![]() |
Ole Blue Nose 18 ft Albany Scott Freighter sitting on the Buffalo National River 2008 |
Originally, I decided to buy the bigger boat because our youngest, Chris Carnal, agreed to join me on the last leg of the White River run.
![]() |
Boykin and Ole Blue Nose |
![]() |
Scott Canoe's Albany, 18 foot, layered fiberglas, Canadian Freighter Canoe |
When I researched the small towns along the river I soon found there would be no place to buy gasoline.
![]() |
The Albany with two men ran 10 mph with 6 hp two men no gear. |
In talking to the manufacturer's sale rep, I learned the larger canoe, the Hudson Bay was twenty one feet long and four and a half feet wide. It was not tippy or rocky like the Albany and didn't weigh but two hundred and fifty pounds. The advice and assumption was the twenty horse rated boat would scoot along and provide the gasoline efficiency this trip required.
![]() |
The Scott 21 ft Hudson Bay Freighter Canoe with console, new at the factory |
![]() |
The new Hudson Bay at New Liskeard, Ontario plant. |
Therein lay our basic misconception. It was true when unloaded it was light and nimble.
![]() |
Rear view of new 21 foot Hudson Bay Freighter Canoe with center console |
With these innocent assumptions in mind, I made the decision to buy the larger canoe.
![]() |
Poor shot of center console and center seat Hudson Bay |
One of my favorite clients lined up some great job stories so I began the "perfect trip". I picked up the boat, did the photography jobs and came home a happy camper. The trip was Credit Card Ka Ching #2 !!.
On the way home I called my San Antonio West Marine store and ordered a twenty horse Mercury with an electric start. Credit Card Ka Ching # 3 !!!.
![]() |
Hudson Bay with the recessed transom for short shaft motors. |
My local store does not stock motors so each one has to be ordered from their warehouse. I knew it would take a few days but I wanted to get it on hand for installation.
Short shaft motor on amended long shaft transom, Hudson Bay Freighter |
I met the two man crew upon return. They looked it over, oohed and awwed, and began a list of what we would need. The boat was the very first Scott Hudson Bay to have a stand up center console for the driver.
Center steering console Scott's Hudson Bay freighter canoe |
![]() |
"Gator" adding the electrical panel. |
![]() |
Team Aaron adding gps set up. |
I had the boat envisioned but I had not dreamed of the final bill. It wouldn't take long. The guys and I went to West Marine and began shopping in earnest.
The motor would come in any day and there was a lot of work to do before it arrived. We bought several hundred dollars worth of equipment and ordered quite a bit more. Credit Card Ka Ching, # 4 !!!!
Finally a week or so later, the motor arrived. The guys had done a good deal of prep work and were looking forward to installing the motor and all it's related systems. When we put the twenty on the boat we found the transom was recessed for short shaft motors and created a circumstance that would not allow the motor steering arm to move freely from side to side. In other words I wouldn't be able to turn the boat.
Finished customized transom via jake plate Hudson Bay freighter Canoe |
Welder working on jake plate |
I searched the immediate industrial area around the storage lot and found a welding shop. The man came with me to the boat to see what I needed. Then we went back to his shop.
![]() |
Re enforced interior of new jake plate |
View of new transom from inside the boat. |
The next morning, I brought him the boat and stayed with it all day, I ended up paying the guy $350. Then it was close to quitting time and he wanted me to finish the job myself. I made him finish and he charged me extra. I am not giving his name because I really, really dislike the guy. Ka Ching #5 !!!!!. But this one felt really bad.
The team at work |
The next day the boat was back at the "yard" and waiting on the "boys". When they showed up they added the motor to the new high dollar transom. They measured for electrical and steering cables. The cables were ordered from West Marine. This would take a few days so it was hurry up and wait again.
Simple cleats became vital once trekking the inter coastal. |
Somewhere along this time line I became aware of Bill Shaw. The Halifax, Nova Scotia fellow who was traveling in a very similar boat. Although his Canadian freighter was a foot longer and a foot and a half wider it was shaped very similar to mine. His blog showed one picture of the boat. I studied that picture. What had he done to prepare for his epic journey? The guy was going from Halifax to the Amazon river in South America. His adventure made my three hundred miler look like nothing. I could learn from his preparations.
http://blog.billshaw.org/ ( this is a wonderful adventure blog by a fellow "boomer" and a good friend) Read it if you have a chance. He's good.
Bill Shaw's big Nor-West Canadian Freighter Canoe |
He had taken my bimini protection several steps further. His boat had a canvas and clear plastic "cabin" built around the mid section to stern. He had the nose covered in what he called a canvas dodger. It made sense when you thought of the weather in Nova Scotia and the protection sailors would require in those latitudes. Great idea for camping.
He could sleep and as well as cook on the boat. I had planned on sand bar camping in tents. Now I saw the advantage of protection for my passenger as well as doubling for a camper area. Maybe it would do for one person and a cot or I could add a raised floor for a sleeping bag.
While at McGee's I had seen what he used to cover his boat. West Marine had the same cover ribs and my bimini maker could create the "cover wagon" front end for me. I would have a camper after all.
Next::::: The boat and a new adventure come together.
Thanks for dropping in.
John Boykin The Hard Hat Photographer (now doing video)
http://www.commimage.com photography web site
The Boomer Magazine
http://boomermag.blogspot.com/2010/10/blog-introduction.html
No comments:
Post a Comment