: I was on a canoe trip a few years ago with a man who had a very nice
: PVC-skinned double kayak. There were no true rapids on the trip, but in
: negotiating a bit of fast water between two sections of the river, he
: holed his boat on a rather innocuous bit of rock. He was able to apply a
: patch very quickly, as he had come prepared, but he admitted that his boat
: wasn't really meant for any kind of fast water.

: People used to use SOF boats for whitewater, back before the 60's, when
: fibreglass took over. I think they may have used painted canvas, rather
: than PVC coated fabric. The fabric on the boat on that trip gave the
: impression of being a little soft. It sure was pretty, though.

: Roger

Coudn't agree with you more. The canoe is ignored a lot these days. But,
when you want to haul lots of gear in moderate river conditions, over long
distances, and in relative comfort, there really is no substitute. An SOF
sea kayak has it's place, but a swift moving, sometimes rocky river with
small rapids , and numerous portages, isn't it.

Like you said, you were on a "Canoe" trip.

tdy