Chickee platform easier access from tippy boats.

Here is the system that I have learned from my friend Alex. Most of you probably have a similar version and adapt it to your particular boat. My solo canoe is not very stable at rest so getting onto a platform at very low water levels a difficult process. This was also a problem when I arrived at a chickee with my touring kayak. It got so problematic for me that I refused to camp on these platforms when using the kayak. So for those that are balance impaired....my photobucket presentation:

http://s12.photobucket.com/albums/a206/snook_/Chickee%20ropes/?albu...

This can be adapted to use with a touring kayak just keep the ropes centered and your weight towards the platform when standing.

Now if someone would post a picture or two of anchoring a boat away from the platfom using a trolley.

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Permalink Reply by 28yfu6tdnoxk4 on October 27, 2010 at 9:52am

My new kevlar 16' 2" Swift Shearwater is faster than my fiberglass Kaskazi Dorado fishing kayak. When I was on my most recent solo voyage packed with about 400 lbs of me and my food, water, and gear, I had it up to 5.8 mph in dead calm conditions in the Shark River. It cruised very easily at a leisurely 3.3 mph using my carbon fiber Epic kayak paddle while fully loaded. Hey, I ain't no purist! It'll top 7 mph in a sprint when empty of camping gear. I'd highly recommend it for anyone looking for a high volume lightweight solo canoe for trips up to about a week to 10 days. Not to mention it's an absolute thing of beauty. Other solo canoes I looked seriously at were the Clipper Solitude, Wenonah Prism, Bell Magic, Souris River Tranquility, Hemlock Peregrine, and the Placid Rapidfire. It was harder than choosing a Russian bride off the Internet (from what I hear)!

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Permalink Reply by Charles Wright on October 28, 2010 at 6:12am

Hey Viv,

I used to use a simple rig with my paddle for stabilization ... I lashed my paddle to a thwart and put the blade in between the paddle rungs... it was not "tight" unless the paddle was lashed to the ladder, but that was not needed ...

When I anchor "off" a structure or more often a beach, the best solution I have found is a bungey cord ... a long one! Stake or anchor your craft with the bungy... from the stern retrieve the boat with a fixed line from the structure. (If you are concerned about how you look to the "Jones" while setting this system, tie off the stern first!).

On the beaches with the skiffs, I stake out with my push pole. The bungy is attached to the push pole, anchor line with an anchor set firmly on the beach. The bungy holds the boat 50-75' off the beach. If you need to fetch something from the boat, you simply pull the boat in with the anchor line (Please note: I would ever forget anything on the boat or make multiple trips throughout an evening for a cold adult beverage, but if I did, this works great) ... works very well for paddle craft as well.