Middleton's Canoe Accessories & Outfitting.

.....Tandem outfitting is completely different from solo canoe outfitting.

We will attempt to describe what is necessary for each, but you may want to change some items to suit your own experience. We base our recommendations on canoe club experience and some long time paddlers in the Coastal region of British Columbia where our rivers are small ,with steep rocky grades  and of course fast flowing.

Canoe Parts in stock:

Vinyl gunwales for Old Town canoes
Clipper aluminum gunwales
Frontiersman vinyl gunwales

Wood-web canoe seats & seat hanger bolts & trusses
wooden & aluminum thwarts
wooden carry yokes, incl. removable style

hard and soft base D-rings, 1", 1.5' and 2"steel rings w/ soft vinyl base.
adjustable thigh strap anchors, mini cell foam knee & thigh pads
we stock both adhesive systems: 3M scotch-Weld #3532 B/A and Vinyl-Tec 2000

Floatation (air Bags) please scroll down to images

For standard 16ft tandem, use 3D x 32 end bags (blue vinyl $42.00 ea x2) and
either 48"x 48" or for maximum protection 48" x 60" vinyl centre bag ($82.00).
We stock tese items and sometimes have other sizes such as 24" x 36" ($39.95)
if you require a smaller centre bag when carrying gear or when coverting a tandem canoe into solo use.
(The floatation must then be reconfigured , when using a centre saddle)

Tandem Canoes

Showing North Water

Spray Deck

available as 1,2 or 3 piece

 

15 to 18 ft Royalex hull, using bench seats:

(A)12 D-rings 1"; 3 at each end for end air bags (3D x 32) or (3D x 52)
                      6 at centre for centre air bag (48" x 48" or 48" x 60")
     space the D-rings evenly 3 across from side to side (at each end of the length of the bag) to hold down the air bags by the grommets. 
Allow distance less than air bag rated size ...since the inflated bag will be shorter by 4" to 6 "

for PVC hard base rings, sand surface in boat and the ring base, clean with rubbing alcohol, use 3M Scotch Weld #3532 B/A polyurethane adhesive applied to both the ring base and in the boat at the marked area. Be sure the ring is on the base before applying the adhesive and position the ring with base and hold it down with masking tape so it will not shift while the adhesive cures. Be sure to select a dry and warm location when applying the adhesive. Let it set for 8 hours before moving the canoe out into the weather.

(B) Next take white or yellow vinyl electrical tape and layout a 5ft (1.5m) strip along the gunwale, equidistant from each side of the centre yoke and mark off intervals of 5" and below these felt pen marks, drill a 5/32" hole on the underside of your vinyl or wood gunwale, allowing 8 to 10 holes, 5 inches apart. on vinyl gunwales, take "Ancor" brand 3/8" nylon cable clamps and pop-rivet with 5/32" x 1/4" rivets. For wooden gunwales, set a depth guage on the drill bit (a ring or piece of tape), drill holes and use 1/2" stainless steel wood screws to attach the "Ancor" nylon cable clamps. Use the same marked tape on the other side of the canoe.

(C) A each end of the canoe, you will need a loop to anchor the lacing holding the 3D x 32 air bag in the stem ( or inside the v end ) . Take a plastic eye strap and pop rivet it under the plastic deck of the boat, or rivet it into  the stem of the hull, which will show as rivet heads on the outside.

(D) Ask the people planning to use the canoe to sit in it and have them kneel to find the correct position for knee pads. Take the North Water knee pads, mark the position, the sand and clean the surface with alcohol, and apply Contact Cement to both the hull and the knee pad. Let the first layer dry completely, then apply a second layer, and let it become tacky then aim carefully and apply the pad to the outlined position. Voilla! You have done most of the hard work.

(E) Next, inflate the air bags and place them in the canoe and cut/melt the lacing or cord to length to tie in the bags. You will need a strap to run length wise from the front centre D-ring to the rear centre D-ring for the centre airbag. It will be held by (1) 4 corners tied at the grommets, (2) held  down from front to back by the strap at centre, and (3) held down by overhead lacing criss-crossed  through the "Ancor" nylon straps.

(F) You need hard rope for end grab loops attached through the hull, bow and stern ( if the factory didn't do it) and attach you float rope (painters).

(G) Another wise option is to have skid plates installed to save the ends of the canoe from rock damage. They are made of Kevlar felt and most people get a professional to install them. (The epoxy resin is not very nice to work with.)

Now go and try your boat with an other boat on your nearest whitewater!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

Next, we will outline the outfitting for a solo boat. 

Foam saddle is adjusted by straps down to North Water Anchoring Track. N.Water Padded Thigh Straps attached to bottom with 3 point Thigh Strap Anchors, and 2" D-ring on sides  
Esquif Vertige 12ft 10ins- outfitted

Vertige shown with 2- 3D x 60"

Nylon lightweight floatation bags,

North Water foam saddle,
padded thigh straps

accessory cord (3mm) lacing over bags

3/8"dia poly rope (painters) each end

 

 
   

 


Thanks!

 

Good outfitting & Paddle with a Club or Group
   

It all started out OK, then a big rock got in the way...but not to panic... the rescue boat is on the way
and others ready to throw a rope. The airbags kept the canoe high on the surface. The swimmers stayed
up river of their overturned boat,holding onto the canoe and their paddles! Soon they would be back in
their canoe , thinking about the rest of the trip,and ...next time do a draw to steer wide of that
pesky rock. They'll be more rocks to come!!

 

Adjustable Toe Blocks
40C0-65 
Whether you are breaking through a strong eddy fence, rolling or using subtle weight shifts for surfing, toe blocks let you use your body weight more effectively. Used with thigh straps, every effect the water has on your boat can be felt. They're adjustable up to 6".
The top of your foot can sit flat or arched. Made from heavy-duty 28 oz. vinyl, with nylon wing nut adjustments. Price: $75.00 Canadian FOB N.Vancouver
Stationary Toe Blocks
40C0-65a.....Price  $25.95 Canadian FOB North Vancouver,B.C.
Great for tandem, casual whitewater use or power flat water.
Bombproof two-inch tubular webbing with polyethylene reinforcement is lock-stitched on to a 28 oz. vinyl base. This is a great alternative to the adjustable style, for use in Fiberglass or Royalex boats.

 

 
 

CHOOSING THE RIGHT THIGH STRAPS
Thigh straps are to a canoeist what ski boots are to a skier. Without them you are not connected to the elements that give you control in an environment as powerful and dynamic as moving water.
Manoeuvering your boat effectively is a combination of three elements: current, paddle power and body english. Properly fitting thigh straps and toe blocks physically link these together, giving you greater control and a better understanding of the role each of them plays in developing your skills.
When choosing thigh straps consider the following:
1) the type of water you will be paddling,
2) the boat you will be using,
3) paddling style and seat set up (ie. paddling position),
4) whether or not you will be rolling and
5) possible variety of paddling partners or users of the boat.

If you utilize upper body and weight transitions then you want a system that will give you some mobility as well as a fit that will allow you to roll. If you like to trash around in big holes you will want a system that will plant your butt on the seat and keep it there. If you are using standard sit-down seats, you need to be able to move your feet out from underneath in the event of a capsize. The bottom line is, just as one boat is not suited to all types of water, one type of thigh strap is not suited to every paddler. We go from the simplest model, suited to grade I and II tandem setups, to those suitable for the hard-core rodeo hole riding paddler. These pages start with the basic.
A couple of points to remember: never rely on activating a quick-release buckle or mechanism to get out of your boat. Avoid lines attached to equipment such as bail buckets, water bottles and straps; these may impede you in the event of a capsize or roll.

Two Inch Velcro Overlay Thigh Strap
40C0-05b...Price C$25.95pr.
Economical and simple to install.
We recommend these for tandem or solo boats. For casual river running, they can be installed using three two-inch D-rings (one on each side and one in the center between the knees). The 2" velcro overlay allows you to adjust them for a comfortable fit.2

 


Great for rodeos and instruction.
Full schematics for installation are available upon request...

Adjustable Thigh Strap

Padded Thigh Straps
40C0-05c  Price  C$43.95pr
These have the same setup as the North Water Adjustable Thigh Strap. They are 2 1/2" wide with 1/2" thick padding for more support and security.
They can be used with our Adjustable Anchors or 2" D-rings. You can adjust them from the top or the bottom. They will fit any boat, body and paddling style.

 

 

 
Rodeo Thigh Straps
40C0-05a...Price C$25.95 pr. FOB  North Vancouver,B.C.
We have combined the versatility of our existing thigh straps with a multiple adjustment system for rodeo hole riding. This double strap system holds the top of your thigh and knee in one position. It distributes the weight over a wider area and you remain completely stationary in your seat. This is critical for window shading, pirouettes and other vertical maneuvers. Easily adjusted for slalom and general river playing.

Rigid Thigh Straps
(single: 40C0-05d and double: 40C0-05e)..Price C$98.00 pr.
Brought to you by rodeo stars back East. This system gives solid placement in the boat for those of you who like to trash around in big holes. High-density polyethylene built into the straps maintains the arch of your thighs and allows you to slide in and out of your boat without re-adjusting each time. 2-inch cam buckles let you cinch them tight for hole riding or back them off for general river running.
To take the guesswork out of placement, all the lower attachment points including airbag tie-down anchors are attached to a 28-ounce vinyl base.

Thigh Straps for Roto-Molded Canoes 
40C0-05f...Price C$43.95 pr. FOB North Vancouver, B.C.
You can also order these without bases so they can be bolted into the new roto-molded canoes. These can be ordered at the length you specify in sets of two or four. Great for C-1’s as well.

 

Voyageur airbags- now branded as Harmony airbags

3d 54 canoe end bag - nylon              price C$115.99 ea FOB N.Vancouver
style: VOY-V20509-S

Premium lightweight fabric version of the 3D 54. A set of two bags is almost three lbs lighter than the Voyageur vinyl bags or our "Blue line" vinyl airbags.
Price C$113.00 ea FOB North Vancouver,B.C.
Color: Yellow Length x Width (in.): 48 x 32
Length x Width (cm): 122 x 81 Weight (oz): 24
Weight (gm): 680  
3d 60 canoe end bag - nylon           Price C$118.99ea FOB N.Vancouver

The ultralight classic. There are more of these sets of flotation bags on their second or third canoe than you can imagine.
style: VOY-V20511- now branded as Harmony
Color: Yellow Length x Width (in.): 56 x 30
Length x Width (cm): 142 x 76 Weight (oz): 26
Weight (gm): 737

GAIA Yellow Vinyl Floatation Bags in stock:

GAIA Floatation End Bags
3D x 60" End Bag-yellow vinyl C$69.95 ea
3D x 54" End Bag-yellow vinyl C$67.95 ea
   

last entry date 18 July 2008

 

"Blue line" air bags

3D End Bag

3D END BAG
3D design ensures a snug fit that matches the curvature of your canoe’s stern.

COLOR: blue 
SIZE: 3D x 32"   C$42.00ea

Big Bag

 

BIG Centre BAGs
Like the name says, a big  48" x 60" vinyl bag that fits snugly into the middle of your tandem canoe.
PRICE: C$82.00 ea
COLOR:Blue

 

Whitewater Canoe  Outfitting Accessories -Typical Kit for tandem

Air Bags Tie-Down Kits With hardware
("Anchor" lacing eyelets included)...........36.............. $ 8.25
1 center strap-1" poly webbing for centre bag...............$ 3.20
2 end bags webbing straps - 1" poly...........................$ 4.80
4 -1" slider buckles.................................................$ 1.60
12- North Water 1" D-rings on soft base.$6.50 ea..... ....$78.00
80 ft Accessory (3mm)co.........................................$19.20
Adhesive: 2-100ml Vinyl Tec 2000 @  $14.50................$29.00
Total..................................................................$144.05  our "do-it-yourself" kit price $129.65....... (as of January 2008 )

Air Bags Tie-Down Kits Without hardware 
(lacing eyelets not included):
2 center straps
2 D-rings with fastex buckle
2 front straps
4 D-rings
50 ft. of parachute cord
 

NOTE: The kit can be used to secure two large end bags in a solo boat, or two small bow and stern bags but you need to add 6- 1"  D-rings to anchor the large centre bag in a tandem canoe.

Canoe Outfitting

1" Poly webbing air bag and gear tie downs (Red, Yel or Blk)  65WEB-50
3/16" Para-Line air bag lacing 70 CORD-15
1" Sewable D-rings air bags tie-down eyelets  45HW-140
1" Sliders securing 1" webbing 45HW-155
1" Ladder Lock synch adjustment for 1" webbing  45HW-160
A NOTE OF CAUTION:
Outfitting a boat for whitewater use requires experience and good judgment. Improper installation may impede a paddler’s ability to exit the boat.
If you do not recognize the inherent risks associated with moving water and boat modification, get qualified instruction.
Under no circumstances should you rely on a quick release system to exit a boat.

Paddle Anchor
40C0-20d...Price C$16.50
Quick access to your spare is critical. With a flick of your thumb you can have your paddle in hand.
Built to strap onto a thwart and anchor the paddle shaft for easy access.

 

All of our D-rings and anchors are made with 28 oz. vinyl. The color is a soft charcoal gray that complements the color of any boat.

Adjustable Thigh Strap Anchors
40C0-25    Price C$15.00 ea
Take the guesswork out of outfitting your canoe with our adjustable Thigh Strap Anchors. Placement is critical for short boat lengths. We make the anchors so that you can adjust your Thigh Straps to suit your body size and paddling style.

2" D-ring Thigh Strap anchors 40C0-25b  Price C$6.75 ea

2" Lightweight D-ring (no ring) Thigh Strap anchors  40C0-25g  Price  C$8.50 ea

1" D-ring SS air bag tie downs,
gear & accessory anchors 40C0-25a  Price C$6.50 ea

1" Lightweight D-ring air bag tie 
downs and accessory anchors 
40C0-25f   Price $6.50 ea

1" Cam Anchor
40C0-25e Price C$11.00 ea
These are used with the Rodeo Thigh Straps. The Cam Anchor gives you a quick, fail-safe adjustment on the upper side of your boat, while the 2" D-rings anchor the lower sides and bottom of the straps.
Great for any application where strength and adjustment are required.

Anchoring Strips

26”- 40C0-75f Price C$43.00 pr. This idea came from some of the rodeo stars back East. These anchoring strips let you run a line every two inches in a neat, uniform pattern. They are usually placed on the inside of the tumblehome just before the end of the air bag or in the center. They can also be used under the gunnels to anchor the top air bag lines. The 26" are also used as anchor points for the Adjustable Saddle.

Three attachment points provide a range of up to 5", giving you a perfect fit every time. You can use them with our 2" Padded Thigh Straps or the North Water Adjustable Thigh Straps. Full schematics for installation are available upon request.

Canoe Saddle (for open boats and C-1s)
40C0-75...Price C$115.00 ea FOB North Vancouver
Most smaller solo canoes now use light-weight pedestals instead of the old-style heavy, roto-molded saddles. North Water pedestals are made from mini-cell foam. They weigh 0.5 kg (1 lb.), compared to 4 kg (9 lb.) for a roto-molded saddle. They allow you to lean farther forward for micro-surfing, and enable you to get more reach and weight into your strokes.

This type of saddle is typically safer. Once you start rolling, you have a welcomed pocket of air in front while setting up to roll. In a wrap situation, a pedestal gives more room to move unimpeded from the front or back. It also allows you to bring your front air bag back farther, while leaving you room to bail.
Weight placement is critical in today's shorter whitewater canoes. An inch too far forward or back throws the whole boat’s performance off.
To prevent this, we build our saddle longer. If it is not positioned just right, it can be carved out at the back and still provide room for the thwart. When set up with adjustable anchors and toe blocks, you are guaranteed a perfect fit.

 

Mini-Cell Foam
40C0-75c..Price C$23.00 sqft
Our mini-cell foam offers excellent compression recovery, flexibility and tear-resistance. Denser than the average mini-cell, it makes the best fit kits, thigh braces, walls/supports, saddles, knee pads, and seats.
It can be cut to any size you like.

1" Nylon Cam Straps
One-inch nylon webbing and heavy-duty cam buckles make failing knots a thing of the past. Cinch down boats, raft frames, gear boxes, and anything that you do not want to lose. The harder you pull, the tighter they hold.
Stock lengths: 6 ft., 9 ft.; for kayaks, 12 ft.; for canoes, 15 ft., 18 ft., 20 ft.
Custom lengths for oar frames, etc. are available upon request.

            
9’    55TD-05b     C$9.00 ea            15’  55TD-05d  C$ 10.75 ea
12’   55TD-05c    C$9.75 ea             18 ’  55TD-05e C$ 11.75 ea
 

 

Harmony skid plate kit for royalex canoes...Kevlar pad cut to size ....pair C$25.00

 

Adds impact and abrasion protection to the end of a Royalex canoe. Our special pre-cut Kevlar™ felts are thick and longer than others, combined with our proprietary resin system gives a very secure bond to the vinyl skin of Royalex. Also good for repairing the stems of a damaged canoe - fill any dents or holes with Royalex Repair Resin first. Kit includes felts, resin a, resin b, sandpaper, sanding block, gloves and instructions.

 

Voyageur 39 in thwart
style: VOY-5077X

For replacement of damaged thwart or use as additional stiffening for your canoe. Straight-grained ash is strong and flexible to absorb impact. 39" length will fit wide canoes and is easily trimmed to fit narrower positions. Available in natural clear or dark walnut stained finish. Matte varnish finish.

Price  C$21.95 ea

 

Voyageur 40 in yoke - natural or dark walnut
style: VOY-40762

Traditional flat carry yoke is shaped to transfer weight from neck to shoulders. 7/8" thick ash construction is strong yet flexible helps absorb shocks and missteps on the portage trail. Provides excellent mounting base for yoke pads. 40" length will accommodate wide canoes and yoke is easily cut to fit narrower boats. Natural or dark walnut stain with clear matte varnish or for durability and protection.

Price C$28.95 ea

 

Voyageur 1/4 in yoke & thwart hardware
style: VOY-30098

1/4" stainless steel carriage bolts, nuts and washers for mounting.

 

Voyageur 3/16 in yoke & thwart hardware
style: VOY-30099

Stainless steel hardware to install yokes or thwarts in canoes with wood or synthetic rails. Available with carriage bolts for installation in wood gunwale canoes or machine screws for synthetic gunwales. Kit includes 4 bolts or screws to install one thwart or yoke. Dual attachments at each end provide greater stability and strength than single bolt. Kit includes dimpled finish washers, flat washers, lock nuts, and rubber end caps along with choice of 2 1/4" carriage bolts or 1 1/2" machine screws. Stainless steel hardware is more durable than brass and will not rust or corrode.
Note: We stock stainless steel machine screws in sizes suitable for canoe seats, thwarts and yokes.
 

This is a partial list. Please call or email if you require something not listed.

For accessories that are not canoe specific, such as dry bags and throw ropes, please see our clothing & safety gear section.

Si vous êtes français, veuillez demander notre service en français. Appelez  M.David
Prices subject to change without notice. Shipping & taxes extra 
Call David at (604) 240-0503 or email david@middletonsboats.com
updated 6 January 2008.