Solo Canoes

[smallmouthjoe]

I'll try to move the seat up a few inches and that may solve my foot rest problem. The real problem I have with the seat is what it's made out of. That hard plastic is something that my tail bone is not used to and it's a pain to try to keep from sliding off of. I think I may steal Eric's idea and put a little tilt in the seat, or I may just switch the seat out for one of the wicker seats in my tandem and put a sitbacker on it. I usually don't like using an anchor but it's nice to have when the wind is howling. Do you have any photos of your anchor set up Wayne? I was thinking of a way to put an anchor in without making one side of the canoe heavier and therefore more prone to turning over and the best I could come up with is just tying an anchor to a rope that is attached to my seat thwart. I really didn't know what I was missing, fishing from my little kayak is something that I could never do again. It's really nice being able to stop paddling and have the canoe go straight instead of spinning around like a top. Thanks for showing me the light guys.

[RSBreth]

Isn't it also awesome to have the rods right where you want them, too?

[eric1978]

I'll try to move the seat up a few inches and that may solve my foot rest problem. The real problem I have with the seat is what it's made out of. That hard plastic is something that my tail bone is not used to and it's a pain to try to keep from sliding off of. I think I may steal Eric's idea and put a little tilt in the seat, or I may just switch the seat out for one of the wicker seats in my tandem and put a sitbacker on it.

In all honesty, if I were to do it again, I'd probably just put in a wicker seat and a sitbacker. I was just being cheap and didn't want to spend the extra money, and that's why I still have the original seat. After the adjustments, the "sliding off" problem is no more, and it's really quite comfortable. I have more padding than you though, Joe, and my tailbone is fine. I've spent a good 8 hours in it, and I've been plenty comfortable. My back gets a little tweaked after awhile, but that's not the seat, it's just the sitting. The wicker would certainly be a much easier modification.

Isn't it also awesome to have the rods right where you want them, too?

Totally. I keep one rod handy on the rod holder, and the others resting on the thwarts on the opposite side.

[smallmouthjoe]

Isn't it also awesome to have the rods right where you want them, too?

That was also a nice luxury , today I only took three rods and could have fit another if I wanted to. All my fish today were located with a SB and then caught with a dinger. It was really nice to be able to have a throw back rod sitting waiting to be used. In my kayak I pretty much had to sit on my rods and switching rods in a timely fashion was impossible.

[Wayne SW/MO]

Smallmouthjoe the anchor rope runs through a carabiner that I hang off the front. When I say front its actually slightly to the side, but 3# doesn't matter. Make a loop of small nylon rope and loop in on the grab handle in the bow, hook the carabiner to it and run the anchor rope through it. Tie the end of the anchor if you're in a flow so that you won't lose it. I tie it twice when I don't want to chance it coming loose in a shoal or rapid. I've had no problem with a 3# dumbbell. My son uses two and holds his 160 Guide in the Niangua. One nice thing about the dumbbell is that the price allows you to cut it loose if necessary, rather than chance a spill.

I could run it off the back, but if it tangles, my hasn't, I figure I can creep to the front easier than trying to turn around.

[Gavin]

Joe, heres a pic of my Wenonah Vagabond from a couple years ago..Front anchor is as Wayne described. The rear anchor system consists of a wooden bracket and an anchor lift and lock, so I can run a drag chain to slow my drift. Seat is a sitbacker and its got a factory installed footbrace. I think Wenonah sells them as an accessory if you want one. I like mine alot. Cheers.

[bobber]

if your going to attach any kind of anchor system to a canoe in moving water YOU BETTER have a knife ready!AND I WOULD NEVER PUT ONE ON THE BOW OR STERN ( you can't reach it) hook it up close to the seat so you can release it when you have to! and trust me you'll have to at some time........ come on guys your not thinkING SAFETY!

[bobber]

Smallmouths taste like sewage...... I LOVE IT!!

[smallmouthjoe]

I usually don't like using an anchor in moving water because of the safety issue, but when I'm fishing lakes I like to have one to keep the wind from blowing me all over the place. I think I may try the dumbbell system that Wayne is using.

[Wayne SW/MO]

I never use one in moving water, but you can often move in shallow water across from a good flow or wood and anchor. I doubt I've ever dropped mine in water over 18"s deep. It is helpful to avoid the constant correction or back paddling to keep from being pulled back into the current. I would never try it in fast water, deep or shallow.