Getting the most out of your purchase
Getting in and out of the Canoe
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Slipstream specializes in lightweight watercraft. The boats are not fragile, however; lightweight composite boats should not be treated with the same disregard as aluminum, Royalex, ABS or other fiberglass/kevlar boats typically weighing 50 - 80 pounds and more.
Best Practice Unlike the individuals in these pictures, the best practice when getting in or out of the canoe is to be sure the boat is floating. Be especially careful to avoid placing the boat on a sharp rock and then stepping into the boat which forces the rock to compress the hull. Various Entry & Exit* There are several techniques for safe entry/exit. Over the years, we’ve learned much from paddlers with issues regarding knees, hips, back, flexibility and more. Discover methods for entry/exit that create almost no stress on joints and back. Optional removable thwarts (no tools required) have been helpful in providing convenient yet strong and stable bracing points. Solutions For Those Who Have Difficulty Getting In And Out Other options: Modified seat height Removable Thwart For Added Support Hung Style Seats. Let us know about your entry/exit concerns -- we’ll modify to accommodate your needs. |
Securing the canoe for safe travel
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Some paddlers have damaged their boat during the tie-down process. Remember to take steps to prevent wind from blowing your boat off the vehicle before it’s securely tied down. Ultralight boats are like flying kites . . . sometimes off the roof of your car during tie down process. . . sometimes down the beach and into the lake . . . and sometimes away from shore at the most inconvenient of times. |
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This demonstrates how much strength your strap can loose over 1 day when tying down a canoe to rack. Always check them during you travels, especially after you have been parking... whether in the sun, shade, or rain. Check them FREQUENTLY! If you see your canoe wobbling, re-secure it. Stay aware. (Thank you FlipTite for the demo, but we cannot use them on our ultralight canoes... we might break something!) |
Thank you to Dutchwaregear for showing the important characteristics of some of the straps materials out there. All straps are not the same. Polypropylene is our favorite, and is found in our favorite camstraps... NRS because of consistency of strength, resistance to UV and to moisture as well. Nylon straps will actually stretch when they get wet! Polyester straps are not as durable.
Bridging a Canoe
Bridging your canoe can lead to an oops . . . and it may damage your boat.
Much wiser to have wet feet than wet head! Slide/walk boat over dams, boulders and other obstacles.
However, a breach or chute with adequate depth changes everything . . . go for it!
Storage
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Slipstream uses the highest quality epoxy vinylester resins and pigments with superior UV inhibitors. It is still a good practice to store your canoe under cover to minimize UV damage.
Regular waxing will minimize scratching (and tend to cover scratches that already exist). Wax also adds additional UV protection and will keep your boat looking new. |
Repairs
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All repairs are unique to the nature of the damage and the type of craft.
Repairs to a Wee Lassie 10’6” for example: -$69 Gunnel replacement (each) -$275 Replace gunnels, thwart & decks -$25 Minor hull repairs, holes These will be sent back directly to Slipstream Watercraft for repair. Call or email a photo for major repairs and we’ll secure a firm estimate. All sales & repairs are by appointment only. |