canoe mods

[bignose]

IMG_0941.jpg

I am experimenting with this clamp on stabilization float on my smaller Pack canoe.
It has a rounded hull that is a bit twitchy. The initial stability is a bit uncomfortable compared to my flat bottomed 16' Camper canoe. I am hoping that this will give me a little more confidence.

By adding the floats, I should be able to add a smaller trolling motor.

[HJS]

One day I borrowed my BIL's 12' Oldtown pack canoe to pickerel fish a side creek on the Magothy. I found myself twitching the entire day to maintain stability. I never came close to flipping but the constant minor corrections was taxing. I'll stay with my 16' Oldtown camper thank you. BTW, a trolling motor mounted like in the attached picture does add significant additional stability to an already stable 16' canoe.

Your outrigger should help significantly.

canoe-trolling motor.jpg

[Mark]

Stu -- I think the outrigger will increase stability substantially. Good luck on that.

Howard -- The big question: Did you find any pickerel?

[bignose]

Here is the issue:

I have the 16 foot Old Town Camper with a 55 lb thrust motor. Due to my shoulder surgery it may be a while before I can lift it onto the cars. I planned to use this on the Severn and related creeks. I have some of the heavy pontoons by Spring Creek that I used on the Camper when I experimented using a 2hp Honda to power it. That experiment didn't work, the motor over powered the canoe. And the pontoons are bulky, when extended they give great stability, but get in the way of fishing.

The Pack Canoe is less secure feeling, and it is tiring to deal with if I were to fish some of the Creeks, like Weems or Mill Creek, where there are occasional ghost wakes and wind to contend with.
Just makes you feel like you are losing your balance constantly.
The 55 lb thrust motor would likely over power the Pack, but a 30 lb thrust motor (which is also 15 pounds lighter) should do fine. The sponsons are just a way to compensate for the lack of initial stability. They only stick out 6 inches or so from the sides.

I decided to stick with a canoe rather than a hybrid. The seating position is higher, and a lot more comfortable.

[HJS]

Stu -- The big question: Did you find any pickerel?

Stu - I borrowed the 12'er over a decade ago... and I forget what I caught. Howard