Canoe with a View : : Canadian Open Canoe forum

So what do we paddle and why.

Mine is a green Valkyrie Prospector 16 GRP. I really chose this one more for the aesthetics than any other features, such as weight! She is sleak, the wood furnishings are all ash and fitted out to a very high standard. In the water she tracks well, turns an a penny and looks the biz.

I have finally decided to name (seems a tradtion for Valkyrie owners) her Enýojk which I have taken from my favourite swedish sami singer, which is the name she gives to her music and she gave me her blessing to use the name for my canoe!



Enýojk at Silverbay Ullswater

I paddle a Valkyrie similar to Nige's but she's of marine ply clinker construction instead. Tracks beautifully but doesn't turn too quick due to a pronounced keel and all the little 'strakes' act as mini-keels too. Again, like Nige, I went for aesthetics - I love my cherry end-decks and the ash gunwales.

Her name is Mirrormere which is the first body of water the Fellowship encounter when they exit the Mines of Moria in Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. The reflection of her white hull on the water suit this name well, I reckon.


Maiden voyage, Coniston Water, March 8th 2008

retro Wrote:some have commented on it's stabillty being a narrow little

Tippy, no surely not! Got in, fell out, first time round at Coniston in March but conquered 'Mr Slippy' second time round at Crummock in May. Great boat.

I can say that both the Valkries are fine paddling craft as when ever theres one left unertended on the beach I am off in it

Nova Craft Prospector 16 (she's the green one, i'm the rather suave looking adventure type kneeling inside:cool

Edit: ah just saw you ask why do you paddle it. Hmm she's arguably the best allrounder out there, tough as old boots and gets me down stuff making me look better than i deserve. She's probably a little big for what i want from her now but i'd be sad to let her go so I may be making it an expensive year at some point

I am going to have to change my avitar, so I am pictured paddling a proper coloured boat as all this green is making me sick.

Er the first one s the old dreadnought that has served me faithfully for 4 years of Grade 3+ down to flat water stuff. OK a bit of a tub but as an entry level canoe they are ideal. It is a coleman (RamX) 15' with a beam of 37" - was a 3 man but now coverted to mainly solo and occasioanl tandem (remove airbag).



The other, newest, is only 8 months old as is a solo canoe designed to allow for flat water easy padding. This is an Apache 14'10" long with a beam of about 33". Similar hull design to a NC Bob Special she is pretty good on manouverbaility and fairly good on stability. Only a GRP boat but strong enough for flat water and G 1 stuff. Came as a bare hul and i fitted the gunwales, seats etc... afterwards. Many mock her and I occasioanlly curse her but she is loved:



Sorry the picture is big and wont shrink!



Pete

She is a thing of beuty Pete. I could only improve her with a green hull

Now dare we even go there, with the whole colour debate
Yes I dare Ivorys the fastest and most original.
P.s any one who says diffrent will be banned oh Nige paddles a green boat

ivory
an excellent colour
easy to spot for rescuers when you spend time upside down
now green difficult to see upside down so only used by paddlers who stay right side up( apart from mark)

What are the rules on swearing on this forum

Oh dear - the green eyed monsters have reared their heads again

Pl@inum Wrote:She is a thing of beuty Pete. I could only improve her with a green hull

You can get Colemans in green.

TGB

TGB Wrote: You can get Colemans in green.

Yeah i know i used to have one, did me good service for years!