Canadian canoe as yacht tender?

[Sire]

OK - I realise that the answer to this question is probably "no", but... is there any way that a canadian canoe could be used as a tender for a small yacht?

I mean to be towed, not just for paddling out to a mooring. I have a strong feeling that it would be difficult to arrange things so that it didn't get swamped. Has anyone ever tried this though?

Thanks!

 

[rob2]

I would fear that it would not be stable under tow - the bridle would need to be low down toward the waterline anyway, but this can be arranged by putting a tube through at low level for attachment. It would probably also be a good idea to rig a cover and some buoyancy in the ends, just as you would for whitewater. On the plus side, a canoe is likely to have less drag than most other tenders.

Is your canoe wood or plastic?

The other option would be to buy or copy the Nestaway motor canoe, a three part transom canoe which stacks on the foredeck. http://www.nestawayboats.com/page4.htm

Rob.

 

[westernman]

I would have thought that you could make a cover to fit it. Obviously this would need some secure attachment points along the outside of the hull but I think this could be done in a neat way. Then you have little to worry - even if it ends up upside down!

 

[Sire]

Thanks! That Nestaway looks to be a brilliant piece of design. Unfortunately I don't think there'd be room on the rather rotund foredeck of our 17' trailer sailer

I don't have a canoe at the moment. A couple of days back I spotted one in a field covered in moss and algae, looking as though it hadn't moved in years. It appears to be a canadian style open canoe, probably fibreglass, heavy looking, maybe home-made. I'm now plucking up the courage to ask the owner if they have any plans for it

 

[PabloPicasso]

I use a sit-on-top kayak and it works well. It is blow moulded and sealed so no water ingress. Have towed it without problem and it wouldn't sink even if inverted. Thety are availab le in double adult size, and even 2 + 1 although the 1=child.

something similar to these

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Go-Sea-Voyage-Double-Paddles/dp/B004TGOUEI/ref=pd_sim_sbs_sg13

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B004TGOU...de=asn&creative=22218&creativeASIN=B004TGOU4I

 

[photodog]

They have pretty poor stability.. so I would not be keen myself... There are some outthere with sort of sponsons around the outside to help... but having spent a childhood using them back home... and half that time was spent upside down... it wouldnt be on my list.

 

[CreakyDecks]

I wouldn't fancy trying to climb on and off a boat from a canoe, it's bad enough from my inflatable dinghy. The thought of trying to use a canoe to bring the outboard in for service or something doesn't bear thinking about!

 

[Golf Charley]

Fit an outrigger to the canoe for increased stability?

Buy two canoes and rig together as a catamaran?

Buy an inflatable canoe, deflate and stow onboard?

 

[aardvarkinvader]

I use an inflatable canoe occasionally when I pop down to the boat in the 2 seater. As already stated, it's a bugger to get in and out of and I usually get wet, also I can only do it in very fair weather and at the top/bottom of the tide; Poole is full of chaps in canoes, but they tend to be much fitter than I. It does pack away to virtually nothing though and is easy to stow, so may well solve your problem, but I wouldn't consider towing one.

 

[Sire]

Thanks very much for the replies so far. I realise that it won't be ideal (as of course I have realised all along) but the replies on this thread have inspired me to at least try it if I can find a suitably inexpensive canoe.

We sail on a large-ish lake, 1700 square miles, and there are lots of picturesque nooks and crannies that are inacessable even to our little trailer sailer.

 

[LittleSister]

Inflatable canoes have the advantage of folding away to very little, but generally (unless you spend an awful lot of money) they do not paddle well. You have a lot of windage, and lose a lot of storage space, a poor shaped immersed hull, and waste energy flexing the whole caboodle. No problem if you've just got a few yards to your mooring, but if you want to cover any distance exploring you'd be much better off with a rigid canoe, or (again a lot of money) a good quality folding canoe .