Any Canoeists out there?
In just over a week we are going to pick up our new Scamp 16 at Backus. As long as we are up in Minnesota (a long way from SC) we figure on going up around Ely and getting some day trips into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA). We plan on taking our canoes, but I realized that they stick out over the back of our Subaru Outback and may hit the Scamp. So the question is:
Does anyone know how far past the bumper the canoe can safely go before "interfering" with the Scamp?
Thanks in advance for the info.
Dave
I don't carry a canoe on my vehicle, but in terms of the physical space, there is about 3 feet of margin from the hitch ball to the front camper wall. Left and right turns shouldn't infringe on your canoe if it's mounted dead center on the vehicle roof, but exiting a parking lot or gas station would cause the camper to be higher than the vehicle resulting in some "folding" together and loss of some margin until level again.
Based on that, it seems you could probably have 2 feet of overhang to play with safely (1 foot of margin), though keeping the canoe to 1 foot of overhang (2 feet of margin) would feel better.
Thanks Driver,
My canoes will be well over 2 foot even with the canoe's balance point near the front rack, so until I actually get my Scamp and try it with the canoe I am going to play it safe and leave the boats at home. While the Scamp is at the campground I will rent a canoe for our day trips. There are a lot of rental boats around Ely,
Thanks again,
Dave
It won't help you with the dimensions, but here is my canoe vs. Scamp story. I saw a number of setups that used supports mounted on the front bumper and linked to the roof rack, which allowed a canoe, or two, to be moved way forward. I started to build one of those, but that did not happen, because a different option was available. It was time to make life easier, reduce the weight to be lifted to the roof rack of the Tacoma.
To make the long story short, we sold our very old Old Town 70+ pounder Royalex canoe and two old rotomoulded 30+ pounder kayaks and bought two 15-pounder 12 foot Hornbeck canoes, that are perfect for day trips. I made a light weight frame that goes on the roof rack and allows me to stack them in the middle of the roof, so they cannot interfere with the Scamp, because the point (bow) is approximately above the hitch point.
Those boats are made by Pete Hornbeck in the Adirondacks in NY. Google "hornbeck boats".
-Paul
2004 Scamp 19 Deluxe,
2021 Tacoma, Double Cab, 6 cyl. 4WD
Colorado
Thanks Paul,
It is funny that you should mention the Hornbeck. A few years back I bought my wife a Hornbeck "Lost Pond" 10 foot canoe and she loves it. I like the concept of the lightweight Hornbeck canoe, but at 6'2" I am a bit cramped in the 10 (really 10'6") boat, but can do short paddles in it.
Last June I did a 5 day Adirondack wilderness canoe trip in my 16 1/2 foot solo tripper. While I was up there I stopped in at Hornbeck Canoes and test paddled a few boats on their pond; surprisingly the Classic 12 was my favorite. It paddled well for a short boat, maneuvered well and was very stable- great for fishing! The light weight does not hurt either.
I know that my long boats (16 1/2 to 18 foot) will not work with the Scamp on my present vehicle, but when we get the camper home I will try it with my 15 1/2 foot canoe. If it doesn't work I guess that I will sell off one of the canoes and order a Hornbeck 12 Classic. Picking it up at their shop will be another good excuse for a road trip next year.
Our Hornbecks are actually 10' 6", I was off. In a canoe, I like being able to change position, or even stand up to stretch, and the kayak style gives me a backache on a long paddle. All kinds of trade-offs to make.
When one picks up his boat in NY, they make you sit in one, adjust your posture and then measure the correct location of the foot rests. Then they attach them to your boat, as a bit of customization.
-Paul
2004 Scamp 19 Deluxe,
2021 Tacoma, Double Cab, 6 cyl. 4WD
Colorado
This was on our last week's trip to the mountains of Colorado, which included a paddle on the upper one of Twin Lakes. Picture taken on the trip over Kebler Pass.
Question for those who might know: How can I upload a larger version of the picture?
-Paul
2004 Scamp 19 Deluxe,
2021 Tacoma, Double Cab, 6 cyl. 4WD
Colorado
I picked large on this one.
Thank you Kenneth for reminding me to read instructions and pay attention. It seems so easy.
Now that looks much better, I think. I picked "original size".
-Paul
2004 Scamp 19 Deluxe,
2021 Tacoma, Double Cab, 6 cyl. 4WD
Colorado
Hi Paul,
We just got back a week ago from picking up our Scamp 16 in Backus. I should have taken the Hornbeck, but taking paddles, PFD and assorted "necessary" gear would have filled up the car already loaded with 2 adults, 2 dogs and too much "we might need it on the trip" stuff. Next time the Hornbeck, my Souris River Tranquility or both will be on the car!
I like the photo! The boats look great on the double stack rack rig.
Congratulations! Enjoy your new Scamp, and happy travels!
-Paul
2004 Scamp 19 Deluxe,
2021 Tacoma, Double Cab, 6 cyl. 4WD
Colorado