visions_version_nros

the chop tosses the bow into the sun
and the water foams in courses down
the deck is wretched with paint
winter is setting into the lines
taking longer to untie

yamahaha

the motor gets into motion
after a minute or two of choking

coves

the river is cold hands
reaching to cover over
the rocks a broken expositor
glacier fractures ever after

chores

stalking over the hard
still grass crystal sharp
to feed the birds these
seeds numerous

visions_versions_su

the seal seats
improperly
my fingers deep
soaked in oil
enough to taste

visions_versions_GH

skating on the mud
all accross the yard
out back the hole
that was dug
by who knows
is still left open
why don;t know
no ones going
in and out
so far as can see

visions_versions_LS

are the leafs left
more than the last
time night day then
that those ones that brace
laden with snow still
at this time as dawn
climbs into higher degrees

on launching a canoe: part three

on launching a canoe

Fiberglass

Composites are in vogue.  The engineering, the modeling accuracy and manufacturing methodology and costs, is reliable in this day and age.  At the inception, entire companies sprang up specializing in a cost effective solution to the wooden boat (see glastron, mfg, etc).  And that is exactly what fiberglass composite is competing with.  For larger displacement boats, the fiberglass hull represents an approximation of natural composite.  The strength to weight ratio is comparable, the durability is in excess, and, most importantly, the margin is far and above beyond.  Like wood, though, fiber glass requires care.  This is a little known fact.  The perception is that fiberglass is durable; the look and feel of it gives one the confidence that you can drop the canoe from the roof of your honda minivan onto the tarmac and drag it one thousand feet across the two hundred degree sand beach.   And you can.  The abuse of the hull, though, leads to a degraded performance and longevity.  Longevity in this case is referring to seaworthyness. The aging of a damaged fiberglass hull tends towards waterlogging and softening.  Which of these faults is more problematic is up for debate.  From the perspective of the oarsman, waterlogging is the worst feature a boat can have. 

Kevlar (and other exotic materials)

Composites are variegated.  Some are expensive.  Kevlar is very expensive.  It is perhaps the ultimate material for it is extreme in durability.  The abrasion resistance of kevlar is second to none though it has a lower ultimate tensile strength than some other fibers, such as carbon or high strength glass.  That being said, a kevlar canoe still requires care.  The matrix is prone to damage and cracking can lead to waterlogging and softening.  But all of the high performance load bearing composite materials yield a low weight vessel to those who can afford the price.  Usually, the unladen weight is insignificant to the performance and laden weight.  

Think carefully about what you intend to be doing in the canoe.

Check your pocketbook, check your landing and draft requirements.

Look at yourself, at your friends, and at your family; will you have passengers of competence or will they be, as the french say, les encompetent.

Finally, what do you want your reputation to be? 

winter_practice

lets guess best
which guest lets
the door open
longest yet

on launching a canoe: Part Two

on launching a canoe

Don't drag the canoe accross rocks sharp enough that you wouldn't put them in your mouth. Or any substance that is harder than the surface of the canoe.

Canoes are manufactured from a number of materials.  The durability can be graded and what follows is a list and breakdown of canoe compositions.

Plastic
The plastic canoe rates high on durability.  This canoe is resilient to rough treatment; plastic is tough and can be scraped and scoured without developing a leak.  Plastic is also easily repaired with plastic plugs and a low temperature torch.  On the other hand, the plastic canoe leaves a wake of microscopic plastic particles everytime she touches down.  Another problem is that plastic canoes have an unfavourable strength to weight ratio.  Compounding this is the necessity of reinforcement stays or beams, in some cases, to retain shape or load rating, owing to the low tensile strength.  Plastic is also prone to relaxation. Keep this canoe out of the sun if left strained.

Aluminum
Of the constituent particles of the earth, if analysis is limited to what is termed the crust, element thirteen is is the most common true metal. Aluminum is so common that it takes a ton of scrap to buy a jar of pretzels.  What does this mean to you?  The price of aluminum has no bearing on the value of an aluminum canoe it suffices to say.  In Montreal, aluminum canoes of excellent craft and gauge are had for nothing.  In Wisconsin, the value of aluminum canoes is inflated to such an extent that you can likely afford one with bullet holes and dents galore only.  The market for boats is unencumbered by realistics.  Whether this is good or bad is hard to say.  Aluminum, as a material for a canoe, is a good choice:  Aluminum can be repaired easily; is cool to the touch, has a naturally attractive luster, is of excellent strength to weight ratio (no mystery why the wright brothers salivate at the mere mention of), is in abundance.  Aluminum, from a cost to longevity perspective, is the material of choice with which to build a good canoe that will survive the eons.