Canoeing. Where?
Discussion
Had an offer of a 15-foot Canadian canoe I couldn't refuse. Thought it'd be fun to take the kids in, but I was surprised at my wife's reaction - she was all for it too.
So, my bluff well and truly called, I now need to find somewhere to float it. I'd probably prefer lakes as they're a more predictable environment, particularly as my kids are quite young (5 and 2). We have floatation vests too.
I live in Redditch. Local would be better but if there's anywhere **you really have to try** I'm allears erm... eyes.
I found this place near to Evesham, which looks good for us to acclimatise ourselves with it:
http://www.aztecwatersports.com/index.php
Anywhere else? Billing maybe?.. although that's not exactly local.
So, my bluff well and truly called, I now need to find somewhere to float it. I'd probably prefer lakes as they're a more predictable environment, particularly as my kids are quite young (5 and 2). We have floatation vests too.
I live in Redditch. Local would be better but if there's anywhere **you really have to try** I'm all
I found this place near to Evesham, which looks good for us to acclimatise ourselves with it:
http://www.aztecwatersports.com/index.php
Anywhere else? Billing maybe?.. although that's not exactly local.
Always seem to be people on small boats there along with the fishermen.... no idea on any restrictions to be honest,or safety issues,but then id expect you would check all that out before you launched anywhere.... local though so big advantage if its ok.
Big safety hazard was recently removed when someone caught a huge snapping turtle out of there ....and i mean huge,would take your finger off easily should you be unfortunate to be close to its jaw ....
Big safety hazard was recently removed when someone caught a huge snapping turtle out of there ....and i mean huge,would take your finger off easily should you be unfortunate to be close to its jaw ....
Edited by rigga on Wednesday 4th August 17:41
Rivers are alright actually, well, big ones anyway, they tend to be fairly calm more often than not.
Flotation thingies for the front and rear of the boat aren't a bad idea too. My mate rolled his in the Thames (admittedly while coming back from a canoe pub crawl) and sank it. My other mate who was in the front and who initially went down with the boat resurfaced with the painter in hand and they dragged it out.
You can have lessons too, which is probably a good idea if you've not used a canoe before. I think they also get you to turn the boat over deliberately (so you get wet
)so you're used to it if/when it happens unexpectedly when you're on the water.
Flotation thingies for the front and rear of the boat aren't a bad idea too. My mate rolled his in the Thames (admittedly while coming back from a canoe pub crawl) and sank it. My other mate who was in the front and who initially went down with the boat resurfaced with the painter in hand and they dragged it out.
You can have lessons too, which is probably a good idea if you've not used a canoe before. I think they also get you to turn the boat over deliberately (so you get wet
)so you're used to it if/when it happens unexpectedly when you're on the water.I have canoed a long time ago. I learned to exit from a capsize but I was young and I don't think I was taught to right myself because of a perceived lack of strength then.
However, reading up on it today, I've become aware that a kayak refers to what I used to call a canoe (single or double hole, with a largely closed deck) and what I previously referred to as a Canadian canoe, is simply a canoe.
I have a Canadian canoe. No rolling that - well there'll be no righting it anyway. It's quite a wide affair too so it's probably stable-enough.
That man-made lake I posted the link to is quite shallow apparently. I'll launch us there a couple of times, to get the hang of it again, then I'll go for a walk around Earlswood lakes to see what's what.
Thanks for the location and operational tips.
Pic of my amphibious car below. Haven't worked out how to seemlessly transition from car-mode to water-mode yet.
However, reading up on it today, I've become aware that a kayak refers to what I used to call a canoe (single or double hole, with a largely closed deck) and what I previously referred to as a Canadian canoe, is simply a canoe.
I have a Canadian canoe. No rolling that - well there'll be no righting it anyway. It's quite a wide affair too so it's probably stable-enough.
That man-made lake I posted the link to is quite shallow apparently. I'll launch us there a couple of times, to get the hang of it again, then I'll go for a walk around Earlswood lakes to see what's what.
Thanks for the location and operational tips.
Pic of my amphibious car below. Haven't worked out how to seemlessly transition from car-mode to water-mode yet.
rigga said:
Always seem to be people on small boats there along with the fishermen.... no idea on any restrictions to be honest,or safety issues,but then id expect you would check all that out before you launched anywhere.... local though so big advantage if its ok.
Big safety hazard was recently removed when someone caught a huge snapping turtle out of there ....and i mean huge,would take your finger off easily should you be unfortunate to be close to its jaw ....
Big safety hazard was recently removed when someone caught a huge snapping turtle out of there ....and i mean huge,would take your finger off easily should you be unfortunate to be close to its jaw ....
Edited by rigga on Wednesday 4th August 17:41
http://www.birminghampost.net/news/west-midlands-n...
Can you spread the roof bars any further apart? The boat might sit better (and possibly a bit further forwards if you do- surprisingly it won't affect your vision too much).
As a general rule theres nothing to stop you getting into any navigable water way (canals or bigger slow rivers), however lakes etc tend to be private land or charged for entry but locals are more likely to know about local rules. Go find a local canoe/kayak club and find some more people to go on a water bourne pub crawl with
As a general rule theres nothing to stop you getting into any navigable water way (canals or bigger slow rivers), however lakes etc tend to be private land or charged for entry but locals are more likely to know about local rules. Go find a local canoe/kayak club and find some more people to go on a water bourne pub crawl with
I wasn't sure whether there were "controls" for accessing canals. Same for Arrow Valley too - I think you might need to be part of the sailing club for that.
The problem I'm finding is gaining the information needed for "launching a private craft". That phrase is what I found on the Aztec Watersports website, along with a price.
Nowhere else seems to even mention this. You get all the usual spiel about the local sailing clulb etc etc... but nothing about "just turn up and float your own boat" type of thing. This is common for loads of places I've been looking at.
I'm going to try that Aztec place because they advertise it as clean water and shallow which is precisely what I want for my first go with the kids. Once we're through that, I might get more adventurous.
The problem I'm finding is gaining the information needed for "launching a private craft". That phrase is what I found on the Aztec Watersports website, along with a price.
Nowhere else seems to even mention this. You get all the usual spiel about the local sailing clulb etc etc... but nothing about "just turn up and float your own boat" type of thing. This is common for loads of places I've been looking at.
I'm going to try that Aztec place because they advertise it as clean water and shallow which is precisely what I want for my first go with the kids. Once we're through that, I might get more adventurous.
Mars said:
I'm going to try that Aztec place because they advertise it as clean water and shallow which is precisely what I want for my first go with the kids. Once we're through that, I might get more adventurous.
Might just be me ,but canals -not exactly clean water ,or shallow .And as for locks -never liked the water movement -never trusted water with movements like as in there .Personally ,Id be getting out a fair way back .[quote=Who me ?]
Might just be me ,but canals -not exactly clean water ,or shallow .And as for locks -never liked the water movement -never trusted water with movements like as in there .Personally ,Id be getting out a fair way back .
[/quote]
Far from clean, but not deep at all, only a couple of feet at the bank side, with a narrow but deeper channel in the middle (apart from the locks, which are very deep of course).
ETA: what have I done wrong with the quotes?
Might just be me ,but canals -not exactly clean water ,or shallow .And as for locks -never liked the water movement -never trusted water with movements like as in there .Personally ,Id be getting out a fair way back .
[/quote]
Far from clean, but not deep at all, only a couple of feet at the bank side, with a narrow but deeper channel in the middle (apart from the locks, which are very deep of course).
ETA: what have I done wrong with the quotes?
Edited by Super Slo Mo on Friday 6th August 22:01
[quote=Who me ?]
They're not, generally, except in the very middle (supposedly 3 to 5 feet). If you ever see one drained for maintenance you'll be surprised at how shallow they are. Barges have a very low draught for this reason. Mars said:
Yeah I find canals a bit gruesome and locks a bit freaky.
Was always told they were at least five foot deep ,and the locks deeper.But as said- never liked the water swirling around locks . Gassing Station | Midlands | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff