Canoeing vs Kayaking in the Urban Core

[Noone]

Paddling tomorrow after work downtown with the Jumping Fish swimmers if anyone is interested in getting in (or in my case, on) the water. We are meeting at RAM at 6pm and then heading towards Metro Park. Trip time is about 45-ish minutes.

+1

[Noone]

As far as tides, is it best to begin a journey when low is going high to ensure the water level is adequate for the entire trip? 

Is there a height that I should completely avoid?  For example, March 29th low tide is projected to be -0.2 ft.  Would that present a problem?

Also, is it just wind and motorized vehicles that will affect the currents or do certain tides create difficult conditions?

Depends upon where you are going and how long you'll be there. For example, down stream of the Guana dam at low tide canoes and kayaks will likely be stuck in the mud, BUT you can see where the shallows are and don't go there.

Downtown and other city streams there is plenty of water low tide or otherwise. But you might want to remember that sometimes a high tide means headroom gets less. Tides are a dynamic thing. They are affected by the moon phase and season. Winter tides are often much more than some summer tides. Tides at Mayport are usually greater than the same tide at the Buckman bridge. The high tide at Mayport happens earlier than the high tide at the Buckman bridge. Tides travel and take longer to get farther away. That is why you look at tide tables for the area you are going to be.

Wind can control tides. For example a nor'easter will blow water into the river at Mayport. A rising tide, wind blown water and the resulting "daming" of the opposing river current flow may mean higher tide than forcasted. Downtown it may not mean as much as in coastal marshes.

The lower number gives you some idea of how low the water may get. But look at the higher number too. For example when low is a -.2 and high is 3 that  is a 3.2ft range of tide change. You might have a -.2 low and 5.6 high that is a range of 5.8 ft. (add them togeter)  What does this mean? The high will be higher in the second example. That means that in the 6 hour period between high and low tide more water will be leaving or conversely entering. Thus the water velocity will be greater. (ie more current. )

Most fishermen explore a new area by entering on a low tide to see what the bottom looks like and so they can get releif from a grounding by the rising tide. Canoes the same. The last time I got stuck it was  a 4 hour wait. Time to eat my lunch, make a few calls, and take a nap. Not so bad.

.On ..".motorized vehicles " they don't affect the tides so much. They just get in the way. Look out for them though. Some don't see low vessels too well. (canoes and kayaks) Also look for boat wakes and take them head on or quartering. But not abeam.........from the side.

^great information

[Noone]

I'll start this off by saying that I am relatively clueless when it comes to watercrafts .  I've been casually following the downtown kayaking discussions here for years.  I'm now very interested in getting out and paddling with my family.  The key word there is "family."  I hope to do all of this in a modestly priced canoe.  Do all of the discussions about kayaks in McCoy's and Hogan's creeks apply to canoes as well? 

There will be both kayaks & canoes in Hogans Creek in SPR this Saturday morning, as part of the river clean up. Come see how they maneuver for yourself. : )

+1

[InnerCityPressure]

@Ock - I've got  a chainsaw and I'm a physical specimen the likes of which you have never seen 

Count me in!

[Noone]

We've got some good 'jungle cruises' right here in the city, what we don't have (Okay Seminole Club are you watching?) are decent videos of the paddle. Noone? Hey man we REALLY need to record Goodby's, the Pottsburg's, McGirts/Ortega, Cedar River, Broward River, Dunn's Creek and of course Julington/Durbin. How can we promote paddling in 'The River City' when Youtube is a desert? I bet we could come up with a PADDLE JAX video page.

I'm going to be at Hogans Creek this Sat behind the Casket factory and Old St. Luke's Hospital.And when you talk about the jungle cruises I invite anyone to come and tell me if what is happening to this urban Waterway is positive. Mike Clark, Special shout out to you. The scenic tour has been transformed into a clear cut. Let's keep the video rolling. Did we have to take out the mature Mulberry trees?

Lots of garbage to be picked up. This is not a fluff site. I miss Vivian Harrell

[Overstreet]

.............................



Admittedly, it was made by a guy selling it on Craigslist...which gives me the willies.  But for $500; I think it's just magnificent.  Talk me out of it.

I suspect he either did it to see if it could be done or he wants to finance another build.  Cedar strip canoes these days are fiberglass/wood composit boats. Basically a wood shell with fiberglass inside and outside. The final coat is marine varnish to provide UV protection. The strips are often glued or stapled/glued together over a strongback and forms then glassed. The boat is then turned over and the inside done. Wood boat builders believe, "Sanding is fun."  :-)

Look for fairness and twist. Level up the boat on the stands. Place a straight edge across the foward gunwhales (sp) and one aft.  The two straight edges should be level and parrallel. I use 4ft levels. The line of the bow and the stern....front and back of the boat should if the boat is level be 90 degrees to the ground. Look for hollows in the wood. Look for strips that are not smooth with the others.........like the wide one in the foreground of the picture about the water line. A few discrepancies or "charactor" marks can go along way if the boat is sound, paddles easy and is priced right.

With all of that remember that a hand made good strip canoe would be in the $2,000 to $3000 range. The key is that you can't get that for them unless you have reputation and find that little nich market.  So builders do it for other reasons.

It looks like a short one. I suspect the best paddling position is kneeling with butt against the thwart.

[Overstreet]

........................We should all get together (once I can walk again) and have a group paddle. You in Overstreet? Noone? fieldafm? bobsim? others? Noone, what do you say if I get Lori Boyer and Parks to allow us to move a piece of fence, and make a sand launch site on Goodbys at Camp Tomahawk? Y'all up for some labor, a picnic and a really beautiful paddle? Anyone got a chain saw? We could open another small course, these are perfect, small, quiet, and shallow, perfect for beginners, children and families.

I'm sure that would be fun. But I have a acute work problem that will keep me a ways from Goodbys.  It seems there is a tall building that needs my attention.   

[Noone]

........................We should all get together (once I can walk again) and have a group paddle. You in Overstreet? Noone? fieldafm? bobsim? others? Noone, what do you say if I get Lori Boyer and Parks to allow us to move a piece of fence, and make a sand launch site on Goodbys at Camp Tomahawk? Y'all up for some labor, a picnic and a really beautiful paddle? Anyone got a chain saw? We could open another small course, these are perfect, small, quiet, and shallow, perfect for beginners, children and families.

I'm sure that would be fun. But I have a acute work problem that will keep me a ways from Goodbys.  It seems there is a tall building that needs my attention.   

I'm All In
I'll Make a Scene
I'll provide a spark
I am on Goodby's at Camp Tomahawk!

[bobsim]

We should all get together (once I can walk again) and have a group paddle. You in Overstreet? Noone? fieldafm? bobsim? others? Noone, what do you say if I get Lori Boyer and Parks to allow us to move a piece of fence, and make a sand launch site on Goodbys at Camp Tomahawk? Y'all up for some labor, a picnic and a really beautiful paddle? Anyone got a chain saw? We could open another small course, these are perfect, small, quiet, and shallow, perfect for beginners, children and families.
[/quote]

  I'm in!