 |
Let's carve a large outrigger canoe and sail it (Kon-tiki like) to an island |
Lake Surfer
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Oct 21, 2002
Posts: 3308
From: Milwaukee, WI
|  Posted: 2006-11-07 4:29 pm Permalink
My log source has and will have plenty of logs in the 30-40 foot range at different diameters...
Different types of wood too.
I would have to get a trailer though, which would'nt be a problem.
|
SouthBamaTiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Oct 09, 2006
Posts: 138
From: Mobile, Alabama
| Posted: 2006-11-07 7:17 pm Permalink
You know, I've often said if I win the lottery I am buying a boat and sailing to the South Pacific. Why not just build one and go? Actually, it sounds like a good way to become fish food, but what better company to go in? lol I can't saw, but I can hammer, and I can fish!
|
teaKEY
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Nov 09, 2004
Posts: 3663
From: The thumb !
| Posted: 2006-11-08 10:55 am Permalink
fish food is not so much a probably in a fresh water lake. I can't thnik of a single fish or anything that could do harm to anyone.
|
JohnnyP
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Nov 23, 2005
Posts: 1689
From: Attica, MI
| Posted: 2006-11-08 6:07 pm Permalink
When I first dreamed this up I was thinking about something easily doable. My family owns property in the thumb of Michigan (you know the thumb of the mitten) that is fairly close to Lake Huron. I thought we could get a few adventurous souls to carve an accurate reproduction canoe on site there and transport it with a farm wagon the 20 miles to launch it There are some islands in Saginaw Bay that are fairly close to land, a mile or two, and would be an easy paddle to test the idea out. They are in a sting and we could island hop up to 10 miles in one direction without ever being to far from land. For this portion I was thinking of just launching and paddling over without getting permits or etc. More of a quick trip under cover.
I knew if we could be successful there a longer journey would be called for and the 10-15 mile journey I was thinking of northern Lake Michigan. Like Lake Surfer suggested there are several islands in northern Lake Michigan that would make good destinations. South or North Manitu Island or Beaver Island are doable for a longer paddle / sail from Michigan but still within sight of land if we launched from any of several northern Michigan cites. I imagine it would take the better part of a day to make it to those islands.
For multiple starting locations as Tiki Terrace suggested from Chicago this could be 180-200 miles or so. At 3 miles an hour it would take 60 hours and still be within Tiki Terrace's 2-3 day voyage time suggested. From Wisconsin it would be about 60 miles. Since these departure sites would take you out of site of land a GPS would be a great idea, unless somebody has a Polynesian style chart of Lake Michigan (can somebody make one?). These destinations would need permits or at least a review of our plan with the Coast Guard. We may even have to register the craft and pay a license fee. I'm sure they would want to inspect the craft, but since the purpose is to recreate "primitive" transportation with a specific destination/ travel plan they may waive certain normal requirements These are details that need to be chased down.
I have had some experience sailing, but with a craft of this type it would be a whole new learning curve. But I don't see it as a huge hurdle.
Thanks everybody for responding.
JohnnyP(ighammer)
|
finkdaddy
Tiki Socialite
Joined: May 11, 2004
Posts: 2050
From: Wisconsin
| Posted: 2006-11-08 6:21 pm Permalink
Quote:
|
On 2006-11-08 10:55, teaKEY wrote:
fish food is not so much a probably in a fresh water lake. I can't think of a single fish or anything that could do harm to anyone.
|
|
They may not be dangerous, but sturgeons can be frightfully big!
_________________
Please visit my new website, Leeward Lounge Ukuleles
|
JohnnyP
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Nov 23, 2005
Posts: 1689
From: Attica, MI
| Posted: 2006-11-08 6:33 pm Permalink
Quote:
|
On 2006-11-08 18:21, finkdaddy wrote:
They may not be dangerous, but sturgeons can be frightfully big!
|
|
Let's make it sound more exotic and call it a "Lake Shark"
|
JohnnyP
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Nov 23, 2005
Posts: 1689
From: Attica, MI
| Posted: 2007-02-21 4:58 pm Permalink
I was looking for islands in Saginaw Bay, Mi that would be both close the carving location of the canoe and also fairly close to shore for the maiden voyage of the outrigger and I found this on Google Earth. An island in Michigan actually called Defoe Island, who'd a thunk. Daniel Defoe was the author of Robinson Crusoe. I can't tell you how many times I read that book as a kid (and dreamed about it at work).
This island is about 2 miles from shore. I am going to do some research to find out how accessible it is and if it is private or not. It would be a nice test paddle before a longer voyage.
JP
|
VampiressRN
Grand Member (5 years) 
Joined: Nov 23, 2006
Posts: 5079
From: Sin City Lincoln Hills (NorCal)
| Posted: 2007-02-21 6:59 pm Permalink
This has definitely got to be the most exciting thread to date on TC. What a great idea. I can see it now...the press will be clamoring to cover the carving of the vessel and then taping the epic journey. Lake shark.....no kidding!!! 
_________________
 "Oh waiter, another cocktail please!!!"
|
Johnhaslett
Member
Joined: Feb 22, 2007
Posts: 2 | Posted: 2007-02-22 3:36 pm Permalink
Hey Folks,
I couldn't help but notice that you are planning a great voyage. I know you have your heart set on a canoe, but just for the fun of it I thought I'd send along the schematics of our vessels. (If any of you are interested, my book, "Voyage of the Manteño," has just come out. It is the story of my voyages on the open sea aboard rafts similar to Heyerdahl's Kon-Tiki.)
Cheers to all of you, and I hope you do it!
|
VampiressRN
Grand Member (5 years)
Joined: Nov 23, 2006
Posts: 5079
From: Sin City Lincoln Hills (NorCal)
| Posted: 2007-03-21 9:17 pm Permalink
Very kewl.....share some of your saling stories with us. They might help the carving/exploring gang. 
_________________
"Oh waiter, another cocktail please!!!"
|
cheekytiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 09, 2004
Posts: 1088
From: The Haole Hut, London, UK
| Posted: 2007-03-22 02:48 am Permalink
I was recently looking at a property down on the coast that used to be a sail loft, hanging in the rafters was a couple of bamboo and wood poles, sails and mast.
I asked the owner what it was and he told me it belonged to a local guy who had left it there for years and the rest of the boat was laying in the boatyard somewhere.
Turns out to be an outrigger canoe with all its rigging and he would probably sell it. The Hull is a bit rotten but could probably be patched up,if I get it I hope to sail it this summer.
Maybe no journeys the size of yours, but if you want any pictures, measurements, etc, I'll see what I can do.
_________________
www.cheekytiki.com
http://cheekytikiuk.blogspot.com/
"Don't drink water, fish f*~k in it" W.C. Feilds
|
JohnnyP
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Nov 23, 2005
Posts: 1689
From: Attica, MI
| Posted: 2007-04-17 11:45 am Permalink
I contacted a local tree service, "Owen's Tree Service",last week and they agreed to support us. They are currently looking for an appropriate sized log. This is a slight change from felling a tree. This will save a bunch of time for us. Hopefully we still have the interest level out there.
JP
|
finkdaddy
Tiki Socialite
Joined: May 11, 2004
Posts: 2050
From: Wisconsin
| Posted: 2007-04-17 11:53 am Permalink
If it is at all possible for me to be there, I'm in, in, IN!! 
_________________
Please visit my new website, Leeward Lounge Ukuleles
|
tikiyaki
Grand Member (5 years)
Joined: May 18, 2004
Posts: 2676
From: The Exotic Port of REDONDO BEACH, CA
| Posted: 2007-04-17 12:29 pm Permalink
Quote:
|
On 2006-10-12 09:57, JohnnyP wrote:
Here is another couple pictures from a Hawaii tourist site.
|
|
Man, dontcha just wanna be THERE right now ?
My Hawaii jones is killin me right now. 
|
Benzart
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jan 09, 2004
Posts: 10306
From: Port Saint Lucie, Florida
| Posted: 2007-04-22 7:42 pm Permalink
JP, What kinds of trees do you have choices of now as that will really make a difference?
Let me know as soon as you find out?
_________________
FACEBOOK
|
