Clipper Canoes heading east for the Holidays

One of our newest Clipper Canoe dealers is Jenda Paddle Sports in Osgoode Ontario. In just under a year Jenda has not only become our newest dealer but also one of our biggest dealers. After spending a weekend with the Jenda crew at the Ottawa Boat & Sport Show last year it's easy to see why.

Jenda is family run business and they are as passionate about paddling as we are. That paired with the huge demographic of canoe-aholics found in Ontario made selling Clipper Canoes in Ontario a no-brainer.

The only hurtle for us to overcome was the logistics of shipping 40+ canoes to Ontario. This didn't prove to be so hard though. With a 53 foot container and a little lumber to build a rack inside the container we were able to fit 40 canoes in one load.

Some Yukons, an Escape, and the new Basalt Prospector 16' tucked away for their ride to Ontario.

The canoes should arrive at Jenda a couple days before they close for the Holidays, so its not too late to lock down a Christmas Clipper for that someone special in your life . . . Ohhh what the heck, you're special enough go ahead treat yourself.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from everyone at Clipper Canoes and Western Canoeing and Kayaking.

Ryan Bayes

New and cool boats for 2010

This last week we had our first shipment of 2010 boats from Confluence Watersports. Among the pile of some 120 boats were some cool new surprises. The first things that stood out were the crazy new colors from Dagger kayak's white water line up. For 2010 the old fire color got a new look as well as an addition of 3 new colors. Rain, Ember and Glacier are all new. While these colors are borderline retro ugly they have been a big hit with everyone that comes through the door. You can check out there new colors here. Dagger Kayaks



This first shipment brought with it a new cool boat from Wilderness Systems. The Commander 120 is a hybrid crossover. It looks like a sit on top but with raised side walls for a dryer ride. The entire boat is wrapped in slide trax to make outfitting for fishing a breeze. The boat offers 2 seating positions as well as the ability to stand and fly fish. There is a great video of the boat and its features found here. This boat will no doubt be a hit with the kayak fishing crowd that is growing huge each year.



Wilderness Systems has always been out in front as far as kayak comfort goes. Seen here with their Phase 3 Outfitting and hugely adjustable seat. The Commander takes it to another level though by having the Phase 3 seat removable, this allows you to use it as a camp or picnic chair while not in your kayak.

The last cool surprise was the new sit on tops from Perception Kayaks. The new Tribe models come in 3 lengths, 9.5, 11.5 and 13.5. The 13.5 can be paddled solo, tandem or can even accommodate a threesome. The kayaks were all built to be stacked. Even the different lengths stack nicely on each other. This makes storing them at the cottage a little easier. They're also considerably lighter than most other sit on tops we're used to.

Well, I have another 100 or so boats to unwrap so I'm signing off, but check back as we will be getting some new and exiting boats in from Necky and Current Designs soon including the new Ocean Kayak stand up paddle board.

Ryan Bayes

Preparing for cold weather paddling.

For many paddlers the changing of summer to fall means the end of the paddling season. For many other paddlers the change in season simply means a changing of gear. Shorty dry tops, rash guards and neoprene shorts are put away and the dry suits, pogies and skull caps come out.



Paddling through the winter can be very rewarding if you're prepared for it. Watching the leaves change colour, salmon returning to the river and not having to dodge motor boats and water skiers at your local lake are advantages of off season paddling. Winter usually brings a quiet calm to most paddling spots that used to be busy and bustling with summer recreation.



So how does one dress for cold weather paddling? The biggest issue with winter paddling is keeping warm, in and out of your boat. It's always important to be dressed for a swim. Even the most experienced paddlers are simply 'in between swims'. Just because you're warm enough in your boat doesn't mean you will be if you find yourself submerged in cold water.



The two most popular forms of cold water protection are wet and dry suits. Wet suits have been around for years and are the cheapest way to keep you warm in cold water. Wet suits are made from neoprene and work by absorbing water that your body heats and insulating you from the surrounding cold water. Often people start with wet suits but will soon develop a condition known as dry envy. Dry envy is usually a contagious condition developed from continual exposure to paddling friends with dry suits. Dry envy can only be cured by the addition of a dry suit to their paddling wardrobe or by masking the issue with things like pottery and sewing classes to keep you off the water. Realistically though if you paddle year round and more than once or twice a month you will probably end up with a dry suit at some point in your paddling career. Often a dry suit purchase will be the biggest paddling gear purchase since your boat. It is rarely one that is regretted.



So now that you have your core heated in case of a swim, there are a few things you can do to keep yourself warm and comfortable in your boat. Beanies, as they are often referred to, are made of fleece or neoprene or sometimes both. Beanies, touques or skull caps, depending where you're from, are an easy way to keep warm while paddling. A large portion of body heat will be lost through your head especially since the lower part of your body is insulated in the cockpit with a spray deck. Beanies are easy to put on and take off if you find yourself getting too hot or cold while paddling.



The next part of the body we will try to keep warm are the hands. Hands are often close to, if not in, the water and are one of the first parts of your body to get cold while paddling. Lucky for us though, there is a wide range a hand warming goodies from gloves, mitts, pogies and even fleece lined hand warmers in your life jacket. This is one area where paddler preference is split widely. Gloves are usually made from neoprene and can be different thickness depending on conditions they are going to be used in. One set back gloves have is the loss of feel between you and your paddle. Having 3 mm of neoprene between you and your paddle can make you feel clumsy and feel like you've lost the orientation of your blades. On that note, enter pogies stage left. What is a pogie you ask, well it,s not for dinner. A pogie is like a mitt that attaches to your paddle shaft that you reach into and hold your paddle. This allows you to actually feel the shaft of the paddle while keeping wind and water off your hands. I suggest trying both if possible because this is really a matter of personal preference.



So now that you're comfortable and safe, some other things to consider are where you will be paddling and the conditions you are likely to encounter. In winter and fall, quite often conditions will change quicker. This means you are more likely to be caught out in a storm. Paying extra attention to weather forecasts is a good idea when paddling open seas in winter months. A marine radio will enable you to contact help as well as keep you up-to-date with weather conditions while out on a trip.



It's also not a bad idea to brush up on those rescue skills and re-entry methods before the winter sets in. This is often a good time to check for local pool paddling sessions.



Here is a really informative video on the affects of cold water and how to survive a cold water swim.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1xohI3B4Uc&feature=player_embedded



So stay safe, and enjoy your paddling season this winter.



Ryan Bayes

Pacific Dancer

It's been over 12 years since the successful launch of CLIPPER Canoes' first native style canoe, the Northern Dancer. Now it's time to welcome the next one, the Pacific Dancer. At 36 feet, this work of art made for water, is much more stable than traditional designs thanks to a flat mid section. The stability of this boat was first apparent on the initial test paddle where we were able to lean it over comfortably to the point of almost dipping the gunwales. It has a long straight water line that gives it incredible speed and tracking, yet carves into turns effortlessly. Compared to traditional dugouts of its size, the Pacific Dancer is going to weigh in at less than a third of the weight of that of a dug out canoe. This helps the already sporty feel take on a truly nimble feeling on the water. The light weight of this canoe makes moving it around on dry land almost as rewarding as moving it around on water.

With 9 seats, there is room for 18 paddlers and some passengers as well as an elevated sternsman position, providing a good view and leverage to the captain. Some other standard features will be a kevlar reinforced laminate that is equally as strong as it is light. With over 25 years building big boats we know exactly where the kevlar reinforcing needs to be. We use a foam core in the hull to keep all 36 feet stiff and responsive. With foam filled flotation tanks in the bow and stern, as well as foam filled seats, there is ample flotation for even the roughest of conditions. With a wood free construction this boat is virtually maintenance free. We only recommend a light wash after use and a wax job once a year to keep this boat looking like the work of art that it is.

We also have the option of adding custom graphics or decals by special request.

This boat will be a welcome addition to our fleet line up, and we anticipate it to be quite popular with First Nations journeys, tour businesses and schools up and down the West Coast. With orders already coming in and only one mold available, now is a good time to get your order in.

Here are a few pics of the build up and test paddles. Hope you enjoy paddling it as much as we've enjoyed building it.

Ryan Bayes