Pilgrimage/Boondocking Boat

You are in the wrong forum buddy. This seems like grandiose posturing. If you were sincere, you would simply do what you claim: trust in your god and go on with your life. Stop with the religious ranting and ask about boats.

 

I think he finds it necessary to defend his plans from all the others brow beating them. If the conversation can't be about boats, the thread needs closing.

 

His avoidance of telling his location in the Midwest, makes me wonder if he is a guest of the State in Joliet, Illinois or other similar hotel.

 

I have been asked, not only once but repeatedly, to answer questions NOT on boating but specifically about the religious side, yet then been told, including by some of the very people repeatedly asking the specifically religious question, that my answer is off topic. This pattern has now happened twice. That isn’t right. I actually just hoped for a boating conversation, much as when I go to REI I give the background then talk camping. This would hardly be the setting I choose as most effective to discuss the faith.

By far most information in this thread has been fantastic. Unfortunately, I do not believe the above dynamic will end. Certain people will apparently ask a specifically religious question so many times that I would be rude not to answer, yet then also call me rude if I finally answer. Since it’s hard for me to imagine this happening to a fisherman wanting a fishing boat, it’s possible certain people just don’t like what I’m doing and will take the thread in certain directions no matter what.

Because of this I believe it will be more effective for all if I learn elsewhere, including even once I know far more on boats and can give a proper SOR. This is my last post on this forum.

Thank you to everyone for your information in this thread. This has been EXTREMELY useful. I am in a TOTALLY different place than just one week ago. Still new to boating, but now with a far better sense of what’s involved, where to go for more, and how to proceed to get what I don’t yet have. A certain dynamic was unfortunate, but mainly I’m just thankful for your help.

Thank you all, happy boating, and God bless.

 

You can be "penitent" without experience of the penitentiary.

 

I was truly trying to help, but the rhetoric went places it did not need to go. Some here contributed to that. Asking someone where they live; they can answer Iowa and name the places they want to boat. The guess of incarceration is probably accurate, but none of us ought to care if he is a dying man who will never build a boat or a 10 year old who can't for 6-10 years. If he ever visits this thread and I hope he does...

Building a canoe can be a life changing experience. You can self teach patience and the experience is truly one I do not regret.

If he is incarcerated, he would have lots of time for reading which is essential to learning and building a canoe. I read 7 books before I started mine and the last book sent me into a mindset of I want to do this!

I recommend two books for reading.

Building a Strip Canoe by Gil Gilpatrick.

And this one by Ted Moores.

https://www.amazon.com/Canoecraft-I..._1_1?keywords=canoe ted&qid=1583589432&sr=8-1

By far my two favorite books on canoe building. The book by Moores goes into all the finer details and might be enough to scare an amateur away while the Gilpatrick text is simple and emboldens anyone to believe they can do it. I built a Gilpatrick canoe and had some trouble and remembered Moores talking about the football shape while staring at my football shaped problem (I had a hard chine develop due to some modifications). Anyhow, I reflected on my prior readings and solved my hard chine issue by building out from where the keel would be and living with the chine. My father helped me cut the strips and did the takeaway off the saw. He is 87. Another great memory.

 

He's been vague on the kinds of places he'll take it, but from as much as I can gather, I still think a canoe would be his best choice. As a second consideration, though, there's this, which is heavy and wide for man-powered trailering but has a good load capacity (557 lb) and is designed for ease of self-rescue. Very maneuverable but not fast under oars or sail; I think someone clocked theirs at about 7.5 knots in a beam reach in a stiff breeze.

I like it for the same reason I like sit-on-tops: it's unsinkable, though this won't self-bail under load as a SOT kayak will. I also like that all its components store in its hatches.

I found this because I'd been looking at the CLC Eastport Pram and wanted to know about similar boats. The thing is, I had a really hard time finding this boat or others like it because they occupy a small niche which doesn't get top listings on the 'net. So, for what it's worth:

Dinghy | Lifeboat | Yacht Tender | Sailing Dinghy | Portland Pudgy https://www.portlandpudgy.com/

Oh, and insinuating that he's in prison doesn't add anything to the conversation.

 

It makes one wonder about his location though. He wants a boat, but won't say where he is. There are plenty of free boats if he is close to them.

 

Boondocks Boat

From what I have read on this thread, I’m getting that Penitent is looking for a boat which:

1.) can be moved over land for indefinite distances by human power alone,
2.) can carry himself and all his stores and equipment, including the moving-the-boat-over-land-gear,
3.) can be propelled by both/either human propulsion and sail, and
4.) carry about 200 lbs of stores.

So, my guess is that we are looking at an all-up displacement of between 450 and 600 lbs.
It appears that he is willing to tow the boat on foot, so there is no reason to consider any kind of a bicycle system. Such would be useful only on paved roads, and would add considerable weight and bulk to the system. He has made it quite clear that he has indefinite plans as to where he would be going, so this system has to be rugged and simple, even at the expense of efficiency.

I’m thinking of skin boat with a flat, hard bottom, which can be safely dragged over twigs, pebbles and rocks. This boat also has to act as a frame for an over-land vehicle, so must be strong against sagging and hogging when loaded with his stores and gear.

I’m thinking of an all-up Beam of around 3ft, and a Hull length of 12 to 14ft. The longer the boat is, the better and faster it will move through the water. But the longer it is, the harder it will be to maneuver around turns, especially around obstacles on land.

I’m thinking of short oars, which can be replaced with a paddle if the immediate situation calls for it.
I’m also thinking of a small scrap of sail, maybe 20 to 30 sf, which can be used when the wind is strong enough to make rowing/paddling somewhat difficult, but sufficient to move the boat to windward.

If some kind of a ‘board can be used for multiple purposes, it should be included. A rudder of some kind is also most probably a must. If the weight and storage space for a ‘board, and the equipment to deploy it, cannot be arranged, it may be possible to go without and still be able to make adequate windward progress.
I’m thinking of carrying the Beam of this boat all the way to the transom, and adding permanent or removable handles, which will project 2 to 3 ft aft it.
On land, the boat can be carried on a simple two-wheeled cart with 20 inch BMX bicycle wheels. This cart can be strapped to the mid-bottom of the boat for over-land transit, then strapped to the stern, wheels up, when on the water.

I feel regretful that members on this thread insist that Penitent reveal information he feels uncomfortable revealing.
I humbly ask that we agree not to do this anymore, and go with the info he is willing to divulge.

 

He could get a free boat if he gave his general location. Skin of frame, unless the skin is walrus or something similar, is not very tough. It is not likely to withstand long use and abuse.

 

For heaven's sake, we asked where he was to contribute to the sor; not to pin his prison down. The only reason prison came up was his intentional sidestepping. Had he said he lived in NorthDakota and wanted to paddle on Devil's Lake; we would have made a recommendation different than the Baja peninsula or the Quetico. I hope the guy gets to that canoe pic I posted someday.

 

I stand by my statement. If he posted his general location, most likely there will be offers of free boats.

 

Penitent's needs I think require a craft too large to haul, something that can manage shallow water, be locked up and is of little interest to pilferer's. Hauling provisions to the boat will exercise the physical ,plus just maintaining the boat, daily living, keeping a healthy but frugal space. It needs space to stow a good trolley/cart that can take provisions and basic camping equipment and which perhaps also be able to be towed by a bicycle but more likely a trike for loads, that can also be dismantled for stowage.
I gather the OP's intent is building physical and mental health and understanding by helping others while witnessing and responding to weather and nature, to act as an escape plan when modern life becomes too distracting.
Because of the weight and size it is necessary to trust others to keep an eye on your boat when not onboard, this security is a vital part of the SOR , which most likely means approaching strangers and trusting and/or paying/working for locals.
A boat is a great vessel for communion with nature/[ or if you prefer] God, and quite necessary for competent living and survival on water.. I have no doubt that there is great knowledge and understanding in religious life regardless of which faith is preferred, if it is able to discern and differentiate power mongering and subjugation that cultivates inclusion, vanity , ego, righteousness and greed/selfishness. They are all worthy opponents for anyone who seeks to contemplate and lead a life that searches for understanding, good luck and I hope you do well.