I've posted these photos elsewhere, but this thread seems fun to follow so I'll post them again. I did quite a bit of canoeing in the Midwest (Ohio, Michigan, Indiana) as a young Boy Scout and then as I got to be a teenager and in my early 20s. Learned how to handle a boat solo, go through some mild rapids, and how to fight big chop on open lakes - but mostly flatwater pleasure cruising stuff. I also did some kayaking in Florida during that time too. My wife and I got the itch to get a canoe a few years ago and despite living in Colorado (the dry desert) we took the plunge. I had occasionally used some more modern canoes out here and didn't like the handling or stability, and didn't want an aluminum canoe due to the weight. So we started watching Craigslist and Marketplace. This total oddity popped up: a 16' Klickitat fiberglass boat. I had never heard of them, and there was scant evidence on Google. The boat had beautiful lines with the high bow and stern, and the width was appealing for boating with kids/dogs/gear. Took it home for $300. Turns out it was a very small company located in Oregon making these for a few years in the late 70s. If anyone has any more info on Klickitat please let me know.
It's been a great canoe for popping into the lakes and reservoirs around here. Handles like a dream and is very stable on the water. I'd like to refinish the teak gunwhales and triangular pieces on the bow and stern, but they're fine for how little we use this thing. There's some aesthetic scuffs and chips in the fiberglass & paint that I should also address, but they aren't structural.
Recently we went to Moab for some camping & wheeling with friends and brought the canoe along since everybody else was going to rent kayaks and paddle a "calm" section of the Colorado River. We had a blast and the scenery can't be beat. We had a little scare through the first mild rapids (maybe Class II?) where we took on water and the dog jumped out in a panic. The main current was flowing pretty good directly downstream into a set of 3' standing waves, and I spotted a sizable side current coming from the left just before the rapids. Beyond that, the left side was going to be much calmer than the right side, so I figured I'd get up a good head of steam, break through the side current & account for a little starboard push, and take the left route to avoid the biggest standing waves. Well ... the Colorado doesn't mess around and I severely underestimated that side current. That thing pushed my stern out from behind me in about 2 seconds, sending us straight at the largest standing waves sideways. We took on a good amount of water over the low gunwhales. After a few waves, and with some commands to my wife up front, we were able to get the boat straightened out - and right at that moment the dog said "F this! I've had enough!" and jumped out. So now my wife is holding our dog to the side of the boat by the leash as I'm guiding us through the last set of waves alone. We made it through, got to the shore as quickly as possible and dumped the water.
Luckily the rest of the rapids downriver were much easier to navigate and the rest of the day was wonderful.
Here's to learning experiences and more adventures!
It's been a great canoe for popping into the lakes and reservoirs around here. Handles like a dream and is very stable on the water. I'd like to refinish the teak gunwhales and triangular pieces on the bow and stern, but they're fine for how little we use this thing. There's some aesthetic scuffs and chips in the fiberglass & paint that I should also address, but they aren't structural.
Recently we went to Moab for some camping & wheeling with friends and brought the canoe along since everybody else was going to rent kayaks and paddle a "calm" section of the Colorado River. We had a blast and the scenery can't be beat. We had a little scare through the first mild rapids (maybe Class II?) where we took on water and the dog jumped out in a panic. The main current was flowing pretty good directly downstream into a set of 3' standing waves, and I spotted a sizable side current coming from the left just before the rapids. Beyond that, the left side was going to be much calmer than the right side, so I figured I'd get up a good head of steam, break through the side current & account for a little starboard push, and take the left route to avoid the biggest standing waves. Well ... the Colorado doesn't mess around and I severely underestimated that side current. That thing pushed my stern out from behind me in about 2 seconds, sending us straight at the largest standing waves sideways. We took on a good amount of water over the low gunwhales. After a few waves, and with some commands to my wife up front, we were able to get the boat straightened out - and right at that moment the dog said "F this! I've had enough!" and jumped out. So now my wife is holding our dog to the side of the boat by the leash as I'm guiding us through the last set of waves alone. We made it through, got to the shore as quickly as possible and dumped the water.
Luckily the rest of the rapids downriver were much easier to navigate and the rest of the day was wonderful.
Here's to learning experiences and more adventures!
