Tim got me thinking about what planes would be able to haul short kayaks. I didn't think that a 182 would fit the boats. What other planes do ya'll think would fit a couple boats? Mine are both 7"6" long 24" wide and about 1' deep, my wife's is 6'1" long 24" wide and 1' deep.

I know the 206 will fit them but I'll never have the money to buy a one. It would also be nice to be able to haul them out of a place like Lower Loon (860' usable, elev 4077) since Loon creek meets the Middle Fork of the Salmon there and you can't float out on the Middle Fork unless you have a permit.

whee wrote: .. my wife is 6'1" long 24" wide and 1' deep. ..

WOW! She sounds like quite a woman!

figured i better fix it so it says "my wife's"...that way I won't get in trouble

Cherokee-six?

Seems to me like a moot point...if you fly to the put-in and run Loon Creek, your plane is still up at the top. So unless you and your wife are both going to buy planes capable of carrying kayaks, who's going to run your shuttle?

ravi wrote: who's going to run your shuttle?

The best section is only a couple miles hike up from the confluence so we could fly into Lower Loon then hike up. When floating the Middle Fork kayaker often hike up trail a couple miles then float back to the Middle Fork and continue on their way down. Since it is so hard to draw a permit I thought it would be nice to be able to still boat the tributaries. They are worth the effort. Or I could have my Dad run shuttle.

Jon

I'm quite sure that in Alaska you would just fill your kayaks with canned food and strap them to the landing gear.

Why not make your boat fit your plane rather than you plane fit your boat?

Have a look at:

http://www.feathercraft.com/home/index.php

http://www.paddling.net/buyersguide/foldingKayaks.html

I have carried a Feathercraft K2 w/ camping gear and food for a week in my M5 on floats. I routinely carry my Klondike w/ gear and food.

There is a place that rents Feathercraft's if you don't want to own one.

TD

ravi wrote:I'm quite sure that in Alaska you would just fill your kayaks with canned food and strap them to the landing gear.

Wasn't there something like that in "Never Cry Wolf" featuring Brian Dennehy as a Beaver pilot?

zero.one.victor wrote:

ravi wrote:I'm quite sure that in Alaska you would just fill your kayaks with canned food and strap them to the landing gear.

Wasn't there something like that in "Never Cry Wolf" featuring Brian Dennehy as a Beaver pilot?

I remember seeing a picture of a CANOE strapped to the belly of a small plane, somewhere. Probably falls into the "Don't try this at home" department, though.
Enjoy, Berk

I remember seeing a FAR on external loads, but it was specific to Alaska as far as I could tell.

Mike??

For sure a strait tail 182, a 180 or a 185 with extended baggage and removable door will carry two kayaks with camping gear, cooler and one passenger. I have landed at Lower Loon with 182B but had Steve Cope in the right seat giving pointers. He was an instructor at RIVER OF NO RETURN MOUNTAIN FLYING CLINIC. Took that seminar two years ago in Challis, ID.

My personal limit is 1000ft and uphill helps a lot. Hard to stay proficient on the short ones when you spend most of your time plumbing. If I spent a couple of hours with Steve for a refresher, I would do Lower Loon. Come to think of it, Steve may never get back into a plane with me again the way I scared him half to death.

Back to the original question, what other planes will carry hard kayaks?

Tim

The Feathercraft folding kayaks are sweet boats and easy enough to stow in an airplane. In 1994 we planned a big Alaska expedition and bought a couple of used K-1 Feathercrafts for the trip. Two weeks before departure the annual inspection turned up metal in the Lycoming oil screen, airplane out of service for a major. We drove across Canada to Prince Rupert, carried the Feathercrafts and our backpacks onto the ferry and made our way to Honnah where we assembled the kayaks and paddled off for five weeks. It was fun even without the airplane. The Feathercrafts proved to be good expedition boats. I see from the Feathercraft website that they have a smaller model now (the Kahuna), which would be nice for shorter trips.

I have been debating what kayak's or boat's for a beaver.

port-a-boat or one of the kayaks. folding vs inflatable. I want something real easy to get going, fairly stable too. might need to carry two of them.

what is the recommendation?

this would be for use on lakes or the puget sound, which is pretty calm stuff.

like to be able to fish from it. if a boat, should I get an electric trolling motor too? carry it in a float?

I had a buddy that used one of those folding boats all the time and loved it. http://www.porta-bote.com/ He'd used inflatables in the past but for some reason liked the folder better. I think he used a small two-stroke on the thing instead of a trolling motor.

I wonder if those can be assembled on the float, or do I need to be on the beach? (some places I just let the beaver drift in a wind protected area, as long as I have a powered boat to catch back up to it)

freestone,

The DHC-2 Mk I Beaver is approved for certain external loads on it's type certificate. You can legally fly with up to six kayaks (I believe--may have been four), three per side, or two canoes, one on each side.

The only rub is the technicality that you are legally required to use the approved deHavilland racks to attach the boats. There aren't many of those racks around, but there are folks who can fabricate a passable facsimile .

THe Beaver carries boats just fine. I'd stick with hard boats in a Beaver.

Pak Boats makes really good, durable folding canoes, as well. They come in several sizes, and are easy to set up and they are good working boats.

MTV

Mike,

Would you carry regular kayaks or canoes internal or external? I still worry the FAA will hassle me despite the approved racks.

I wonder if I take the rear bench out, given the extended cabin I have, whether something will fit internal.

Mike

In the Beaver, can you carry people with an external load?

N18NV wrote:Mike

In the Beaver, can you carry people with an external load?

No, the FAA requires they be seated in the cabin at all times...

Freestone,

The FAA will only hassle you once in that case. They will come away with egg all over the part of their face that does'nt contain the tattoo on thier forehead that says "STUPID".

Strap em on the outside. Two Kayaks or one canoe on a Beaver and you won't even know they are there. Put em inside, and you've got to move all kinds of stuff, and beat the hell out of your interior every time you put them in or take em out.

No brainer, in my opinion. Give me a call if you want some external load instruction.

MTV