Puddock
17-04-2011, 16:51
I took my new (well new to me) canoe out today for the first time. I purchased a second hand Pelican as I didn't want to spend a huge amount on a first canoe, and I also wanted something that could be bashed around whilst we learnt the finer points of canoeing and also car topping! I am really pleased with the canoe, I have nothing to compare it to, and it seems to do all that I want in the short term. I will no doubt buy another canoe in a year or so, but this will do just fine to learn the ropes.
I went on my own for the first outing as I wanted to get a feel for it before I added the kids to the front :-) Plus their PFD's had not yet turned up, so they will have to wait another week!
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5064/5627886212_051238acc6.jpg
Barley the Labrador didn't want to be left out and had followed me!
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5025/5627304733_bc1499ed09.jpg
It was my first ever time in a canoe and I have to say that it was extremely relaxing to glide along, I will have to master steering, I found that I had to keep swapping the paddle from side to side after every three - four strokes, whereas videos I have watched show people only having to put strokes down one side of the canoe, but generally I had no problem in stopping, moving backwards or turning.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5184/5627311565_c6e44eb4bf.jpg
It's safe to say that I am hooked, and looking forward to spending a summer afloat. For a budget canoe the Pelican seems to be a great starting place, and something that I will be able to pass onto the kids once I get 'my' canoe :-)
I went on my own for the first outing as I wanted to get a feel for it before I added the kids to the front :-) Plus their PFD's had not yet turned up, so they will have to wait another week!
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5064/5627886212_051238acc6.jpg
Barley the Labrador didn't want to be left out and had followed me!
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5025/5627304733_bc1499ed09.jpg
It was my first ever time in a canoe and I have to say that it was extremely relaxing to glide along, I will have to master steering, I found that I had to keep swapping the paddle from side to side after every three - four strokes, whereas videos I have watched show people only having to put strokes down one side of the canoe, but generally I had no problem in stopping, moving backwards or turning.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5184/5627311565_c6e44eb4bf.jpg
It's safe to say that I am hooked, and looking forward to spending a summer afloat. For a budget canoe the Pelican seems to be a great starting place, and something that I will be able to pass onto the kids once I get 'my' canoe :-)