A Bad Idea

4/29/2017

My idea was to build a tent over the canoe so that I could sleep in it and avoid the problem of trying to find places to camp on the river bank that were not private property. By placing two uprights, one at each end of the canoe, stretching a rope across them from bow to stern and draping a tarpaulin over, it started to take shape.

Everything worked well and I built a nice tent cover over the canoe. You can see from the next two pictures that a decent tent was taking shape.

I did this feat of engineering with the canoe sitting on the ground. Every move I made to drape the tarpaulin over the uprights and the rope caused the canoe to rock from one side to the other. When I‘m floating on the river this could mean that I end up tipping over and falling into the water. I really don‘t want to get wet and sleep in a wet sleeping bag so its back to camping.

4 Comments

David

8/15/2019 04:37:17 pm

You could build an outrigger out of pvc and crab floats to stabilize and hold gear while canoeing and bring everything under the tarp at night. It would even work if you dropped anchor to camp on the water. I just finished building my own outriggers with a doggy deck on either side. I took a youtube video of building a dog hammock/bed out of pvc and turned it into a deck with floats underneath to stabilize the canoe with the dogs and give them their own space at the same time.

Jared Schutz

10/23/2020 12:43:40 am

Awesome stuff! I've build my own bushcraft canoe recently as well. I ran a long pole on one end with a rope running through. It allowed for a DIY bimimi top.

David- Awesome idea! I've actually been thinking of going the dog bed route too! I saw some heavy duty ones made from trampoline material and aluminum. Also thinking of doing a drunnage rack or even 2 cots on each side. Any pics anywhere?

Todd Heil

3/7/2020 06:22:12 am

Hellava effort. Have you had any further attempts. I am 57, just getting back on the Savannah River with plans to make trips around the country. Interested in other guys that are adventereous enough to think outside the box.

Gloryhole Garden Grove link

5/28/2025 11:57:10 pm

I like your creative solution for sleeping in a tent while traveling by canoe.

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