What are you nifty water bottle carrier setups for a small solo canoe with bulkhead?

[Bengee]

I've always clipped a nalgene bottle to the front lacing using a cheap carabiner. I'm outfitting a new covert right now and I'd like to do a lot better. I'd love to hear and SEE what you have done to hold your water bottles in your small plastic boat/bulkhead setup?

One thought I had had is installing a 4inch PVC pipe through the front of the bulkhead, between the thighs, but under the thwart. I'd set-it up somehow to drop my nalgene in there and retain it with a strap and buckle.

Cheers!

[Bob P]

You might be able to adapt a water-bottle holder made for bikes.

[DougB]

I have a hole drilled into the piece between the knees of the bulkhead on my SFly that holds a typical bike waterbottle.

[Paddle Power]

Lots of options.
I’ve made a hole in the bulkhead.
I’ve also shaped out the side of foam and used a bungee to secure a water bottle. Done that on both sides of the saddle forward as well as a just a single one in front.
On one C1 I did use a bike water bottle cage.

[Mike W.]

For my c1's with bulkheads I put a bungee cord through the bulkhead. Put a fender washer against the front of the bulkhead, then tie your knot. Mine are set up to hold a 32oz. Gatorade bottle. https://m.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1 ... 9569768609

[yarnellboat]

Great, I have the same question! After much hemming & hawing, I finally made the transition to a modern, shorter, plastic boat (moving from an Outrage and Ocoee to a L'Edge SuperLite).

Did my first run this past weekend. It's early days in this relationship with my new boat, but suffice to say that I would've been more comfortable and aggressive in my old ride. Part of it is that I'm not loving the bulkhead, but hopefully I can just keep carving &/or glueing until I get it right. Though I can't figure out how it won't be too loose when I'm in shorts and too tight when I'm bundled up in my drysuit.

Anyway, storage was one the issues/questions I had. In my Royalex boats there was always enough d-rings around to secure a water bottle and dry bags, but not the case in plastic with a bulkhead...

Sounds like some foam carving and/or bungees will be the way to go for throw rope and water bottle. I'm assuming if I push a hole through the foam for bungees, I should line the hole with a tube of some kind, so that the bungees don't pull through the foam? I'll put the rope & water in front of me somewhere, bungeed or otherwise strapped to the bulkhead.

For things like a dry bag with clothes/lunch and a dry bag with pin kit and 1st aid, is there a way to glue in anchors? I could just stuff these under my rear airbag, but I'd prefer to clip them in. I've heard vinyl d-ring anchors could be glued in with GFlex? If not d-ring anchors, then I guess I do something similar in the back - push through the foam to add some sort of attachment point to the saddle.

Thanks for any advice on d-rings etc.

Now where is that thread on how to roll these higher-sided boats?...

Pat.

[Bengee]

Anyway, storage was one the issues/questions I had. In my Royalex boats there was always enough d-rings around to secure a water bottle and dry bags, but not the case in plastic with a bulkhead...

Sounds like some foam carving and/or bungees will be the way to go for throw rope and water bottle. I'm assuming if I push a hole through the foam for bungees, I should line the hole with a tube of some kind, so that the bungees don't pull through the foam? I'll put the rope & water in front of me somewhere, bungeed or otherwise strapped to the bulkhead.

Hi Pat, yes, I push a tube through to line a bungee hole. Actually, I sharpen the tip of a tube and use it to puncture the hole and then slide another one of correct size as a sleeve.

I had the same desire for a D-ring to secure my lunch at the bottle of my new covert. I used the bulkhead instead though. Here is what I did: I puncture a hole use a small plastic pipe near the bottom of the bulkhead, between its front side all the way to a drainage pipe already present in the original bulkhead. I then marked the new hole spot on the drainage pipe using a long pencil, pulled out the drainage pipe and drilled a hole just slighty smaller than the small tube hole I just made. I then prepared a small tube sleeve. I then cut a length of supple and tough rope of a diameter that could fit when doubled through the small tube yet a knot at one end would not. I then cut a length, made a loop my tying a simple knot at one end. Using a stiff wire, I pulled the rope loop first through the larger drainage pipe than the smaller tube sleeve (at a 90 degree angle). I then pulled all the way so that the loop would hang out of the bulkhead 1-2 inches. I placed a carabiner there, locking it in place and usable as an anchor.

A picture would have been a lot simplier, but I just did not get around to it yet.

My new canoe is fully fitted now, except for a solution to hold a water bottle...still imagining and reading suggestions! thanks.

[yarnellboat]

I think I managed to follow that, thanks. At front of your bulkhead you've got a biner on a loop of rope that is on a stopper knot in the transfer tube through your saddle. Right?

I don't think my original drainage tube has a pipe insert, I'll double-check. Also, I've added other transfer tubes, so I probably have an additional one, also unlined, farther forward. But I could always add a liner tube/pipe I suppose. Though now you've a got a knot interfering with the water transfer in your 1 transfer tube?

I had a similar idea of making a rope-sized hole, putting a rope through, and tying loops on each end that I could clip stuff to.

I think I'd just push through a new lined hole near the front of my bulkhead for a bungee, rope or strap.

What kind of pipe/tube do you use as inserts for the holes through your bulkhead? I suppose any hardware store has a load of materials and diameters to chose from.

Looking to figure something out for under my stern airbag too.

Pat.

[Bengee]

Pat, I used some small diameter beige colored pipe from canadian tire, probably less than a 1/2 inch, perhaps made of PVC?

Yeah, my knot takes up most of the space of the drainage pipe. That is ok, I am also using it to pass a pump harness (wires). Besides, I bore a larger semi-cylindrical drainage hole under the bulkhead, right where I placed my removable pump. Most of the water will be circulating there.

[yarnellboat]

I guess the trick is to find something that makes a hole the same diameter as whatever liner/tube you find, or to have a liner/tube that itself is stiff enough to cut the hole through the bulkhead.

Oh yeah, I have to move my pump over too. Haven't thought about that yet. Shoulda just bought it with the pump installed by Esquif, not sure why neither me or them asked about that.

P.

[Paddle Power]

A 3 piece paddle fits crosswise against the saddle.

I put it into a mess bag and clip it in.

[BAD paddle]

A buddy just carries a small hydration pack over his PFD, with a normal hiking tube hanging over his shoulder-- and he swears by it. At my end, ever since switching to bulkhead saddles -- Ledge lite x2, Octane, Option, and now Agent 88, I've anchored a Nalgene "Cantene" water bladder just stern of the back of the seat and have the bite tube on top of the rear bag, tucked under one of the air-bag lines. Works fine and have to guess that there are lots of similar options.

Since a roll attempt, swim, or even big curling waves put river water in my nose/ eyes/ ears/ mouth, I've not been at all worried about river water on the tube's bite valve. You might even say it's a wash! Of course I don't typically paddle post-industrial release flows or super muddy streams, but I've never needed to be more fastidious. And it has saved several boats worth of carve/ drill/ mount action. The water bag not only rides well and stays in the boat, but it stays cold because it's under the airbags in the bilge.

[Pierre LaPaddelle]

... I finally made the transition to a modern, shorter, plastic boat (moving from an Outrage and Ocoee to a L'Edge SuperLite).

... Part of it is that I'm not loving the bulkhead, but hopefully I can just keep carving &/or glueing until I get it right. Though I can't figure out how it won't be too loose when I'm in shorts and too tight when I'm bundled up in my drysuit.

... Now where is that thread on how to roll these higher-sided boats?...

Pat.

Hey Pat -- CONGRATULATIONS on making it into the new millenium!!!

Gear and bottle storage in a canoe is, essentially, a First World problem. I'll leave that one to you! I"m lazy -- throw-bag and bottle under the front lacings, and spare paddle (break-down) under the rear airbag.

Far as bulkhead adjustment is concerned, you can adjust EITHER the knee-holes, OR the saddle-back. (Or both!) The fit should be reasonably snug in your drysuit, but if it's a little loose for bare legs, it won't significantly alter your ability to paddle -- or roll. I have short legs, and given the saddle height, I found it more comfortable when I cemented an extra half-inch of foam to the knee pads. Doubt you'll need to do that.

And as for rolling, as Einar said, "It's 50 % physical, and 90 % mental. Keep working!!

C'est l'aviron!

Rick

[yarnellboat]

Hi Rick,

With the xc skiing drawing to close the other week, I was just about to get the SuperLite back to the pool,... and then COVID-19. Need to continue figuring some tweaks to the outfittng. The roll was coming a bit a last time after a few misses, I need to be more aggressive with both my hip snap and finish. In the Ocoee, with it's low sides (which scooped a boat full of water), I found I could get away with a pretty slow, lazy roll. Some people say the Ocoess is hard to roll and the L'Edges are easy, but that hasn't been my experience so far.

Anyway, with some extra time on our hands, we should all get our boats well outfitted this spring. I guess I'll make a water bottle spot.

Take care Rick! Hope you're still building a strong & fun paddling community on the island!

P.

[keez]

Duct tape a carabiner to a water bottle then clip it to the bag cage.
Secures the water bottle and you've always got a carabiner and duct tape if needed.