If you store a boat for the winter we have a few tips for you. Plastic kayaks love a good coating of Synthetic 303 (available at most boat shops) which protects against UV damage and takes the dryness out of rubber hatches. Kayaks and Canoes should be stored upside down with hatches removed to let air flow through and no mold to grow. Tie them down extremely well, as well as be extra attentive to the locking of your boat so the winter winds don’t cause havoc to your tie-downs.
If you paddle into the fall, especially with water temperatures dipping below 12C, we strongly recommend a few things. Always paddle with a buddy, leave a route plan with return time with a friend, waterproof your phones, wear drysuits, and keep watching your hourly forecast and winds. Know your rescues, practice your rescues, and always side on the side of safety, when in doubt don’t go. Paddle close to shorelines where you can, enjoy the change in bird life, and slow down and relax amongst nature. Enjoy friendships this winter, stretch, and we will see you in the spring healthy & happy.
The Harbourfront Community is changing. Harbourfront Canoe & Kayak Centre will continue to buy more equipment, and add to the vast programming available (Erik Ogaard pictured here enjoying fall paddling, adds new programs every year). We dream of a day that we share a new modern community building in the same location with our present neighbours, accessible to all. We have the dream, and the plans, let us know if you know an organization or person with the connections to make a better community dream come true. There is a lot of excitement for the direct future of our neighbourhood in Toronto as well, as many projects have been confirmed. Check out the following links to see what is coming in the years to come:
Rees St & Lakeshore Rd (Just 1 block north of us)
Queens Quay & York St (just 2 blocks east of us) (Love Park completed)