tomstaplez Posted December 14, 2017 Report Share Posted December 14, 2017 Any tips on where to place the thwart for carrying the canoe longer distances? We are talking up to a mile long. Will be portaging multiple lakes with gear and canoe. I'm used to a big fiberglass barge, the only real option is having the middle thwart over your shoulders. Any suggestions? Thanks! Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kudzu Posted December 14, 2017 Report Share Posted December 14, 2017 Wow, that is question I have not had before. My best suggestion is just trying it out by temporarily mounting it in place and carrying it around and find where it works best for you. A long carry for me is to take it from the trailer down to the water. ;-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hirilonde Posted December 14, 2017 Report Share Posted December 14, 2017 Make the thwart too long and use clamps, then follow through on Jeff's suggestion. Are you fabricating a yoke shaped thwart? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy00 Posted December 14, 2017 Report Share Posted December 14, 2017 Tom: The right place for your yoke is at the center of gravity (CG). So, as Jeff suggests, pick up the boat upside down and see where it balances. If you will be stowing paddles and other gear in the boat as your portage, lash those in place when determining the CG. If the place you determine is clear of thwarts and not otherwise in the way, you can permanently attach the yoke there, as is done on many canoes. If the yoke would be in the way, rig up a removable yoke as is standard on Adirondack guide boats. Guide boats have wood cleats on both sides with U-shaped slots where the ends of the yoke fit. See the attached photo as an example. Fair winds, Andy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomstaplez Posted December 15, 2017 Author Report Share Posted December 15, 2017 Ha Jeff I'm honored. Okay I'll have to get creative thanks. While I have you guys here. 1) is a thwart ever in tension? 2) technically what would be stronger- one thwart in the middle or two equally spaced? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kudzu Posted December 15, 2017 Report Share Posted December 15, 2017 That is a good question. I have sat here thinking this through and my best answer is yes ... possibly... I am not sure. If there was center thwart any others would likely be in tension since the gunwales would want to spread out. The center would be in compression. If you just have two thwarts toward the ends as I do in mine, I think they would be in tension..... But when you start to take into consider the gunwales being attached to the frames and how the ends are mounted it gets really confusing as to what is going on exactly. Pretty sure two thwarts would be stronger, it would be more rigid but the gunwales are very strong one glued up. As for locations I just walked out and looked at mine and because the seat is so close to center on this boat I think that two thwarts will work better. And I think your yoke is probably going to be in the way of the seat, so you will probably want it removable. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy00 Posted December 15, 2017 Report Share Posted December 15, 2017 As far as thwarts in tension or compression, the answer is yes. A boat is subject to dynamic forces as it moves thru and over the water. For example, as waves lift the ends of a boat with a center thwart, that thwart is in tension. As waves lift the center of a boat and try to hog it, that thwart is in compression. You can see that effect by taking a piece of paper and folding the ends to make a little paper canoe. As you move the ends in and out, the "rails" move in and out. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomstaplez Posted December 20, 2017 Author Report Share Posted December 20, 2017 I may try to rig up some sort of fabric yoke. I'm sure the stonefly gunwales will be strong enough to run fabric from inwale to inwale. Or perhaps a fabric yoke parallel with keel, running from thwart to thwart. I'll keep thinking. Thanks guys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
archipushka Posted January 7, 2018 Report Share Posted January 7, 2018 Look up the TARN sof canoe on Youtube. Designer/builder has devised a detachable aluminum yoke for portaging. Quite light and simple. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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