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GaryMayo · 05-12-2012, 14:16

http://www.boston.com/news/local/mai...iGJ/story.html

Don1500 · 05-12-2012, 14:27

I met a guy last April in Swansboro, NC that was doing the great circle(Chicago to Chicago via The Mississippi and the Erie Canal) in an 18' canoe, paddling all the way. He was doing about 25-30 miles a day, sleeping on the islands of the ICW.

SunDevil · 05-12-2012, 17:10

Man's home a 14-foot canoe in Boston Harbor - Yahoo! News

This link has some pictures of his boat.

I wish I could fit everything I own into a 14' boat. But, I would be paddling around Florida this time of year.

The bathroom situation and security of the possessions when you aren't in the boat are the two things I would worry about. Also storms and tipping over...

DeepFrz · 05-12-2012, 17:23

I wouldn't cross a pond in a 14' fiberglass canoe. Now Grumman or Alumacraft 17' canoes can carry 2 men and 200 lbs of gear and remain stable. I found that a 14' fiberglass canoe with 2 men (about 360 lbs) was very unstable.

A properly designed canoe is a very seaworthy vessel if well handled and not overloaded.

Cormorant · 05-12-2012, 17:42

I don't think I could handle one week of Boston winter living in a canoe. I hope he does okay.

ElGatoGordo · 05-12-2012, 17:58

Good for him...if he likes it. I wouldn't...can't stand the cold :-)

Was it just me...police are watching him, CG are watching him...I felt like there's a pre determined failure, maybe it was just me.

GaryMayo · 06-12-2012, 00:34

Lets assume anyone living in a canoe, on the water, in a winter city, might have socialization issues, to be kind, and to be blunt, may be at least mildly retarded, or dependency problems with drugs and alcohol.

50 years ago, people like this were yanked off the streets and institutionalized. Today, we build them 7/11s to hang out in.

I feel sorry for him, and I feel for all homeless people, but 9 times out of 10, they choose that lifestyle. Usually because of drugs. Act a normal life, doing drugs, and when you get caught, you loose your appartment, all your stuff, and when you get out, you have nothing. Living on the street, the cops pretty much leave you alone, (would you frisk someone who had not washed in months?) while you do dope deals, and if you get pinched, when they let you out, they hand you back your backpack, containing everything you had when you got arrested. You lost nothing.

I wish I had what some people have, less stuff, so I could paddle off. Lol. Not Boston in the winter though.

SurferShane · 06-12-2012, 01:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by GaryMayo

Lets assume anyone living in a canoe, on the water, in a winter city, might have socialization issues, to be kind, and to be blunt, may be at least mildly retarded, or dependency problems with drugs and alcohol.

50 years ago, people like this were yanked off the streets and institutionalized. Today, we build them 7/11s to hang out in.

I feel sorry for him, and I feel for all homeless people, but 9 times out of 10, they choose that lifestyle. Usually because of drugs. Act a normal life, doing drugs, and when you get caught, you loose your appartment, all your stuff, and when you get out, you have nothing. Living on the street, the cops pretty much leave you alone, (would you frisk someone who had not washed in months?) while you do dope deals, and if you get pinched, when they let you out, they hand you back your backpack, containing everything you had when you got arrested. You lost nothing.

I wish I had what some people have, less stuff, so I could paddle off. Lol. Not Boston in the winter though.

Maybe he just has hangups about people especially how judgemental they can be and how cruelly they treat others who don't fit in or fall from grace?

Oh, best of luck to him. When I was a kid I spent a lot of time adventuring living in tents. The time I spent under a bridge rowing around catching bass in a ten foot boat was a lot healthier than what went on in the "perfect" family home beforehand.

PamlicoTraveler · 06-12-2012, 02:13

As a side question, is a 14" canoe considered "blue water capable"?

Danosimp3 · 06-12-2012, 03:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by SurferShane

Maybe he just has hangups about people especially how judgemental they can be and how cruelly they treat others who don't fit in or fall from grace?

Oh, best of luck to him. When I was a kid I spent a lot of time adventuring living in tents. The time I spent under a bridge rowing around catching bass in a ten foot boat was a lot healthier than what went on in the "perfect" family home beforehand.

Perhaps he figured out something others have not. That simplicty leads to happiness, and the more possessions one has the more complicated life is and further from happiness and peace.

I dont pitty him in the least. He is free.

btrayfors · 06-12-2012, 04:24

Fiberglass? Nah, me...I prefer birch bark. Only problem is where to fit the Espar (to keep the squaw warm when I'm out hunting).

Blue Crab · 06-12-2012, 04:44

One problem I see here is the guy hasn't done his homework. You can get a lot of miles in a canoe, particularly with a cover but below 16 feet you're giving up both speed and space; a bad trade for a little lighter weight. My guess is this trip has been done by both canoe and kayak.

Don1500 · 06-12-2012, 05:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by GaryMayo

Lets assume anyone living in a canoe, on the water, in a winter city, might have socialization issues, to be kind, and to be blunt, may be at least mildly retarded, or dependency problems with drugs and alcohol.

50 years ago, people like this were yanked off the streets and institutionalized. Today, we build them 7/11s to hang out in.

What are we doing that's different? Bigger canoe with cabin and heat is all I can see.

GaryMayo · 06-12-2012, 06:44

A canoe seems like something best used to get from point A to point B. Not something that is both point A and point B. Factor in freezing cold winter conditions, and start counting your toes everyday.