In 1972 I bought a new 17’ aluminum canoe with a cartop kit and 2 paddles. $150 for a new quality LoweLine.
I still have it. It’s still in very good condition. Used it a lot in college camping and river floats, it’s big enough l and stable enough to fish from. Plenty of leg room and space. It has a lake keel and because of its length it’s better on lakes or broad rivers than twisty fast water with rocks and obstacles.
It’s been hanging upside down in my barn for 23 years and was last wet 15 years ago when my bro in law and nephew borrowed it.
Yesterday’s canoe related welding projects were
1. a wheeled ground cart so I can strap it in the cradle and balance it and walk it to some of the state lakes without vehicle access or from a parking area to a launch area.
2. a receiver hitch mounted carrier. It’s a square tube frame that pin mounts into the hitch on my 4 door Jeep rubicon, rises vertically a little higher than my roofline, and terminates with a pivoting T cross member at the top. I haven’t tied it yet but the plan is I will be able to load one end onto the T frame, secure with a strap, then pivot the front of the canoe around and up with the foam blocks and centered on top of the Jeep. All by myself if needed. It will be longer than the Jeep but with /\ ropes front and rear, 2-4 foam blocks on the Jeep hardtop and the hitch T post it should travel well.
I loaded it and portaged by myself in my younger years but I don’t think I could do it now without my new system. Picking up one end at a time is my limit.
Looking forward to doing a little solo canoeing or with the wife if I can talk her into it. It’s still raining today. I have the newfangled paddles but I also have my original Feather brand wood paddles. I might sand a refinish them today and drink coffee in the shop.