Book Description
Don't get caught without a paddle...

Filled with nearly 100 photos and illustrations, this must-have guide-written by the foremost paddlesports experts-gives the aspiring canoe or kayak adventurer everything he or she needs to know before taking the plunge. Inside, discover how to choose between buying a canoe or a kayak, understand paddling techniques and strokes, and find out how to plan a trip and choose an outfitter or guide. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Just what we wanted
We had already purchased a kayak,are novices,and wanted to learn a few basics without going through classes, since we were going on lakes, not white water. The book is packed with all kinds of interesting tips, terms, and knowledge. I looked over many books and decided on this one. Glad I did, it was just what I wanted. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (1)

Sweet book.
If you live in Kentucky and do any kayaking or canoeing, you need this book.If there is a more comprehensive guide to the waterways of Kentucky, I'd like to see it. ... Read more

Amazon.com
Collected from his "Traditions" column for Canoe and Kayak Magazine, From a Wooden Canoe pays tribute to the trusty hunting jackets that never seem to wear out, the sharpened pocket knives that men wear like badges, and the union suits they'll take to the grave. Dennis even dedicates a chapter to the unquestionable brilliance of duct tape. The atmosphere here is rustic do-it-yourself, memorializing a time when coated nylon was a fad and canvas was the standard. If you get misty for all that is well built and steeped in tradition, reading Jerry Dennis will be more like settling back down in front of the wood stove--a welcome respite from the chill of modern life. --Ben TiffanyBook Description
Jerry Dennis has earned a reputation as one of the finest writers on nature and the outdoors in America today.His brightly evocative, lightly humorous essays and stories have delighted readers on five continents.In From a Wooden Canoe he turns his attention to old passions--and discovers new reasons to appreciate them.

This engaging collection celebrates the quintessential American sports of canoeing and camping and pays tribute to things worth keeping, from wooden canoes to pocketknives to cast-iron skillets.At a deeper level it's about respect--for our possessions, for the natural world, for ourselves--and about the pleasures of a life well spent.

Whether he's describing the joys of autumn ("The year is going down in flames, and I don't want to watch it through a window"), evoking the sensual pleasure of Ohio Blue Tip matches ("Scratch 'em and they flare, a two-stage hissing, smoking explosion that calms in a second to steady flame"), or discussing the art and the agony of portaging canoes ("It's proof of the heart we carry with us into the wild"), Jerry Dennis is a gracious and entertaining companion and an insightful observer of nature, both wild and human.

From a Wooden Canoe is a celebration of the good things--and simple pleasures--of life outdoors.It's a book to be treasured, to be read on winter evenings and rainy afternoons, to be kept handy on a cabin shelf. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Reflections on the water
More of a gentle cruise than a furious whitewater paddle, "From a Wooden Canoe" is easily dismissed as superficial and irrelevant to modern times. Taking more than a casual glance, however, is worth the effort. Mr Dennis can write and, when he is tackling a subject dear to his heart, he achieves an apparently effortless grace. The topics here vary from the predictable (a woollen hunting jacket)to the eccentric (shuttle cars, for example) and cover concepts as well as items, outlining the delights of good coffee and a bright red union suit in a couple of pages of easy prose. There is little real depth of information, but it is important to consider that such is not the purpose of the book: this is a volume of memories and feelings, some explained and others merely invoked, pertaining to a life outdoors, away from the urban (and urbane, very often). It's simple, straightforward reading, perhaps best enjoyed in small sips rather than gulping swallows, much like camp coffee. The chapter illustrations by Glenn Wolff are on the whole nicely rendered and at times atmospheric, although he is clearly more accomplished when not sketching people.
In all this is an odd but worthwhile book, definitely more enjoyable to someone who has spent some time in the wilds, though.

Sinking Wooden Canoe
The publisher takes a political liberty of reader consent to print this book without reviewing the "knee deep only" dimensions of the topics, the slight current reader interests or timeliness to the year 2001. Many of the articles, short and newsy as they might have once been, provide only brief historical interest to a small population of readers who might once have read the articles in a northern, small town, paper. Sorry. I was thoroughly dissappointed.

Wood is Good
A classic, said Mark Twain, is a book which people praise but don't read. If Twain was right, the latest collection of essays by Michigan's talented Jerry Dennis will never be a classic, and we should hope not. This bookwill be read, again and again, by anyone who covets the aroma of tentcanvas, the fit of elkskin moccasins, or the crisp solitude of an Octobermorning on a remote northern lake or stream.Jerry's new book contains31 sparkling essays on the merits of everything from iron skillets to UnionSuits, from finely honed wooden paddles to the best wood for a campfire.Reflecting on years of gentle meandering, Jerry lovingly explains howtradition and quality dovetail to make outdoor pursuits more comfortable,and more comforting to the soul. There's a yearning in thesedescriptive passages, a questing spirit that sings, "There's still anhour 'til dark; let's paddle the north fork to see what we find." Andyou do, because for Jerry and his readers, adventure invariably lies aroundthe next bend. "From a Wooden Canoe" is superbly illustratedby Glenn Wolff. The book makes me glad there's wild country to explore andperceptive, contemplative writers like Jerry Dennis to stir the campfiresof my heart.

A collection of elegant essays by a gifted writer.
From A Wooden Canoe wraps the classic tools of an outdoor life in a series of short essays that capture dew drops and mist, the water songs of dipping paddles and rain on granite. It offers a respite from tabloid news, cellphones, and microchips. The essays sting our eyes with woodsmoke thensoothe them with starlight and wrap us safe in an old wool coat.

The bookbrought bittersweet memories of frosty camps, my father watching a snowytree line, the sweet smell of cedar from a hundred swamps. It is cabined ona special shelf with Harrison, McPhee, McGuane, and Abbey.

Good philosophical reading for a spring evening...
I would mostly rather paddle than read about paddling, but when I can't, I like to read someone who can make pictures appear in my head.From a Wooden Canoe is my favorite Jerry Dennis book to date (along with It'sRaining Frogs and Fishes).Jerry can evoke images of past river trips,even when talking about the archane Ohio Blue Tip Match or a rusty trustyshuttle vehicle.

If you like to paddle, read this book.If you want tosee what it's like to be inside a paddler's head, read this book.If it'snice outside, go paddling instead. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (12)

Canoe Trip a very well written book.
Overall the Book Canoe Trip was a very well written detailed book.The book was about David Curran's solo canoeing trip through the back woods of maine.Dr. Curran wrote with great detail in this book.He tells you about great adventures through maine.Many people think he's taking to big of a risk going alone to Maine by himself, yet he proceeds with the trip every year anyway.He even ties in a little bit of humor through out the many interesting events in the story.I recomend this book for anyone who likes a good adventure in the woods, or anyone who likes to get away from civilization, then you'll find many things in common with Dr. Curran and enjoy the book very much so.

Cane Trip: Good Read
The book Canoe Trip by Dave Curran is an adventure book about his trips to the Maine wilderness.He is a psychologist in Massachusetts and loves to take canoes into deep, isolated rivers in northwest Maine.The book gives a very good description about how rugged and wild the woods pf Maine, just about 100 miles north of Boston, can be.It shows how different the woods of Maine are compared to the woods that people are used in more populated states like Massachusetts, and people might be surprised how rugged and wild Maine can be.

The book is more descriptive than exciting, but there are many moments of adventure to enjoy and keep you reading.There isn't a real plot of the book because Curran talks about his many adventures in Maine, and is mainly for people who are fond of the outdoors.There are many close escapes from danger, and the accurate description of the Maine wildlife and deep, dark woods of Maine, is why people should try reading this book.

Great book
This book is great for the type of reader who likes to heat first hand, some stories about traveling through Maine on a Canoo. You'll here about some of the wildlife in Maine (and what will happen when you intimidate them.) You'll even hear about what kind of weather might come your way while you're out in the woods. This story will explain how an inexperienced person will be forced to become experienced through trial and error; because of going through some of the harsh realities of Maine's outdoors.

Canoe Trip
The book, Canoe Trip, by David Curren, is a book about one man's quest to brave the wilderness.This is an awesome book for those of you who love the outdoors.if you are one who has been on solo missions or even adventures with your friends and want to gain more info on survival, than pickup a copy of this book.Mr. Curren, who works in a public school, is the type of guy, nobdy would expect to travel to Maine and brave the whitewater rapids of a river.

For those of you who dream of making a name for yourself, but don't quite know what to do, read an adventure book such as this and get inspired.Moose, cold, and an unforgiving river, could not stop this manDon't let skeptisizm stop you.If adventure and excitement are what you're into, read this book, reject fear as he did.It is an excellent piece.For those of you who have read it, you know what I mean.

canoe Trip review
Canoe Trip by David Curran is an interesting feat of adventure discovered in the Maine wilderness. A one man adventure that is full of surprises along the way. The book shows real life problems that would occur during a canoe trip in the Maine wilderness. These problems would occur only once in a life time, but for this adventurer these problems are common every day problems.

This is an amazing book and would recommend it to anybody who likes adventure stories. The text is so detailed it felt like you were on the trip
yourself. This book will give you the most detailed story of life in the maine wilderness. ... Read more

Book Description
Long established as a popular route guide, Paddle Routes of Western Washington is now completely updated and includes three new routes. Fully detailed trip descriptions include location, distance, time to allow, best season, potential hazards, and shuttle details. Maps point out river landmarks and put-in and take-out points. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A pretty good book for a guy with two cars
When I bought this book I thought I'd like to try some flat water trips. But I forgot one thing: the trip back to the car is really tough. These trips take at least two people with two cars, so I never go, since I don't have any friends who kayak (or canoe). In fact, I don't have any friends at all, come to think of it.

Anyway, if you are not like me and if you do have some friends who like to drive a lot and can get all the cars and boats in position, remembering to leave the beer in the DOWNhill car, and to take the keys to BOTH cars and all that complicated stuff you have to figure out, then this is a pretty good book, because it gives a lot of information about where to go, how to get there, where to leave the downhill vehicle, where to start from, how long the trips are and so on. The maps are nice and there are some good black and white photos showing what you will see in color if you and all your friends can work it all out.

The author "rescued" us!
A group of companions and I were off to find a run of the Black River near Olympia, and were having trouble finding where we wanted. We were driving through Littlerock in two cars each with a canoe on top, and pulled over to compare ideas of what to do on our map. Behind us pulled up a truck as we stopped. It was Verne Huser himself, who noticed our canoes and that we were going in an odd direction, so decided to follow.

The author helped us figure out how to get to a good spot on the river, and we had a great time! So, how often do you think that happens that the author of a book about paddle routes was there to offer friendly advice while we were lost? ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (1)

Great guide for the beginner
I've just started white water kayaking and found this book to be a fantastic refresher.It covers all of the basics in a clear, straight-forward manner.I highly recommend it for someone who is just starting out in the sport or someone who wants to review the fundamentals. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

In this groundbreaking book, David Gidmark reviews the early history of bark canoes, providing readers with an overview of construction methods and featuring the individual techniques of four traditional 20th-century Algonquin craftsmen and their assistants. Detailed descriptions of their step-by-step construction methods are included, and the adoption of tools and methods from non-Indian culture as shortcuts are noted (such as the use of canvas and roofing tar, duct tape and C-clamps). A chapter on paddlemaking in the native tradition completes the book.

Building a Birchbark Canoe: The Algonquin Wâbanäki Tcîmân is one of the most significant studies of Algonquin birchbark canoes and their construction. The author is one of the few outsiders to have learned the ancient craft of birchbark canoe making from the Algonquins, and in Building a Birchbark Canoe, he not only shares this skill but invites readers to appreciate the cultural significance of an elegant and practical craft that might otherwise be lost to history.

Customer Reviews (2)

Awesome book - informative plus interesting!!!!
I was asked to give a talk on birch bark canoes (I weave with birch bark)but didn't really know the first thing about them.This book was very helpful!!I did make a 3 ft birch bark canoe but also learned a lot about the people and their ways which really made my talk much more interesting.They were awe struck with my canoe.Would suggest this book to anyone interested in learn about canoes!!!!

The discovery
This book has been a discovery.Gidmark, indeed, made me discover the passion of birchbark canoe building.He also made me discover the great canoe builders who live in my own country!This book helped me to build on my own my first birchbark canoe.The review of different builders, craftmen and the numerous photos helped me to understand, step by step, all the building process.
For all future birchbark canoe builders, this is the basic book to buy! ... Read more

Book Description
A lavishly illustrated, user-friendly guide for novices and experienced boat builders alike, The Canoe Shop provides plans and building instructions for three graceful and rugged touring canoes—a 12-foot double-paddle canoe, a 14-foot solo canoe, and a 16-foot tandem boat—that virtually anyone can build directly from the book.Following the same critically acclaimed format found in his classic, The New Kayak Shop, leading North American boat designer Chris Kulczycki walks readers through the entire building process for each boat. One standout feature of The Canoe Shop is a revolutionary, simplified approach to lapstrake construction which makes this traditional technique—considered by many to be the finest method of wooden boat construction—available to amateurs for the first time.- Features three original designs from one of the most respected small-boat designers - Contains dozens of illustrations and step-by-step building instructions ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Suitable as building guide? No!
I started building the Sassafras 12 with the help of this book and regret to say that it was not a succes. After having spent a good 20 hours in measuring and cutting the planks I found that the two halves which formed each one plank, did not match. There simply was no way in positioning and bonding them into a smooth curve. I have build small boats before and have checked and rechecked every step, to no avail. E-mail contact with publisher and writer learned me that it was advised to use complete and updated full scale drawings rather than the book, although they denied the inaccuracies that I have found. For me, the book turned out to be worse than a waste of money. In the end I bought complete plans of a similar design with another design firm. Sorry to write such an unhappy review, but this is the way it is!

Hans van Poelje

Good, but not unique!
This book is a "How-To" manual to build the Sassafras Canoes from CLC.If this is the canoe you want to build, then it is excellent and you should buy this book.If however, you want general information on building wooden canoes, don't bother.There is nothing unique in this book (for the generic canoe builder) that you cannot get from other books, or indeed by just browsing on the internet.

The one thing that I did learn was that I do NOT want to build this design.So for the price of the book, it saved me from making an expensive mistake.This is not to suggest that there is anything wrong with either the design or CLC, just that the construction method and the look of the finished canoe are not to my personal taste. ... Read more

Book Description

Canoeists are increasingly discovering the deep satisfaction in creating their own equipment rather than adapting to the generic standards of boats and paddles available through retailers. Indeed, interest in making paddles and canoes is at an all-time high with recreational boaters. For the how-to beginner, a paddle represents the perfect challenge, both finite and functional. For the skilled woodworker, the opportunity to experiment with design and technique and thereby create a tailor-made product that perfectly suits a paddler's needs is a dream come true.

In Canoe Paddles: A Complete Guide to Making Your Own, longtime canoeist and woodworker Graham Warren presents detailed blueprints for making paddles that you will cherish and use with confidence. From his insightful look at the way a paddle works when it meets the water through the selection of the best woods, adhesives and tools, Warren takes the reader on a veritable paddlemaking odyssey. You will learn how to make a paddle with a single blade, a bent shaft or double blades; how best to protect a paddle with oil or varnish; what to look for when test-driving your paddle; how to decorate it; and how to care for and repair it. Warren also includes an appreciation of the evolution of the paddle, and a special chapter by renowned canoe-building teacher David Gidmark celebrates paddlemaking in the native tradition. Canoe Paddles is thoroughly illustrated with photographs and drawings.

Customer Reviews (9)

fabulous book,
fabulous book,covers in detail what you need to know to make a fine paddle, including relative expansion rates of popular woods for paddle making,highly recommended to save your self from making lots of scrap from perfectly good paddle blanks.

Canoe Paddles; A Complete Guide To Making Your Own
Very informative book that covers everything from the historical background of paddle design to a detailed how to on how best to build a paddle.As an avid paddler and woodworker, I found this book to be perfect.

Great Book
Great Book with lots of useful information.Would have liked a few more paddle designs, but overall, great book.

Great book!
The book does exactly what it says, tells you about the history of different paddles, tells you how to make simple paddles, then tells you how to make complex paddles, and finally tells you how to traditionally make paddles. Ity really hits the spot for me as someone who likes making stuff, but am not quite ready to make my own canoe yet! I loved this book and am going to give it to my oldman.

A very usable guide
I actually made a canoe paddle, and plan on making some more. My new paddle served me admirably on an extended trip. This is as complete a treatment of the subject as one could hope to find. Making a paddle is a reasonably complex process but the authors explain every step with well-illustrated clarity. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Don't buy this book if you are looking for camping info
This book's title is misleading, and provides next to no info about camping.Its information about water conditions and white water classifications is pathetic (and unsafe) as well.More information is available about the rivers the author chose to include in the DeLorme Vermont Gazeteer and Atlas.I wish I didn't order this book, it will become camping toilet paper or an emergency fire starter. ... Read more

Book Description

The most comprehensive canoeing techniques book ever is now available for the first time in paperback.

Illustrated with 600 full-color photographs, this wide-ranging book is designed with both beginner and seasoned canoeists in mind. Gary & Joanie McGuffin, North America's most celebrated canoeing couple, discuss issues rarely covered in other how-to guides, such as developing fitness and balance.

The book offers first-hand, experience-based instruction on outfitting, reading the river, paddling strokes for all flatwater and whitewater conditions, advanced turns and maneuvers, portaging, safety and rescue techniques - even how to tie a canoe on your vehicle.

Recommended by both the American Canoe Association and the Canadian Recreational Canoeing Association, Paddle Your Own Canoe features:

• Canoeist's vocabulary
• Selecting the right canoe
• Selecting the right paddle
• Portaging techniques
• Self-rescue techniques
• Solo whitewater spins
• Complete flatwater techniques
• Complete whitewater techniques

Customer Reviews (3)

New book on the "Paddling" shelf
Having always considered "The Path of the Paddle" as the last word in canoeing books, I was too cheap to buy Gary and Joannie's book as I considered it to be superfluous at best.Having received it as a Christmas gift this year, I can humbly say I was wrong.There is no book that will get you safely on the water and having fun faster than this one.Every aspect of recreational paddling is covered, right down to outfitting your whitewater playboat.The photos are clear and the angles and sequences leave you nothing to want for, save time spent on the water (although the photos of Gary and Joannie look just a little bit too happy, eh?)The only thing I can say in the minus category is that I am not a personal fan of the leaned forward, aggressive style of modern paddling and that is obviously where they are coming from.It's good to know how to lean forward and plant your paddle while using your body todraw the boat hard to the placement.When I need to accelerate rapidly, that is the best way. But for me, canoeing is more about relaxing and getting there with style and grace, and for that purpose, nothing says it like old-fashioned Canadian freestyle (i.e. Bill Mason and Omer Stringer).That difference aside, I think this book is a stellar achievement and deserves a place alongside "The Path of the Paddle" on the bookshelf.

Paddle Your Own Canoe
I have a whole shelf of books on canoeing.This one and Bill Mason's Path of the Paddle are the best.The pictures in Paddle Your Own Canoe way out-shine the pictures in the Bill Mason books.The McGuffins certainly know what they are talking about.This book delves into canoeing technique with more depth than any book except Mason's.It does take a long time to study and figure out what they are doing.Canoeing is hard to learn from a book, but if I had to recommend one book this would be it. Beautiful photography.

Paddle Your Own Canoe
This is a great book if you want to learn alot about the different paddlestrokes used while in your canoe. It has great pictures and very goodnaratives. I highly recomend this book. ... Read more

Amazon.com
Novice paddlers and seasoned veterans alike will find this a highly readable and eminently sensible guidebook to the essentials of safe and enjoyable sea kayaking. Forget the macho approach--this is an instructional for women, written by a woman. Basing her instructive technique on the premise that women hail from the "talk it over and think it through first" school of outdoor learning, author Shelley Johnson's tone is friendly and conversational. Whether discussing useful ways to carry and transport a kayak, getting in and out of it, or staying afloat, she is quick to offer supportive, practical advice. Yes, for instance, proper paddling techniques are difficult to master; but with the easy-to-follow captioned photographs provided, forward, backward, turning, and support strokes are a whole lot easier to understand and ultimately execute. If your greatest fears are the "wet exit" (capsizing) and hypothermia, you'll be pleased to learn there are myriad ways to prepare for and/or prevent such safety hazards. In addition to lending her own expertise, Johnson also includes comments, stories, and instruction from veteran water women of all ages. Chapters on weather/tidal conditions, equipment, and heading out with children all brim with excellent tips and straightforward advice. A resource listing is also included. So if you want the lowdown on how to be well prepared, properly geared, and safety conscious in a sea kayak, this edition of the Ragged Mountain Press Woman's Guide series points the way. --Martha SilanoBook Description
The only complete women's guide to sea kayaking. Shelley Johnson, a professional guide and kayak instructor, takes you through the process of becoming a kayaker, from deciding where you will paddle, to dealing with common fears and stumbling blocks.... .getting quality instruction. . .choosing your boat. . .learning paddling techniques. . .and planning your trips. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

A good book for either sex.
I checked this out from the library for my girl friend, but was very impressed with the content when I went through it myself.She never did, so now she's getting it for a birthday gift.This is a well written book that I'd recommend for anyone interested in kayaking.I went through all the kayaking books the library system had to offer, and this was definitely one of the best.

A Pleasurable Read
I enjoyed reading thisbook.I feel more at ease about going out and kayaking without the "aide" of my husband.Great ideas for women only!

Excellent Resource
We're all out on the water. Excellent source of information with a target audience.

Lots of kayaking info for all!
I had been looking for an informative book that covered the many aspects of kayaking when I found this bookwhile on a kayaking/camping trip in Maine.The book caught my eye, because it said it was a woman's guide to sea kayaking.However, it is much more than just a "woman's guide".As the others have said, all kayakers will benefit from reading this book.It is an interesting and easy-to-understand guide with lots of descriptive photos and drawings. It covers a wide range of topics such as:getting to know your kayak & paddle, safety and emergency info, carrying and transporting your kayak, weather and navigation, and much more!I would recommend this book to any person interested in learning more about kayaking!

For anyone interested in sea kayaking
I'm a male who bought this book to help introduce a girlfriend to seakayaking.Without a doubt it's the best all around introduction to the sport I've read.Great advice on finding a boat and basic technique.I recomend it for either men or women who are interested in getting started. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (9)

Greate information on camping this wonderful area
Cliff does a great job of introducing the area and providing good basic information on canoe camping.He also stresses the importance of proper techniques to limit the human impact to this natural national treasure.

A Great Book Filled With Excellent Tips on Canoe Camping!
Before setting out on our first trip to the BWCA five years ago, I bought Cliff's book.I read it cover to cover and found it packed with practical information that helped make my first trip (and all my subsequent trips)completely enjoyable.I've re-read the book every year since.I'vefollowed Cliff's tips, and he's never let me down.Yes, put thegroundcloth inside your tent, and you'll never have a wet sleeping bag. Use a tumpline when portaging .... it relieves a the stress of carrying aheavy pack.Don't hang your food in a tree, unless you want a bear to tofind it!Follow Cliff's tips.I've heard him speak on the subject ofcanoe camping several times...and he brings many years of valuableexperience.I highly recommend reading this book before taking your nextcanoe/camping trip!

Boundary Waters Canoe Camping...With Style
An excellent book for anyone who is interested in canoeing, camping or the B.W.C.A.Timely information for the first timer in the BWCA or for those that have made many trips. Well written and illustrated. A must for theBoundary Water traveler!

An Interesting Perspective
Reading the other reviews submitted about this book, one would think that it is either the best or the worst book ever written about the special requirements of canoe camping in the boundary waters.Well, it is neither. I take a 14-plus day trip to the Quetico every other summer, and havetravelled many of the most challenging and remote routes of the park.Thevalue of this book is that it offers one set of ideas as to the best way togo about one's business in the wilderness. These ideas are not definitive,and I flatly ignore many of them.That said, I have also adopted some ofthe ideas found in the book, or at least reconsidered my tried and truemethods based on some of the author's recommendations.If you're lookingfor a book to stimulate you to think about different ways of doing thingsin the woods-- this is a good choice.If you're a beginner, this isn't abad place to start, but it would be a bad place to stop.There are as manydifferent ways to go about travelling in canoe country as there are lakesin the Quetico.Almost all have something to offer.None are perfect. This book is worth reading as part of the exploration and learning process.

A fineintroduction to the Boundary Waters
The one star reviews on this page are very misleading. Cliff Jacobson does recommend useful equipment but is hardly a shill for manufacturers -- no specific brands are mentioned, but helpful ideas and a long life as apaddler and instructor are put forward in this fine introduction to theBoundary Waters. This book is an introduction, and it is highly recommendedby many outfitters in the Boundary Waters. It gives just enough informationto aid in planning a trip to the area, but the expert with plenty ofcanoeing experience will probably want to look into Jacobson's other books,which are equally well written and researched. In planning my second tripto the Boundary Waters, I found the book helpful and useful -- it has noneof the fluff intimated by some of the other reviewers on this page. I foundthe book a good, solid investment. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (2)

Great book
I am quite a novice into paddling, have done it a few times as "one of those tourists in a rental canoe". Then purchased a canoe and two books including this one. I've never been aware that there was so much to know about canoes, water and paddling technique. I already learned a lot and will be able to re-use this book to review and learn more after I've practised the first items.
I would recommend this book to anybody in a similar or slightly more advanced situation. You should note however that this book is primarily focussing on down-river canoeing. Flat water is also covered briefly and a lot of river technique also work for lakes. In case you would be looking for specifics on flat-water navigation or trip planning, this book might be less appropriate.

Excellent resource for wide variety of paddling info
While this title may contain too much information for someone who has never paddled a canoe, it is an excellent resource for those who have paddled a bit but have never had formal instruction. There is detailedinstruction on a variety of strokes as well as identifying, entering andpeeling out of eddies. There is also very important info about readingwater and identifying hazards such as undercut rocks, strainers, hydraulicsetc. Also included is basic instruction on water-reading. This book hasmade it much easier for me to teach less experienced paddlers. If you'vebeen in a canoe enough to know how to get down an easy river, this bookwill likely have parts that are under and over your head. If you'resomewhere between beginner and expert, this book is definitely worthreading. ... Read more

Book Description
Kevlar is a strong (40% stronger than fiberglass) material, perfect for building light-weight (35 pounds for a 17-foot canoe), fast, maintenance-free canoes. The only problem with Kevlar canoes is their cost--$2,000 or more. With this book, the most inexperienced home builder can turn out a handsome canoe for an investment of about $600 and a few weekends. The principal tools needed are a sharp pair of scissors and a $5 hand plane--and the method is astonishingly easy and forgiving. Featured are designs for a stable family canoe, a solo canoe, and a wilderness tripper, any of which can be built right from this book. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Kevlar Canoe
Well written, great detail, well worth having before you start building- read it twice for a solid background.

Excellent resource
The guide has some very excellent information on creating a plug and molding a canoe. We found it to be a very good resource when making a copy of one of our designs.

The use of common materials to create a high quality canoe is insightful, inexpensive and the directions are easy to follow. Concepts are explained well, with plenty of pictures and should make the process easy to replicate.

Overall this book is very well done and a valuable guide for anyone wanting to build their own boat.

Interesting book but method is not for me
This is an interesting book.I liked reading about how to make a male mold.It definitely is for builders who want a light boat and are not really concerned with looks.I am not sure that the costs are as low as the author writes though so shop around carefully for Kevlar because this is very expensive material.Check to make sure that you are not sacrificing a few pounds for hundred of dollars more in materials.Glued lapstrake plywood building and cedar strip can be very light, beautiful looking boats too at fairly low costs if you build yourself.Make sure you check out all options.
After reading the book, I realized this method of building would be too expensive for me (due to Kevlar costs).

DIY Kevlar Canoe... and it is so easy
I was in the market to purchase a kevlar canoe when I stumbled across this book.This book does such a good job of explaining how to build your own Kevlar canoe, that I gave up the search for a new one and decided to build my own.This book lets the reader know that with some very simple techniques, almost anyone can build a Kevlar canoe.I am currently in the middle of my project and I have been very happy with the level of detail provided in this book.

Well put together
This book was an excellent guide to building a composite canoe (or anything like it).I read it and got started with no previous experience. It answered every question that came up and I didn't run into anything I didn't expect.I would suggest this book to anyone who wants a guide to doing this sort of composite work. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Great Overview of Paddle Opportunities
I have used this guide since published and it is an accurate overview of the many paddling opportunities in the Inland Northwest - Eastern Washington, North Idaho, Western Montana and even Canada. I had already tried many of the lakes and rivers but more were identified including some that I had never even considered in my 25 years in Spokane. Most of the paddles are appropriate for families. Put-ins and take-outs are well described. Great value that will save you time and money - even for the experienced paddler.

Sets the standard for Canoe guide books.
This was a refreshing change from the majority of canoe guide books. No class V in this one, just fun floats for everyone, and all close to Spokane.Kudos to the Authors. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A must have for anyone looking for river adventures in Ohio!
Within two days of reading this book, My brother and I had one of the most memorable canoe canoe trips we've ever had. The authors have done the necessary legwork in not only identifying all of Ohio's rivers, but they give you detailed descriptions of each river, maps that show access points, including distances between points in both river miles, and shuttle miles for your car. They also list any hazards/portages in each river such as dams, etc. I was amazed to find several excellent canoeing river within an hour of home, with all the information I needed to make a quick escape from the daily grind. Excellent!!!

Used To Be Useful
Originally published in 1984, this guide is less than useful now.We'vediscovered that Lake Erie having dropped 3 feet in the last few years hassignificantly changed the river levels.Maybe the authors/editors couldmake a return trip? ... Read more

Book Description
A beautifully illustrated history of one of North America's most enduring cultural symbols and recreational pastimes. There is hardly a river or lake in North America that was not first seen from the gunwale of a canoe. Centuries before the invention of the train and the motorboat, canoes were used for exploration, trade, war, and the hunt. Indians crafted canoes out of dugout logs, birch bark, and animal hides; French colonists employed courier canoes; and the Spanish explorers brought cane and woodcrafts with them to new lands. The canoe has brought together Native Americans and European colonists, promoted exploration, and changed the economy forever with the onset of the fur trade. Hundreds of years later, it continues to hold practical, ceremonial, and totemic significance for many North Americans. The Canoe: An Illustrated History explores the role of this elegantly simple craft in history and modern culture. With accounts of historic canoe trips and infamous battles, detailed explanations of Native American canoe-building techniques, and more than 80 photographs, The Canoe is a must-read for paddlers and history buffs alike. A beautiful package. 45 color photographs. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

History, craft,wonderful illustrations - and much more
This is a beautifully illustrated book supported by a text that is informative, well-organized - and wholly satisfying. The many photographs, engravings, historic and relevant photographs, beautiful paintings, and good nature photography- are first-rate.

Jim Poling, Sr. begins at the beginning with "The First Canoeists." Christopher Columbus writes of his astonishment at seeing canoes in action: "They are not so wide because they are made of a single log of timber, but a galley could not keep up with them in rowingfor their motion is a thing beyond belief."

Pacific Coast canoes were made of cedar;northern inland canoes, of bark ( most often elm, hickory, spruce, and cedar).The "perfect material," birch, plentiful and remarkable, was used in the canoes of what would become the Canadian Maritime Provinces, northern New England, and Quebec, Ontario, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. In addition birch (or its bark)providedthe material of choice for Indians' toboggans, snowshoes, utensils, children's toys - pluswinter covers for wigwams, food wrapping, animal calls, arrows and quivers, among other things. Finally, there were skin canoes.

Poling describes the building of the various types of canoes. The initial contact between Europeans and the indigenous people of the North American continent is the focus of the second chapter. The canoe enabled access to inlands- and the ensuing frenzy of fur trading - that would otherwise have been impossible to accomplish on anything but waterways.

Poling describes in good detail various components of historic canoe culture among the sixteenth and seventeenth century European settlers, paying close attention to the New France coureurs de bois - " runners of the woods." These were physically sturdy young men employed to fan out into the deep north woods, make contact with Indians, and facilitate the fur trade. But once set free, these fellows almost to a man dropped out of the repressive seventeenth-century French culture they had known. They embraced the woods and the physically taxing but otherwise rather freewheeling nonChristian life to be lived there - to the utter dismay ofthe colonists back at the settlements. The coureurs comprised"a distinct social class in the new land [...] neither liked nor accepted by the establishment [...] disrespectful of authority, irreverent, and violent..."Their occasional temporaryre-entry into the precarious settlements was always problematic. They openly patronized prostitutes and rejected conventional European customs and manners.The problem became so severe that "the matter was brought to Louis XIV, who issued a 1681 decree limiting the number of coureurs du bois. Those who ignored it were branded with the fleur-de-lis, the symbol of France, and third offenders got life on the galley ships." Poling adds: "The decree didn't work."

The beaver - mainstay of indigenous culture - is given good treatment in this book, and interesting tidbits are supplied - such as the fact that the French settlers enjoyedbeaver meat to such an extent that "in an odd twist of logic someone persuaded the Roman Catholic Church to allow beaver consumption during Lent, when meat was forbidden. The argument was that the beaver spent most of its time in water and therefore was more fish than animal."

Additional chapters detail among other things the horrors of the various skirmishes and all-out wars between Europeans and Indians (no detail spared), the role of the canoe in war (transportation only, too tippy to be battleships)the canoe routes, freight, trade, and changes in canoe design and function. Finally, there is information on the modern face of canoeing, building your own, and resources for canoeists. This book lacks an index and a bibliography, but is otherwise a great read (and would be great read aloud) - and thoroughly worthwhile. ... Read more