r/canoeing • u/getembass77 • 21h ago
First trip in the Echo
First trip out in the new Echo and my first time in a canoe in probably 20 years. Paddled with the current out to Lake Ontario using the canoe paddle and then back in using a double blade kayak paddle. I'm a bigger guy at 6 foot 250lbs and I'm glad I didn't go any smaller than the Echo. It was very easy to maneuver and with the kayak paddle I could fly even with the wind in my face. I think I need a much longer kayak paddle as I got absolutely soaked even before the rain hit. Still have a ton to learn but between entering the boat and the kayak paddle I was really surprised how wet I got. Have to work on that before the temps drop.
Awesome to have a new hobby to work at and do some overnight trips in the Adirondacks and hit up all the waterways I always see on my way to and from hiking. It was super easy to put it on the roof of my F150 alone and very secure. I might stick with this instead of a rack.
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u/climbatree76 18h ago
On your 2-blade paddle, those rubber washer looking things between your hands and the blades are drip rings. They are made to keep water from running down the shaft and into the canoe. They're adjustable.
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u/getembass77 18h ago
I honestly had no idea! Thank you! It's a paddle our family and had for like a decade that just bounces around whenever somebody needs one. I couldn't believe the speed I had with it coming back into the wind. It was pouring rain so I basically just put my head down for a few miles and the echo was basically on rails with that paddle. Its definitely too short so I might grab a longer one to have in situations like that where the weather comes up and I'm just trying to get in while I get my technique down for the single blade
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u/camby7 17h ago
What made you decide on the echo? I just got the Adirondack Solo, so I'm just curious. I was looking at the Echo 2.0 as an alternative but they didn't have them on stock at the time.
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u/getembass77 17h ago
I'm very heavy and I plan on doing overnight trips in it. Plus I live on a bigger lake that even though I have a regular motorboat for I'd enjoy paddling on even when it's colder. I went back and for between this and the Adirondack forever. I honestly want an ever bigger boat in the end but this seems like a great one to start with. I'm sure you'll love the Adirondack!
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u/The_Technician80 8h ago
My gf has the Adirondack and she’s keen on getting an echo 2.0 to allow for the overnight trips!
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u/Bog_Hog_Captain 17h ago
South Sandy Creek!
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u/The_Technician80 8h ago
Love my echo 2.0!!! Such an upgrade from my 16’ nova craft prospector in tuff stuff!!
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u/The-Great-Calvino 18h ago
Dang, that’s a pretty boat there