Threats to the structural integrity of S&G canoes
Posted: Tue Oct 25, 2011 1:36 pm
I live near a relatively large lake; (22,400 square miles, average depth is 279 feet, deepest over 900 feet);
Over the past 60 years or so, I have fantasized about canoing on this lake;
Sometime next year, God allowing, I will have built my own canoe (thanks to JEM) and will be itching to put in on Lake Michigan;
But I have a grave concern, Can I get beyond the breaker waves and back through them again with my canoe in one piece?
I am not so concerned about merely capsizing, I have gotten wet and subsequently dried off many times in my life,
what I am concerned about is hundreds of pounds of water dropping onto my canoe... Just how fragile are these expoxy resin and fiberglass encased 1/4 inch plywood fabrications? Especially when the undertow creates a shallow situation where the canoe is pounded against the sand bottom? What about deeper out where ther's no risk of being pounded against the bottom, will the force of a breaker against even a floating canoe smash it to pieces?
I have many times been badly bruised by Lake Michigan's breakers.
How did breakers even get that name? Is it because they break boats apart?
My ancestors crossed and toured this lake with impunity in birchbarks, but I am scared. Should I be? Or am I overly concerned?
I value the opinions and experiences of those who may respond. Thanks.
Over the past 60 years or so, I have fantasized about canoing on this lake;
Sometime next year, God allowing, I will have built my own canoe (thanks to JEM) and will be itching to put in on Lake Michigan;
But I have a grave concern, Can I get beyond the breaker waves and back through them again with my canoe in one piece?
I am not so concerned about merely capsizing, I have gotten wet and subsequently dried off many times in my life,
what I am concerned about is hundreds of pounds of water dropping onto my canoe... Just how fragile are these expoxy resin and fiberglass encased 1/4 inch plywood fabrications? Especially when the undertow creates a shallow situation where the canoe is pounded against the sand bottom? What about deeper out where ther's no risk of being pounded against the bottom, will the force of a breaker against even a floating canoe smash it to pieces?
I have many times been badly bruised by Lake Michigan's breakers.
How did breakers even get that name? Is it because they break boats apart?
My ancestors crossed and toured this lake with impunity in birchbarks, but I am scared. Should I be? Or am I overly concerned?
I value the opinions and experiences of those who may respond. Thanks.