About 25 years ago, I took an amazing REI adventure tour to glacier Bay, Alaska. We were put overboard from our mothership every day in wonderful fiberglass tandems. On every excursion that we went on, we took our food in bear canisters. In fact, when we beached our kayaks, we carried the canisters many yards away from the boats. When I asked the guide why we did this she told me about an incident where they left canisters inside the kayaks only to have a grizzly bear come to investigate the canisters while crushing all the fiberglass kayaks. On numerous occasions, we saw folks who were kayak camping on wooded islands in glacier Bay setting up camp on one side of a small island while grizzly bears roamed 100 yards away. When traveling to a new area, it’s always good to know who or what is at the top of the food chain. Jim Smith
Barrel platforms are fun and practical. I recommend filling at least the outer layer of barrels with A/B foam so that the platform has a better chance of withstanding a gunshot when left unattended in a wilderness bay. (Voice of experience)
Dang! Never thought of that. About 25 years ago I had a floating cabin plan and I collected over 30 plastic drums. Then I found out I’d never be allowed to float it anywhere. But barrel barges for floating the local river? That I can do!
I am definitely interested in in the Martin oars. They are worth an experiment and would save me from having to cut a nice pair of Shaw and Tenney 8 footers to 7'6". Nereid did not like the 8 footers. I like cross handed rowing but there would be too much overlap.
As far as barrel platforms go, I see them as useful floating docks but I have no place to keep them and have no waterfront access except by trailer.
Just got back from Dick's with the Martins and several oarlocks.
The longer oars looked very nice, but I did not take them, as I would have had to butcher them.
The oarlocks are definitely worth checking out as most of the stems are slightly over half an inch. That means you can get a quality fit by having your local machinist create a good fit to your existing crappy cast bronze bases. Sloppy fits wear out even when they are lubed. They also waste your energy.
Dick's oarlock collection has got to be seen to believed.
He and his wife are delightful people. Too bad they are swallowing the anchor.
As an ancient mariner (78), I laugh at comments like 'older than dirt,' etc., because I have nine grandkids. Additionally, I appreciate the barrel barge for its aesthetic appeal and functionality.
I just got caught in a two-part-verification whirlpool, and I don't know how I got out of it. If I'm contacting my bank, I'm willing to wait for the code, and they are usually aware that these are minutes of my life I will never get back. If this is a new substack strategy, I'm out of here. Anything I share on a boating site does not require any security juju, and being made to do more work and spend more time just to share an opinion, is a deal breaker.
On a happier note: Kudos for the finished shape of the "cutwater" on the OS 15's bow. Such a subtle finishing touch, and such a marked improvement in profile! I'm loving the updated photos, so keep them coming!
About 25 years ago, I took an amazing REI adventure tour to glacier Bay, Alaska. We were put overboard from our mothership every day in wonderful fiberglass tandems. On every excursion that we went on, we took our food in bear canisters. In fact, when we beached our kayaks, we carried the canisters many yards away from the boats. When I asked the guide why we did this she told me about an incident where they left canisters inside the kayaks only to have a grizzly bear come to investigate the canisters while crushing all the fiberglass kayaks. On numerous occasions, we saw folks who were kayak camping on wooded islands in glacier Bay setting up camp on one side of a small island while grizzly bears roamed 100 yards away. When traveling to a new area, it’s always good to know who or what is at the top of the food chain. Jim Smith
Barrel platforms are fun and practical. I recommend filling at least the outer layer of barrels with A/B foam so that the platform has a better chance of withstanding a gunshot when left unattended in a wilderness bay. (Voice of experience)
Dang! Never thought of that. About 25 years ago I had a floating cabin plan and I collected over 30 plastic drums. Then I found out I’d never be allowed to float it anywhere. But barrel barges for floating the local river? That I can do!
I would be very interested in the 8.5 oars and also the Bahama sculling oars! / Stephen H
There is an old saying,”One man’s bile is another man’s meal”.
I know that a barrel boat or a plastic bottle boat has its place in the world, it just isn’t with me. Viva Le difference!
I am definitely interested in in the Martin oars. They are worth an experiment and would save me from having to cut a nice pair of Shaw and Tenney 8 footers to 7'6". Nereid did not like the 8 footers. I like cross handed rowing but there would be too much overlap.
As far as barrel platforms go, I see them as useful floating docks but I have no place to keep them and have no waterfront access except by trailer.
Just got back from Dick's with the Martins and several oarlocks.
The longer oars looked very nice, but I did not take them, as I would have had to butcher them.
The oarlocks are definitely worth checking out as most of the stems are slightly over half an inch. That means you can get a quality fit by having your local machinist create a good fit to your existing crappy cast bronze bases. Sloppy fits wear out even when they are lubed. They also waste your energy.
Dick's oarlock collection has got to be seen to believed.
He and his wife are delightful people. Too bad they are swallowing the anchor.
As an ancient mariner (78), I laugh at comments like 'older than dirt,' etc., because I have nine grandkids. Additionally, I appreciate the barrel barge for its aesthetic appeal and functionality.
I just got caught in a two-part-verification whirlpool, and I don't know how I got out of it. If I'm contacting my bank, I'm willing to wait for the code, and they are usually aware that these are minutes of my life I will never get back. If this is a new substack strategy, I'm out of here. Anything I share on a boating site does not require any security juju, and being made to do more work and spend more time just to share an opinion, is a deal breaker.
On a happier note: Kudos for the finished shape of the "cutwater" on the OS 15's bow. Such a subtle finishing touch, and such a marked improvement in profile! I'm loving the updated photos, so keep them coming!
Hi Mike. Sorry to hear about the site demands. I’ve never seen this. Hopefully not a new or regular thing.
It has happened twice to me. I consider it an annoyance, but not enough to make me decamp.