Newsletter Three Rivers Chapter

Wooden Canoe Heritage Association

May, 2010

Issue 41

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May 15 th Meeting Pymatuning State Park By Judy Martin We will meet at the Linesville beach area at 10:00 a.m. We have permission to use it for the day. We will have restrooms and the shelter there in case the weather isn't the best. They are also putting more tables at the Wilson boat launch area where we can stop if we wish for a restroom break. There is always a good chance of eagle sightings there. Bring your lunch and something to pass around if you’d like to. Hope to see you there. April 17 th Meeting By Max Peterson Saturday, April 17th dawned cloudy and cool in Pittsburgh. I had loaded my canoe on Friday in eager anticipation of a day on the water at Lake Arthur, Moraine State Park. The scheduled event was to have been at Deer Lake, but the lake was in the

process of being drained necessitating a change of venue. Often cool beginnings like this warm by late morning with the sun burning through the clouds. This was not to be. I enjoyed a pleasant early morning drive to arrive at the launch site and find Burt and Judy Martin’s vehicle with their “Prospector” on top side by side with that of Andy and Jackie Hutyera sporting one of Andy’s Chestnut “Pal” reproductions. I discovered that Mark Zalonis had taken cover in the van with Burt and Judy as there was a strong, steady, and cold wind whipping up occasional white caps on the lake. Soon others began to arrive. Fred Capenos and Aleta Grubish pulled up followed a bit later by Bruce Kemp. Fred had his most recent restoration project, a 1917 Old Town OTCA, on the top of his vehicle. This beauty was to go home with Judy Martin. We stood in the parking lot discussing and admiring the boat, and after removing it from Fred’s car, snapped a few pictures of the canoe including Judy with an ear-to-ear smile on her face, and Fred with a deserving expression of pride and satisfaction. Standing in the cold wind with occasional snow flurries to be seen,

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we had just decided to forgo going out on the lake and gather instead at Brown’s Family Restaurant in Portersville, when up drove Bruce and Amy Kerman with their daughters Rebecca and Sarah, and with two canoes on top of the car. Following a bit more discussion, no one seemed terribly disappointed at the prospect of not going out on the lake in that weather, so we headed for Portersville. At Brown’s, a table was prepared that would accommodate all of us. We dropped a few quarters in the player piano and enjoyed good food and great conversation. It was a delight for us on the other side of the middle of life, to share the fun and beautiful smiles of the two Kerman girls. We hope they will join us frequently on the water. While missing the joy of paddling, we quietly appreciated the real reason that we gather; namely the comradeship we share with friends who value the miracle of the outdoor world from the vantage point of a beautiful canoe made of natural materials.

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2010 Water Schedule May 15 Pymatuning State Park Linesville Beach Area June 12 Western Pa.Solo Canoe Rendevous, Cooper’s Lake Campground July 14-18 WCHA Assembly Rindge, New Hampshire August 7 Lake Arthur Regatta, Moraine State Park

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September 18 Yellow Creek State Park October 9-10 Mini-Assembly Gifford Pinchot State Park October Three Rivers Meeting Sylvan Boat Club

Paddle Palooza 2010

Max Peterson

Three Rivers Chapter head, Andy Hutyera and I traveled to Columbus, OH with a couple of canoes and WCHA literature to display at the newly formed PaddlePalooza Outdoors Expo on Saturday, May 1st. The event opened on Friday evening, April 30th, ran through Saturday, and focused entirely on the “silent sports” of paddling canoes, kayaks, and standup paddle boards; bicycling; and backpacking, with a clear dominance of paddle sports at the show. There was a full schedule of classes held in a separate classroom, demonstrations of equipment and criteria for selection, and safety and technique workshops on the main stage. The organizers had installed an indoor pool about two feet deep that was large enough for several paddlers to try out different watercraft at the same time and for manufacturers to demonstrate their boats on the water.

Booth space was dominated by outfitters mostly from the Columbus area, but with a variety of equipment. Officials from state parks and other agencies were on hand with booths and literature. Among the unique displays was a manufacturer of tear-drop camping trailers with modern amenities such as TV and microwave oven, as well as others some nifty tents and extremely light weight fold-out camper trailers. The outfitters seemed knowledgeable and displayed excellent equipment. Wooden canoes and the WCHA were represented with a generous space and displays by Gil Cramer from Bryon, OH, with a 12’ show canoe sporting a great paint job. He also brought beautiful little solo canoe of traditional lapstrake construction.

Chuck Hoffhine brought 1914 OT ready for restoration, and Craig Johnson showed a lovely, all original OT outboard runabout, and a Kennebec that had been restored by Gil Cramer.

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Andy displayed his newest 16’ Pal in beautiful blue, which drew a lot of admiration, and Max brought his cedar strip “Kruger”. Al Gearhart, from Belpre, OH set up a striking display of finely constructed cedar strip kayaks in another corner of the hall. I particularly enjoyed comparing notes with an expert strip builder. All in all we considered the trip worth while. As is frequently the case, the primary benefit is the personal connections and information shared. Gil Cramer contributed a wealth of such canoe information garnered from the restoration of some 300 wooden canoes and boats, and all of us pooled our thoughts and bits of wisdom. We all helped spread the word of the beauty and practicality of wooden boats among a sea of plastic ones, and we had a good time. If the show continues again next year, and I expect that it will, I would recommend that we participate again perhaps with even more boats, and hope that other wooden boat organizations will join us.

May – Paddling the Web – Urban Boatbuilde Bruce Kerman Recently, I came across a fascinating story of the restoration of a 1915 Old Town HW Grade AA canoe by a group of at-risk urban young men and women in St. Paul Minnesota. The program is called Urban Boatbuilders, Inc. (UBI). The program uses boatbuilding projects to teach useful skills to help at-risk kids steer clear of their past problems with the juvenile justice system – typically thefts, assaults, and gang-related activities.

The canoe they worked on was originally sold by Old Town for $41 in 1915. By the time the boat was donated to UBI, it was in need of serious restoration. Some of the more experienced instructors and volunteers were told that the boat should not be worked on by the inexperienced youngsters. However, they decided to proceed on the first wood and canvas canoe that UBI had attempted to restore.

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The instructors and apprentices at UBI worked hard to learn seat re-caning, wood bending, re-varnishing, re-canvassing filling and painting. By the time they were done, the apprentices had a beautifully refinished canoe that they took on an 84-mile paddle down the Mississippi River, but there were troubles along the way. To read more about their difficulties and how they overcame them, read the full article which can be found at: http://canoeing.com/canoes/feature/urbanboat.htm More information about Urban Boatbuiders can be found at the following web site: http://www.urbanboatbuilders.org/Index.aspx This includes some magnificent photos of the restored canoe and an opportunity to purchase the canoe and support this worthy group.

Becky Mason Update There are still a few slots opened for the Becky Mason Solo Paddle Event at Gifford Pinchot State Park in October. Andy will open this opportunity to outside members beginning June 1. If anyone is interested, send Andy a $ 50.00 deposit to hold your spot.

F Y I We received a very nice Thank You letter from Annie Burke for our donation to the WCHA on behalf of Walter Walker. New members: We welcome new members, Rodney and Dorothy Agar. From the editor Don't forget your launch permits for the Pymatuning paddle . Also we need more input from the membership. If anyone has

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anything to share with the rest of us. send me an email that I can cut and paste. Wild life pictures would be great.

Canada Geese Lake Wilhelm

Lunch Break Lake Wilhelm