Tips from the River Rats

January 2001
Volume XII
Issue 6
Abridged Edition

Tips from the River Rats

Don't Let Winter Crack Your Boat
The Problems Caused By Differential Thermal Expansion

By Rod Dore

Differential Thermal Expansion: A technical term that you should be aware of if you store your canoe(s) outside for the winter.

When temperatures drop all materials will shrink to some degree. The problem is that not all materials will shrink at the same rate. On your canoes this is particularly important if you have ash gunwales. A Royalex hull tends to shrink a lot more than the ash gunwales do (in the direction of the grain). If the Royalex wants to shrink and the wood is trying to prevent it, the stress created can tear open the sides of your hull. This may not be a gradual tear that grows year to year. At low temps the Royalex can crack open similar to opening a bag of chips by pulling on the sides. Once it starts it can pop open.

To prevent this possibility the canoe manufacturers recommend loosening 2 or 3 of the screws at each end of the gunwales. This will allow the different materials to shrink as they want without fighting each other. [Stick a note on the boat to remind you to tighten the screws in the Spring.]

This problem more significant on the longer boats. It is not a concern on boats with vinyl/aluminum gunwales as they seem to shrink at about the same rate.

Wilderness Tripping Tip #33

By Bruce Healey

You should always carry in your back pocket a handkerchief (I'd take 3). I'm talking a 20" square cotton handkerchief that has been washed enough times to get the sizing out of the material and render it nice and soft.

The handkerchief has many daily uses but one use you will appreciate is the "pot-holder" use, which if you remember, will eliminate the scorched fingers from hot pans.

Driving in Canada

By Jim Lewis

If anyone plans on driving in Canada, here's a bit of information I'm sure none of us have ever thought about.

Here's the law: Americans who drive into Canada are supposed to possess a wallet-sized card entitled, "Canada Non-Resident Inter-Province Motor Vehicle Liability Insurance Card." It includes your name, your insurance agent's name, a description of your vehicle and the effective date and expiration date of your auto insurance policy. The Canadian government requires the card as proof that a non-resident driver complies with the country's mandatory auto insurance law. Insurance agents provide the card for free.

Americans who don't carry the card and get into an auto accident in Canada risk having their cars impounded until they can reach their agents in the United States.

For more information, see the Insurance Bureau of Canada web site at http://www.ibc.ca/English/auto/visitor.htm

You know you're a paddler when...

Submitted by Rod Dore

I know these fit a whole bunch of you…

You watch the weather and think "heavy rain" is a "good" weather forecast.
You can't drive over a river without looking up stream longing to be out there.
Whenever you give directions you include phrases like "cross over the X river" but you can't remember the road names, "there is a pond on your left…" or "the road follows the river" etc.
You avoid buying a car that just doesn't look right with a boat on top (a sports car, luxury car), or one that can't hold a car-top-carrier (convertible, tee top).
When your basement smells like a combination of old polypro and stale river water.
You are familiar with every navigable river, stream, creek, pond, and lake within 20 miles of home, and know of the best within 100 miles.
Your significant other is someone you met on the river.
Your buddies ogle the gal (guy) in the next car, and you ogle her (his) boat.
You choose a home based on its proximity to a river.
When your boat is the current love of your life.
When the folks at the local outfitters shop know you by name. (a.k.a. the "Cheers" effect).
Your Sunday drives in the country with your family or significant other often includes detours to drive by a river or to an outfitter's shop.
There is no room in your garage for your car because your boat(s) take up too much room.
New paddling equipment takes priority over stocking the pantry.
You actually don't mind the smell of old polypro.
You have a canoe/kayak rider on your homeowner's insurance.
You tell your significant other with a straight face that the garbage is too heavy, and then hoist a 50lb boat as if it weighed nothing.
If you spend more time maintaining your boat(s) than you do for your car.
You appear at a dentist's appointment in your wetsuit because there was simply no time to change.
There are more AMC, AWA, THULE, DAGGER, MAD RIVER, PERCEPTION, etc. stickers on your car than visible paint.
If it's not water & wind proof, it "ain't worth wearin".
Your boat cost more than your car.
After hauling you from the water, the first thing you ask the rescue crew is "how's my boat?"
You call work to tell them your sick and then go paddling.