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Hi All—thanks again for all the good information. Call me a wimp, but after having my heart and sights set on a week of paddling last week...I decided that my week off should be FUN, which for me means lots of sunshine. I'm not afraid of rain...but from what I heard, the entire Seattle area was...

A bit of advice from a former whitewater canoe slalom racer: going with a longer (canoe) paddle is a good thing if your top-hand shoulder is in good shape, because having your hand/arm higher on planting the blade gives you more downward power, which translates to a stronger stroke. It also...

All good comments @cougarmeat - I paddled whitewater in the pouring rain for years—it makes no difference, LOL. And great points about a tarp (and in fact I already have a Kelty Noah). I'm no stranger to backpacking in the rain—which is arguably worse than kayak- or car-camping in the rain...

Well dammit...the forecast for next week (my week to paddle in the San Juans or somewhere) has deteriorated rapidly. A deep low over Southern Alaska is poised to send significant waves of moisture down through the PNW starting Sunday night into Monday. We're still a bit far out for a wholly...

Lifelong canoeist here: whatever canoe you get, I'd strongly recommend paddling the traditional way canoes are paddled—on your knees. This might sound painful, but it's actually wonderful for your back (this is why so many people love those "kneeling" office chairs). Kneeling naturally positions...

I just have to say @mick_allen - your reconnaissance of this area is nothing short of a CIA covert mission planner's! :D I'm impressed! LOL

Ahh okay @alexsidles —I've read good reviews of that Sony. I have a similar camera, a Panasonic Lumix FZ2500. I originally bought it for its video capabilities (it has several "pro" features like a built-in neutral density filter, a silky-smooth manual focus/iris, etc.) and for its superzoom...

Great narrative and photos as always @alexsidles (I loved your Terrible Tilly report too.) What kind of camera do you use? Really stellar images and you must either have a powerful zoom or a really long lens?

Hi—I'm assuming you sold this boat?

This is definitely the problem with winter camping! I rarely sleep more than 7 hours...and it's a drag to have to lay around in darkness trying to entertain yourself until bedtime or sunrise.

Thanks Rick. Looks like (according to the specs online) the original Mariner is 18'5"—that right? I might be interested in it. I'm actually down in Eugene, Oregon (so I'd have to come UP to see it, LOL). I'll let you know when I'll be heading up that way and could take a look. Scott

All good points @AM - I wouldn't argue with any of those. Because really, I've just been trying to justify not spending thousands on a new boat! LOL (And my Tsunami is still fine for the moment.) And I agree we all generally get weaker with age—not stronger. :-)

Interesting thread. As someone very much like the OP in terms of size (5'11", 212lbs) I've been very happy paddling my plastic Tsunami 165. Like the OP, I also like to paddle fast and far...so I've been pondering whether I should buy a higher-performance composite boat? For me, the decision...

Thanks @alexsidles - that's reassuring, and jibes with what I'm seeing elsewhere. :) Planning continues!

So I keep trying to understand typical weather patterns in late September up around the San Juans and Vancouver Island. It seems few people paddle anywhere after August ends...but maybe that's not true? When I look at Google search results for things like "Is September a good time to visit...

Wow—looks beautiful! Thanks for the photos and report. I'd never heard of the Broken Group until recently (living down here in Oregon). I'd love to go paddle there...but it's definitely a hike for me to get there (Google says 587 miles and 12 hours' drive time to Secret Beach). I'd consider...

"Also, the idea of a single-wall waterproof design is a leap of faith too far for me, at least here on the rainy west coast." I kind of agree—which is why buying the Marmot is an ongoing experiment, LOL. I'm less concerned about it not keeping the rain out and more concerned with condensation...

Earlier this year I bought a now-discontinued Marmot tent called simply the "Hammer." It's a 4-season tent designed for mountaineering and has gotten good reviews (so not sure why they discontinued it except for lack of sales). What makes this tent unique is that it's a single-wall, waterproof...

Thanks @alexsidles - great suggestions! I watched that video, and those conditions definitely look rough at Cattle Pass. While watching the group paddle through the breaking waves, I saw the huge eddyline on the left coming up—with the corresponding current and waves at 270 degrees to the...

Interesting @The GCW - circumnavigating Stuart Island looks like a good 10-11 miles right?