I admit I know next to nothing about canoes

[BigShot]

I'd love a canoe but I have nowhere to store one, and in Manchester nowhere to paddle one

There's a good bit of paddling in Manchester.

The ribble, irwell and mersey are all navigable (though some parts are arguably "private" - even saying that leaves a bitter taste) and as far as I know, are paddled quite often.

There's a fair few lakes and resevoirs that can be paddled close by too.

Have a look at this thread for some beginner's water in Manchester.
http://www.songofthepaddle.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=13230

 

[CLEM]

Is my goal to have myself a cnoe next year thats for sure.

 

[maddave]

Thanks for the info Firebreather & Bigshot. When I get a canoe I'm gonna come calling

 

[rigger_john]

There were plans? Where?

The plans are here, I'm about halfway through making mine

http://www.bushcraftuk.com/downloads/pdf/14 foot canoe plans.pdf

 

[Bernie Garland]

Heres mine a 16footer hull from Stu at Apache and fitted out myself

Bernie

 

[Grooveski]

Mine were named on a fishing trip. After a couple of hours mackie bashing the bottom of the boat was swilling with blood and gore, Blutack said I should get a bucket to cut down on mess.

My reply was that I had a bucket but had fancied paddling the barge this time.

...hence "The Barge" and "The Bucket".

 

[johnnytheboy]

I have been on songs of tghe paddle but its abit embarresing asking the newbie questions every two seconds, everyone gets abit bored with it quickly i think.

 

[jungle_re]

I have been on songs of tghe paddle but its abit embarresing asking the newbie questions every two seconds, everyone gets abit bored with it quickly i think.

I found most of the answers i needed just buy searching the threads.
Any questions i did have i had answered promptly and replied to without the slightest hint i was being humoured. One of the members (also a member here i believe) is even taking me out for a paddle when i pick up a canoe im buying. Only good experiences there so far

 

[johnnytheboy]

I know what you are saying and you are 100% correct, everyone has been helpful its not anything negative i'm saying but there are allot of folk there that really know there stuff, its abit intimating, esp when you are asking what length of canoe do i need etc really noddy novice questions

There just seems to be such a huge selection of canoes to chose from too many questions to ask and they are really expensive so i don't want to make the wrong choice or annoy everyone by asking 100 million questions. Its a good thought though searching old posts,

I had thought about a bob special if the wife decides she doesn't want a sit on yak, but if she does then i was thinking about a pack, but its just what i have read in magazines, there would be nothing worse than spending £1000 and getting the wrong one.

off to sotp to do abit searching

 

[gunslinger]

I have been on songs of tghe paddle but its abit embarresing asking the newbie questions every two seconds, everyone gets abit bored with it quickly i think.

Ask as many as you like.There is no such thing as a stupid question and the folks on SoTP are some of the nicest people.

And another endorsement for Stu from Apache canoes. He helped me out with moving my ali canoe fron his area to Devon for next to nothing. Had a bit of a chat when he arrived at my place.He is an absolute diamond.

GS

 

[BigShot]

I agree with Jungle and gunslinger here.

If you tell people what you want to do in the canoe (paddling on a lake for a few hours? rivers? whitewater? carrying kit for a solo camping trip? kit for two with two paddlers?) and how much you have to spend you'll get some very helpful responses on SoTP.

Just get on there and ask away - seriously. If (and it's a big if) you annoyed someone asking beginners questions, they'd just not read the thread. There are enough people on there who are very helpful to make it very worthwhile posting a question even if only a couple of people respond.

You've got to remember that people on there are typically crazy about canoes and the opportunity to help someone get started is not lightly passed up.

 

[Scots_Charles_River]

I have been on songs of tghe paddle but its abit embarresing asking the newbie questions every two seconds, everyone gets abit bored with it quickly i think.

I would say I/they/we don't just keep firing away questions, yes you may get an immdeaite answer via the search button, but just ask away.

Happy Paddling

Nick

 

[johnnytheboy]

I will ask a few but i'm gonna do abit searching and get more clued up so they are worthwhile questions to ask, its gonna take a wee bit reading up on. thanks for your kind replys guys its much apprecaited, maybe give me a wee bit more confidence to have a bleather on there.

 

[Scots_Charles_River]

So what size of boat ? Solo ? Tandem ? A mix of both ?

Budget ? Can you lift on your own onto the roofrack ?

Starters for you.

 

[johnnytheboy]

LOL thats where i'm about right now