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Post by stewie on Jul 5, 2011 12:20:38 GMT -5
So, I attached myself to a group of people who were going to run the St. Croix as an over-nighter on Canada Day. "Great!" I say, "I'll bring my own canoe!" ..... "It's a wood and canvas (well fiberglass, it's a project boat) Chestnut Ogilvy, 18 feet." .....!!!!! "Yes, I'm going to solo it." !!!!!!! "No, I'm not insane!" The general gist was that A) I'm nuts, and B) going to loose my canoe. I must say that I've never run the St. Croix before, but how bad could it be? In actual fact it was the most "technical" river I've ever run. The water was low as the dam hadn't been opened at the lakes. The "guide" says that it was the lowest he's ever ran it. Anyway, nice paddle, lots of rock slalom, and I left remarkably little paint behind. Although I'm wondering about some advise "friends" gave me. Run river right they said at Little Falls. Sure, if I want to snap the boat over a three foot drop! I ran the Canadian side, and came down quite nicely thank you! I will say that I think I had the only non-Old Town canoe on the river all weekend! Judging from the state of the rentals and the amount of green and red paint on the barely submerged rocks it must keep them in business! ;D Anyway, a couple pictures of yours truly since I won't post pics without people's permission. I will say I received comments about how slow I ran the falls. Guess people are used to seeing boats bounce off rocks like a plinko puck going down rips and the like! Cheers!
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Post by Ken Corbett on Jul 5, 2011 12:28:26 GMT -5
Man, I've never seen it so rocky on the St. Croix. Nice splint on the gunwale, stewie. Looks like this boat has been around for a while, looks good, tho.
Ken
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Post by stewie on Jul 5, 2011 13:45:57 GMT -5
Ken,
Yeah, she's been around the block a few times. The splints (there's an identical one on the other side) cover where the in and outwales were scarfed together. It's started to rot out. Have to do some rib tops and lord knows what I'll find when I haul the fibreglass skin off.
I happen to like the Ogilvy hull shape. It's more nimble in moving water than a heavy 18 foot boat has any business being. And it's nice to be different!
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Post by Ken Corbett on Jul 5, 2011 17:19:46 GMT -5
I had an Ogilvy 16 until a couple of years ago. Long story short, it rotted out. So I know how you feel. When I paddled it solo it knew where I wanted to go. When I went out with my partner in front, it seemed that even when I lifted a cheek it nearly keeled over!
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