers but generally stop and wade or get on the bank for that, but paddling is a good way to find them. This weather is a mess, have cabin fever, had some minor surgery a couple weeks ago so activites are restricted but hope to be healed by warm weather. I guess the double blade is not what I need..... sure looks cool those guys in kayaks..... oh well. Tight lines