What next?

[avlclimber]

Maybe it's not a materials issue but a design issue: Kayaks come in 2-3 sizes optimized for different paddler weights and dimensions. Y'ever see a chick paddle a L'edge with her armpits in the Gunwales? Maybe for smaller paddlers the Zoom isn't as upside-downy, but why are they forced into a certain style of boat by their size? This goes for kids and small fellahs, too. But men tend to have the upper body strength to wrassle a too-big boat onto a roof rack.

You asked what people wanted next, now you're balking. How cool would it be if there were a sized-down Option (in pink or whatever) designed to Chica specs. Women-specific harnesses have taken off in the climbing world, and reportedly make all the difference.

I'm not saying this is the solution, but it's a problem to solve if you want to attract paddlers.

Scott may have to wait for a materials revolution, but we'll make him one in pink anyway.

[Craig Smerda]

a decked L'edge is around 17" deep... a wood gunneled version is around 16-1/4"... they can be trimmed down (at the factory upon request) down to around 15-1/2"

for reference... most OC's for the past 999 years have been 15" at center depth.

gotta run...

[BlueRidgeCanoeCo.]

How about a smaller, agile, much lighter, still forgiving canoe designed specifically with the small female paddler in mind? For those of us that love the l'edge..... but feel lost inside of it.

Is the problem the weight of the canoe in the water or when carrying, loading and/or dragging? Maybe we don't need to make canoes lighter but easier to carry & load? Here's some ideas for what's next:

1. Give us a carry strap system that packs down small & light but has good suspension/padding and will work with almost any canoe. If I remember correctly, in backpacking people shouldn't carry 50% of their body weight (or train to get strong enough so they can), but more like 25-30% - and that's with high quality, adjustable, fitted suspension systems. Why are we asking light weight boaters to carry 40-50% of their body weight in awkward loads with no tools to assist them??? Why are we asking anyone to do this? There may be room for lighter boats, but an accessory that helps us carry the ones we own would be much appreciated. Canoe wheels look nice but seem to be too big/heavy to fit in a typical whitewater boat.

2. Give us any of the current whitewater boats on the market with a high-quality, ergonomic yoke. Redesign the saddle so that one's head has room when carrying the boat with a yoke. Perhaps a portion of the saddle can be detached via straps, buttons or velcro to make room? Rapid Media's 2010 Paddling Buyers Guide has a nice article on outfitting that speaks to the importance of a quality yoke in making carrying easier (p.45-49). Why do we only see these in big, long, heavy canoes? Perhaps someone can make an adjustable snap-on yoke that would clip to/squeeze the gunnels of any canoe and have ''towers'' to elevate the canoe away from one's head by a few inches to get the saddle out of the way?

3. Help us get your very expensive canoes on our cars. Surely the style of vehicle, boat and rack one chooses dramatically affects the ease of loading/unloading an open boat but perhaps canoe manufacturers can simply provide a guide with the purchase of a canoe on how to best lift, move and load their canoes?

While the exciting frontier may be new materials and hull designs, I think there's a lot of room for canoe companies to help us manage the boats we already own. Thanks for reading this post and working to advance our sport!

[Wendy]

A comment was made that length does not matter. Well in canoeing it does. If a short person - say 5 ' 4 " carries a 12 foot canoe up a steep grade it will drag. Swing weight does not matter when you tear the boat up on 1/4 mile to 3/4 mile portages. An elevated yoke would be great that is detachable. The wooden ones are too heavy/awkward to put in the shorter boats.

[BlueRidgeCanoeCo.]

I cruised through Diamond Brand Outdoors in Arden, NC yesterday and found a lightweight, packable carry strap system that could work for whitewater canoes: the NRS Whitewater Kayak Sherpa ($65). The top & bottom carry straps are long enough to swing around a canoe & attach at various points but the middle strap would have to be swapped out to span the girth of a canoe. Not a lot of support/padding in the harness but probably easier than carrying a canoe on your head or shoulder for long distances. Ask and you shall receive.

[chops78]

Ion seems light for what we expect these boats to hold up to. It is an adventure sport. Alot of good options to wear out right now for our small group. What next? I say whitewater boat ridin.



(factory c1,that would be cool)

[Wendy]

I find the Ion as easy to carry as a Spanish Fly. With head on the saddle resting the thigh hook portion on the lower back/buttocks your arms can be totally free.