American Survival Guide – October 2019

[ASGMAG.COM] AMERICAN SURVIVAL GUIDE 33

“WHENYOUHAVE

TOMOVEQUICKLY

ANDSILENTLY,

ORYOUHAVE

MOREGEARTO

TRANSPORTTHAN

WHATYOUCAN

REASONABLY

CARRYONYOUR

BACK,TRAVELING

BYWATERISA

VIABLEOPTION.”

such as the Old Town Discovery 119 Solo Sportsman (which is actually a hybrid canoe), offering a
combination of the attributes of a standard canoe and a kayak. This craft works the best when
using a double-bladed paddle.

CANOES

A good canoe is the staple watercraft of any backwoods homestead. Canoes, depending on the
size and design, can carry a great deal of gear, are stable (if weight is distributed properly), light
(depending on the material they are made from) and can go just about anywhere. The ancient
Polynesians traveled across the Pacific in large canoes, which just proves how reliable they are.
Canoes are propelled and controlled using paddles.

‹ Left: The Oru

Kayak Beach LT

folding kayak is

amazingly portable

and stable on the

water. It weighs

just 26 pounds and

folds down to the

size of a suitcase.

Photos courtesy

of ORU

‹ Below: Old Town

Discovery 119

Solo Sportsman is

stable, lightweight

and agile and is

intended for use

by hunters and

fishermen. Photo

courtesy of Old

Tow n

Originally, canoes were constructed from

natural materials. Early canoes were dugouts,

made from hollowed-out logs, or bark canoes

carefully crafted by fitting sheets of bark over

a wooden frame. While handcrafted wood

canoes are still available, they are usually

priced well out of the range of most people.

Today’s canoes can be made out of aluminum,

fiberglass, plastic or Kevlar. The material they

are made from, and their size, will often deter-

mine how heavy they are. This is important, as