Moderator:Admins

Greetings from Gloucestershire

Greetings from Gloucestershire

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    May 24, 2018#1

    Hi All

    Just joined following the purchase of a big old 17'6'' Old Town canoe last autumn (second hand). Plan to tour the River Wye as it's on the doorstep (15 miles away) with my son (12 years old) and friends and do a bit of wild camping en route. Just fitting airbags and would welcome any assistance - especially keen to purchase some d-rings fromRancidBadger if he is still a member as it looks safer than drilling my hull!

    Cheers
    Dave

    27K3,045
    Contributing Member
    27K3,045

      May 24, 2018#2

      Hello and Welcome!

      Rancid Badger still visits the site sometimes, but I'd send him a PM. You'll need to make 3 posts before you can do that, but 2 replies to this thread will solve that.

      You don't need airbags for the Wye below Glasbury, but if you're planning adventures on bumpier water, or big open water, they're worth having. If I'm honest, I'd drill rather than D-ring myself, if you do ever need airbags, they need to be as secure as possible and the loading can be very high in a "pin" situation on whitewater.

      As for the Wye, have a great time! Its beautiful. Due to pressure on this river by hire groups and the like, wild camping is mostly frowned upon and difficult to do without potentially upsetting landowners. However, there are a few spots, but you'd need to be very discrete, pitch late and leave really early. Fortunately the campsites are excellent and pretty good value.
      SMopencanoePaddler,blogger,camper,pyromaniac:

      Blog: Wilderness is a State of Mind

      Paddle Points - where to paddle

      4
      Member
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        May 24, 2018#3

        Hi Mal

        Thanks for the welcome message and the info. Already have some airbags might attempt to drill as you suggest, just a bit wary of spacing holes correctly and how low below the gunwales etc.

        Sounds like campsites might be best to start with at least. Planning on travelling between Ross on Wye and Brockweir section at first.

        Thanks for the link to Paddle points too - very useful.

        27K3,045
        Contributing Member
        27K3,045

          May 24, 2018#4

          No problem.


          This link might help you if you get brave with the drill: http://www.songofthepaddle.co.uk/forum/ ... g-My-Canoe
          SMopencanoePaddler,blogger,camper,pyromaniac:

          Blog: Wilderness is a State of Mind

          Paddle Points - where to paddle

          4
          Member
          4

            May 24, 2018#5

            Cheers again Mal

            8031
            Member
            8031

              May 25, 2018#6

              Hi and welcome to the forum.

              Everyone has an opinion on the hole spacing so here’s mine :)

              I mark the hole centres 15mm below the gunwales and space them alternately 100mm and 60mm apart. I lace with the longer length on the outside and the shorter on the inside.

              For the airbag sections, I leave a finger thickness behind the lacing to allow the cross lines to thread easily. In the main part of the canoe I use plastic tubing to create loops that can take a karabiner clipping on and off one handed.

              Good luck and have fun on the Wye.
              SMopencanoe "I'd far rather be happy than right any day"..........Slartibartfast

              http://apachecanoes.com

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              Member
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                May 25, 2018#7

                Thanks for the advice MultiMark - much appreciated.