A short Skiff run on the Ocklawaha River. :lol:
Loaded the skiff up yesterday ( Thursday ) , got the camping gear packed and ready to go.
Today ( Friday ) took-out and drove the 2 1/2 hours to get the the Ocklawaha River. Arrived around 12:30 and when I pulled into Gores Landing ( a county park and camping area ) which is normally empty during the week.
"O" Chit.....The place is full of campers and there is a nice line of vehicles with kayak car-top haulers on them. I asked one camper where the kayakers went and he said up river..... The same direction I plan on going to get to the Osceola Camp site about 2 1/2 or so miles up stream.
Anyway I dropped the skiff in the water packed it with the camping gear then parked the Jeep and trailer. Got in the skiff and started out into the river hoping for the best .....It is fun and really nice to be in water where you can see the bottom 8 to 10 feet under you , this is nice.
DAM.....the way I have the oar locks set I keep hitting my knees on the back stroke , no matter how I positioned my legs. I was facing the bow and rowing in that fashion. The section of the river I was on has more twists and turns in it then a drunk snake , there are no real straight areas.
In all fairness to the skiff.................
This is not a problem caused by the skiff but a problem caused by the builder
...... When Mac rowed the skiff in Lake Kathrine ( calm water ) on it's maiden tryout it scooted along and he was facing the stern and pulling on the oars ,( the normal way of rowing and using the rear set of oar locks ) plus he was in one of the seats for a pirogue and not a fixed seat over the center rib but placed off center ( just forward of it ) when rowing. I placed the center seat over the rib not taking that difference into consideration.
Mac trying the skiff out in Lake Kathrine .............
Doing short strokes while facing forward on the seat and making slow progress against a 3 mph currant I might of been doing 1 1/2 mph , at the best , just less then a slow walk or relaxing , leisurely , stroll judging from watching the bank and weeds along the edge of the river as I passed by them.
Back to the river.............
I meet a guy coming down river and I asked him if anyone was camping on the raised area called Osceola camp on river right coming down river .... Yep , some kayakers have a tent city up there. DAM. .............I'm thinking to my self there goes my piece and quiet for tonight. No reason to go any further and fight this current since my campsite would be occupied.
So I turn around ....That skiff will turn on itself with no problems. Now going down stream the skiff will scoot along without any problems , especially in a 3 mph current. This sure beats rowing upstream.
Arriving back at Gores Landing , Backing the trailer in and loaded the boat up , pack the camping gear in the Jeep and aim for home. Tonight I will camp in my bed at home , it will be quiet there.
If Gores Landing had some spots for a hammock I would of been there tonight but the few places where a hammock can be put up the tenters had them occupied. As I said the place had a lot of campers there , more then I have ever see except for when it is hunting season.
This is a Friday , the place is suppose to be empty since the weekend crowd comes out tomorrow.
Then the light dawned and I realized why the place was full of campers with more coming in and setting up. Thursday and Friday night there is suppose to be a meteorite shower that will not be seen for a lot more years , a once in a life time opportunity. The river and Gores campground are idea places to watch the stars since it is in the middle of the National Forest.
Things I found out.........
1. The skiff was not designed for going against a good current , it is a slow process when doing that under geezer power.
2. The skiff when going down stream in the same river will really scoot along. So I'm calling it a down river boat for streams with a good current in them or for flat water use , which it was intended for.
3. As far as # 1... A trolling motor on the back should correct that problem since it is not a boat to fight a river current with when going upstream , that's why they make motors. Then float and fish or paddle back down river.
4. The skiff is a stable boat , you can get a lot in it and it is solid ( lots of stability) in the water with a nice shallow draft. I am really pleased with the stability and how it handles.
5. It is a very responsive boat to the operators wishes and maneuverable without losing any stability.
6. Packing it for a trip , just pull the side up on the sand and load it then push it off , hop in it and get comfortable.
7. When returning , run the bow up on the sand , walk up front and step out , then swing the side in and unload everything from the boat.
8. No matter where I stopped while on the road , someone wanted to look at it and ask all sorts of questions... Especially about making it , the cost to make it , where do I find one. Plus everyone I talked to said it would be a good fishing boat where it would excel in the quiet waters of a lake. I was in the Ocala National Forest which has a multitude of small lakes in the back country for fishing.
In summary about the camping .....
Even a trip that does not go as planned is better then no trip. As a friend ( John Deppa ) likes to say..." Sometimes you get the bear and sometimes he gets you ".
I saw some beautiful country , a great river , managed to be on the water a little and see how the skiff handled. Plus when I got home it was real easy to put the gear away , did not have to clean or dry anything , except the boat and me , mostly me since it was just below 90 degrees outside.
Chuck..........
Loaded the skiff up yesterday ( Thursday ) , got the camping gear packed and ready to go.
Today ( Friday ) took-out and drove the 2 1/2 hours to get the the Ocklawaha River. Arrived around 12:30 and when I pulled into Gores Landing ( a county park and camping area ) which is normally empty during the week.
"O" Chit.....The place is full of campers and there is a nice line of vehicles with kayak car-top haulers on them. I asked one camper where the kayakers went and he said up river..... The same direction I plan on going to get to the Osceola Camp site about 2 1/2 or so miles up stream.
Anyway I dropped the skiff in the water packed it with the camping gear then parked the Jeep and trailer. Got in the skiff and started out into the river hoping for the best .....It is fun and really nice to be in water where you can see the bottom 8 to 10 feet under you , this is nice.
DAM.....the way I have the oar locks set I keep hitting my knees on the back stroke , no matter how I positioned my legs. I was facing the bow and rowing in that fashion. The section of the river I was on has more twists and turns in it then a drunk snake , there are no real straight areas.
In all fairness to the skiff.................
This is not a problem caused by the skiff but a problem caused by the builder
...... When Mac rowed the skiff in Lake Kathrine ( calm water ) on it's maiden tryout it scooted along and he was facing the stern and pulling on the oars ,( the normal way of rowing and using the rear set of oar locks ) plus he was in one of the seats for a pirogue and not a fixed seat over the center rib but placed off center ( just forward of it ) when rowing. I placed the center seat over the rib not taking that difference into consideration. Mac trying the skiff out in Lake Kathrine .............
Doing short strokes while facing forward on the seat and making slow progress against a 3 mph currant I might of been doing 1 1/2 mph , at the best , just less then a slow walk or relaxing , leisurely , stroll judging from watching the bank and weeds along the edge of the river as I passed by them.
Back to the river.............
I meet a guy coming down river and I asked him if anyone was camping on the raised area called Osceola camp on river right coming down river .... Yep , some kayakers have a tent city up there. DAM. .............I'm thinking to my self there goes my piece and quiet for tonight. No reason to go any further and fight this current since my campsite would be occupied.
So I turn around ....That skiff will turn on itself with no problems. Now going down stream the skiff will scoot along without any problems , especially in a 3 mph current. This sure beats rowing upstream.
Arriving back at Gores Landing , Backing the trailer in and loaded the boat up , pack the camping gear in the Jeep and aim for home. Tonight I will camp in my bed at home , it will be quiet there.
If Gores Landing had some spots for a hammock I would of been there tonight but the few places where a hammock can be put up the tenters had them occupied. As I said the place had a lot of campers there , more then I have ever see except for when it is hunting season.
This is a Friday , the place is suppose to be empty since the weekend crowd comes out tomorrow.
Then the light dawned and I realized why the place was full of campers with more coming in and setting up. Thursday and Friday night there is suppose to be a meteorite shower that will not be seen for a lot more years , a once in a life time opportunity. The river and Gores campground are idea places to watch the stars since it is in the middle of the National Forest.
Things I found out.........
1. The skiff was not designed for going against a good current , it is a slow process when doing that under geezer power.
2. The skiff when going down stream in the same river will really scoot along. So I'm calling it a down river boat for streams with a good current in them or for flat water use , which it was intended for.
3. As far as # 1... A trolling motor on the back should correct that problem since it is not a boat to fight a river current with when going upstream , that's why they make motors. Then float and fish or paddle back down river.
4. The skiff is a stable boat , you can get a lot in it and it is solid ( lots of stability) in the water with a nice shallow draft. I am really pleased with the stability and how it handles.
5. It is a very responsive boat to the operators wishes and maneuverable without losing any stability.
6. Packing it for a trip , just pull the side up on the sand and load it then push it off , hop in it and get comfortable.
7. When returning , run the bow up on the sand , walk up front and step out , then swing the side in and unload everything from the boat.
8. No matter where I stopped while on the road , someone wanted to look at it and ask all sorts of questions... Especially about making it , the cost to make it , where do I find one. Plus everyone I talked to said it would be a good fishing boat where it would excel in the quiet waters of a lake. I was in the Ocala National Forest which has a multitude of small lakes in the back country for fishing.
In summary about the camping .....
Even a trip that does not go as planned is better then no trip. As a friend ( John Deppa ) likes to say..." Sometimes you get the bear and sometimes he gets you ".
I saw some beautiful country , a great river , managed to be on the water a little and see how the skiff handled. Plus when I got home it was real easy to put the gear away , did not have to clean or dry anything , except the boat and me , mostly me since it was just below 90 degrees outside.
Chuck..........