Origins of CanoeSport Outfitters

From Publisher To Retailer: 

The Origins of CanoeSport Outfitters

By Jeff Holmes, Owner of CanoeSport Outfitters

After more than twenty years at CanoeSport Outfitters, I’m still frequently asked, “How did you come to start a paddling store in Indianola, Iowa?” The simple answer is I loved to paddle, knew there were few suppliers of paddling equipment in Iowa, needed to earn a living, and was living in Indianola at the time the idea came to me. Those four things in combination provided the motivation to start a store and locate it where I did. While many are satisfied with this short answer, many want more details. So here is the long answer.

The long answer begins in 1973 when my dad brought home an aluminum canoe from Montgomery Wards. To this day I’m positive his true motive for choosing a canoe as our family fishing boat was to discourage my mom and sister from accompanying us on our father and son excursions. It worked well as both my mom and sister were less than thrilled with the idea of trying to fish from a craft as “unstable” as a canoe.

Left to enjoy the luxury of our new watercraft by ourselves we took full advantage of the opportunity. Several times each week my dad and I threw the beast in the back of our station wagon. I sat next to it on the tailgate and held on as we drove the short distance to the nearby lake to catch crappie and largemouth bass. By the time I started high school we were enjoying float trips on the nearby Des Moines River and I was hooked. Unfortunately we moved to an area where water was less prevalent and my interests turned to things more typical of a teenager in high school.

Jump ahead to my last year in College, which coincidentally was at Simpson in Indianola. I really wanted to find a way to explore the remote areas of Iowa and found myself drawn to its’ waterways. I rediscovered the old aluminum canoe and began looking for information on places to paddle. After a lot of searching I came across a small, out dated pamphlet from the Department of Natural Resources. It was helpful, but lacked detail. I wanted to know where to put-in, where to take out, and what I could expect along the way. What I wanted was a magazine about canoeing in Iowa and since no one was publishing one, I decided to do it myself.

I started writing article’s, researching paddling routes, and produced my first sample copy in the fall of 1988 on a tandy computer and a dot matrix printer from Radio Shack. The end result wasn’t exactly state of the art, but it was a start.

Over the next four years I learned a lot about paddling and a little about publishing a magazine. If it had been the other way around I may have gone further with the publishing. More importantly, I found out there were a lot of people already paddling Iowa’s rivers. Many were like me, looking for information on places to paddle and articles about others who were enjoying local waterways. Within a few years Canoeing Iowa had almost 1,000 subscribers and I was going to all kinds of places promoting Iowa Rivers and streams.

During these years several subscribers informed me of an event in Madison, Wisconsin called Canoecopia. This annual paddling event draws thousands of paddling enthusiasts all across the Midwest. It sounded like a great place to promote my magazine.

In 1991 and 1992 I purchased a booth at the event for Canoeing Iowa. It gave me a great opportunity to talk paddling, sell a few subscriptions, and tell people to come enjoy the rivers of Iowa. Most people were open to details about the Upper Iowa River, the Turkey, and the Volga. Some had already paddled stretches of these scenic rivers. However, others were quick to laugh and hurry on their way. One in particular stopped and told me the only thing to do while paddling in Iowa was look at the corn.

After four years of publishing Canoeing Iowa, it was plain to see I wouldn’t be paying off my student loans or buying a house with the profits. I was open to ideas and a subscriber from West Branch named Jim Holmes had a good one. He encouraged me to start selling paddling equipment. I had been throwing the idea around for a while and was even selling a few things in the magazine. With his encouragement I found a small retail location in downtown Indianola and opened CanoeSport Outfitters in May of 1992.

Opening a retail paddlesport shop in Iowa wasn’t exactly the in thing to do at the time. There were very few places in the entire state where someone could go and purchase a quality canoe or even see a kayak. So I set about calling manufacturers, borrowing money, and establishing credit to bring in what were at the time the best-known manufacturers in the business. Unfortunately things didn’t always go smoothly and I remember a conversation on the phone with one of the larger manufacturers at the time going like this.

“Hi I’m Jeff Holmes and I’m opening a paddlesport shop in Iowa and would like to get some product infor.”

The voice on the line cut in and explained, “We already have quite a few dealers in Idaho. What part of Idaho are you in?”

“No. Not Idaho. I’m in Iowa.”

“Iowa?“ she asked.

“Yeah. Iowa. Between the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers.” I really thought that would explain everything, but realized differently as I heard nothing but silence on the line.

“Just south of Minnesota,” I stated as I tried to be more precise.

“Okay. Hmmm,” she finally responded. “We don’t actually have a rep assigned to Iowa, so can I get your name and number and get back to you.”

As the retail store started getting into full swing, I continued publishing Canoeing Iowa, albeit on a less than regular schedule. By the third year the retail store was growing rapidly and the time I had available to find new routes and write articles was shrinking just as fast.  As it became more and more obvious that the retail store had a much better chance to pay my bills than the magazine, I sadly put out my last issue in March of 1995.

So, CanoeSport Outfitters came to be in Indianola because of my youthful desire to discover the waterways of Iowa by canoe and turned into a passion for helping others do the same. For more than thirty years I’ve talked about paddling, promoted Iowa, sold the best gear to help others get on the water, and improved skills through instruction. So far it’s been an amazing journey.

The first store location of CanoeSport in 1992.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
To learn more about our store please visit www.canoesportoutfitters.com

Spring Break at Lake Powell

Spring Break at Lake Powell 

By - Jeff Holmes 
At 6:15 a.m. on Saturday, March 15^th, eleven University of Iowa students, my co-guide from Grinnell College, and myself piled into two University vehicles and headed out for Hall’s Crossing on Lake Powell in Utah. Although it was my third trip to the unbelievably scenic lake, it was my first visit to Hall’s Crossing and my first opportunity to guide for the University of Iowa.

While many of the students were relatively new to kayaking and most were experiencing primitive camping for the first time, all approached the trip with great enthusiasm. That enthusiasm peaked when they woke up along Onion Creek near the Colorado River on Sunday. We were all treated to a spectacular sunrise that leisurely brought to light all the brilliant colors offered by towering rock formations and mountainous scenery.

After a few more hours of driving we arrived at Hall’s Crossing. My plan was to camp near the boat ramp. This would allow us to get up Monday morning to do our on-water training and then head out to camp nearby Monday night. However, a brief discussion with the park ranger and the staff running the campground revealed camping fees beyond what I thought the University was willing to pay. Since the lake was calm and the air temperature warm, I opted to take the group out Sunday night.

We hurriedly unloaded our gear and turned the boat ramp into a somewhat disorderly mess of garbage bags, dry bags, food, tents, sleeping pads, sleeping bags, and kayaks. I gathered everyone together for a few quick packing tips and then let them sort out the details. Since each person had been allotted only one dry bag, a major concern was how to keep everything dry if someone happened to tip. Most opted to put their clothes in the dry bag since the expected warm, dry weather would allow time to dry the other gear without major consequences.

 

Packing up!

At about 4 p.m. I gathered the group together near shore for a brief discussion of basic boat control and an overview of strokes. Any fears I had were quickly put to rest as everyone looked very comfortable in their kayaks right from the start. We paddled across the lake and about two miles up Bullfrog Bay to an excellent campsite with high cliffs to the northwest and snow-capped mountains in the distance. We enjoyed an evening around the campfire and headed off to our tents anxious to begin paddling the next day.

 

Start of the trip!

Although Monday started sunny and calm, the weather report called for 30 – 40 mph sustained winds with gusts of 50 mph by afternoon. Anything we were planning to do on the water would need to get done early and with an eye on our ability to make a quick departure from the water.

Late in the morning three of the students and myself made a quick run back to the boat ramp for a few forgotten items. As we were launching from the boat ramp we watched as a group of paddlers from Western Colorado University went through wet exits. Their gear was scattered around the ramp as they organized to start their own trip. 

Looking back across the lake to marina.

My small group paddled back to camp by 11 am and I began a discussion of wet exits. With the water temperature sitting at about 46˚ my students weren’t exactly thrilled about the prospect of getting wet. Nevertheless, they all donned their wetsuits and watched from the bank as I demonstrated a wet exit, a scramble rescue, walked through a T-rescue, and demonstrated a roll. After I answered a few questions I sent three students after boats so they could join me on the water and do their wet exits. As they launched their kayaks, the wind went from a light breeze to 20 plus mph in about 30 seconds!

As I continued rushing others through wet exits, on shore my co-guide struggled to gather blowing gear and close tents to the swirling dust. With the wind gusting over 30 mph it quickly became a struggle to get kayaks to shore after wet exits so we pulled everything off the water. The high winds were already sending whitecaps down the length of Bullfrog Bay.

With everyone safely off the water I looked out to see the group from Western Colorado University spread out and struggling in the high wind and waves. Apparently they hadn’t heard the weather report or had disregarded it. For several minutes the two paddlers in the rear paddled toward our shore but made very little progress. As I watched, the paddlers in front came back and everyone grouped up. After a short discussion they continued up Bullfrog Bay, so I stayed in my gear and kept an eye on them until they moved out of sight.

For the remainder of the day we all took shelter behind cliffs and rocks. After suffering a broken tent pole, all tents were taken down and eventually moved to a shallow depression with a little more cover. Sometime after midnight the wind finally let up.

The next four days proved to be much calmer. We explored Bullfrog Bay and by Wednesday night we were camped on a beautiful sand bar at the end of Moki Canyon. We spent a day in camp on Thursday, enjoying a nice breakfast of pancakes. Later in the day we took time to do some climbing and hiking.  

 

Exploring the Moki Canyon.

Friday brought the trip to an end. Despite the great time we had all enjoyed, the group was excited to get back to clean clothes, running water, and cell phones. Although I had set a 10 a.m. start time everyone was packed and ready to launch by 9 a.m.

The morning was cool as the steep walls of the canyon blocked the warming rays of the sun. Once we paddled out of Moki Canyon the sun found us and we enjoyed warmer temperatures. Three hours after we had launched we reached the boat ramp at Hall’s Crossing and began the process of packing to begin the long drive home.

A big thanks goes out to my co-guide Becky Salter. Although she’s still a student at Grinnell College, she’s already an experienced wilderness paddler and camper. I really enjoyed hearing about her three-week canoe trips in some pretty exotic places. She was great at using that experience to keep our stoves and water filters working, as well as fixing the broken tent.

I also need to thank Molly Ryan, Katie Williams, Liz Vadakara, Dalton Keane, Daniel Rada, Renee LaFrentz, Paige Anderson, Will Elliott, Tanner Wentzien, Breezy Dillard, Dakota Keller. 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
If you are interested in a paddling adventure or instruction please visit www.canoesportoutfitters.com

Car Topping 101

Car Topping 101

By Jeff Holmes and company

For many paddlers and cyclists the most stressful part of the day is transporting their canoe, kayak, paddleboard, or bicycle to the place they intend to use it. Feeling a rush of panic every time a semi approaches or fretting over damage you may cause your boat or car simply means you’ll find something else to do the next time someone invites you to join them for a day of fun.

Fortunately, getting your boat or board to the water or your bicycle to the trail doesn’t have to be difficult. There are numerous options available for transporting your toys. The equipment you purchase to do the job will likely depend on how much those toys cost.  

In general, there are two simple things you need to avoid whenever you transport anything on top of a vehicle. First, don’t create UFO’s (Unintended Flying Objects) that will endanger other drivers. Nothing will ruin your day faster than looking into your rear view mirror and seeing your boat or board trying to fly.

Secondly, be sure you don’t cause any damage to your vehicle or whatever you happen to be carrying. Most serious damage to canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards happen during car topping. We won’t even talk about how a bicycle looks after it skids down the highway at 70 mph. 

Anything Is Possible! Some Things Aren’t Sensible

There are a lot of ways to carry boats, boards, and bikes on top of a car. Some of them are very inexpensive. I’ve seen people put boats on the roof of their car with no padding and simply use bailing twine to tie them on. Once I saw someone stack five kayaks into the back of a pickup and squish them all down with a single rope over the top. They drove off oblivious to the likely damage they were causing to their new boats and the obvious scratches they added to their vehicle. What they did worked for them. For the rest of us these methods just aren’t sensible. So here are a few things to think about to keep your car free from scratches, your boat and board free from deformities, and your bike safe and sound.

Bare Roofs

If you have a bare roof you can get by with foam blocks. I recommend this for short distances only. Typically a boat secured in this way will slide across the roof or twist  when cars pass by at high speeds. This isn’t good your nerves and if there happens to be any sand under the foam blocks it also won’t be good on the car roof. Bow and stern lines should be added and the straps over the hull can be cranked down. This may help stop most of the movement but you’ll likely dent the roof of the car and/or cause damage to the boat.

I’ve never seen anyone carry a bicycle on a are roof. I suppose it’s possible but I wouldn’t recommend it if you actually want the bike to work well when you take I down.

With nothing on top the best thing to do is purchase a rack system from Thule or Yakima. Both make excellent systems with clips that go inside the door. These allow a variety of cradles to be used that provide additional support to your boat or board. These crossbars have a high weight capacity and accept a variety of bike carriers as well.

Manufacturer Racks

(Rack that is installed by dealer or car manufacturer)

Many vehicles already have a basic rack installed. These crossbars will accept foam blocks and the boat can be secured with straps over the top. With bow and stern lines added this is a relatively safe and solid way to transport a boat or board. Many bicycle carriers will also attach directly to the existing cross bars.

The downside to manufacturer racks is their width and weight capacity. If you wish to carry a canoe and a kayak on top they likely will not fit on the narrow rack. In addition, many of these racks are made with a lot of plastic and don’t have the weight capacity and strength to haul long boats in high winds. The addition of either Yakima or Thule crossbars will provide more width and strength to allow multiple items to go on top. You can carry a variety of combinations such as a canoe and two bikes or two kayaks and two bicycles.

Back of Car

The back of a vehicle is often a good place to put a bike rack. It’s low for easy accessibility, easily removable for times when not in use, and relatively inexpensive.  These types of bike racks are fairly easy to install and you don’t need any other equipment to mount these carriers. There are no options for carrying a boat off the back of your car.

Truck Racks 

 

A truck opens up a lot of possibilities for carrying boats, boards, or bicycles. Racks can be mounted to the cab, the bed, or the hitch in various combinations. This type of rack will often provide a wider bar spread (more distance between the bars) allowing the boat or board to be tied down more securely. Bikes can be placed on top of the cab or mounted inside the truck bed. A truck bed will also serve as a step up making loading and unloading of items easier.

Hitch Racks 

 

Having a vehicle with a hitch opens up some options for both bike and boat carriers. The hitch being solidly attached to the truck provides a very solid connection.  This will accommodate higher weight loads and allows the carrier to be mounted away from vehicle potentially eliminating scratches to the paint. However, the biggest advantage to having a hitch is the ability to haul a trailer!

Trailers 

 

Trailers are a versatile way to carry boats, bikes, boards, and more! Many people choose to build their own trailers as a relatively inexpensive option. There are a variety of companies building high quality, lightweight aluminum trailers. Most provide quality shocks, as well wheels large enough to handle high speeds and long distances. Also be sure the wheelbase and height of the trailer will reduce the need to worry about tipping in high winds.

One last thing to remember with trailers! When hauling longer boats, be sure your tongue can accommodate the turning radius. It really sucks to arrive at your put-in point and discover the bow of your kayak has dented the back of your car. More than likely you’ll find your kayak is in less than perfect shape as well. 

 

Other Car Topping Tips and Tricks!

Tip: When tying a kayak pass a strap or piece of rope both in front of and behind the cockpit. For a canoe be sure each strap is beyond the widest point of the hull allowing the straps to actually become tighter if the canoe moves forward or back.

Tip: Whenever you transport a kayak, try to space the bars so they are under the bulkheads. The added stiffness provided by the bulkheads will allow straps to be tightened without causing damage or deformities to the hull.

Tip: Always tie a line or strap to the bow. I’d also recommend tying another to the stern. Straps sometimes fail and if they do the these lines will keep the boat on top of your car long enough to pull over to the side of the road.

Tip: No matter how tightly you tie your boat, you will need to check it and retighten straps and ropes as you travel. Ideally you should check at every gas stop.

Tip: Don’t over tighten straps and ropes. If your boat or car top starts to bend or dent as you tighten your straps, stop. Do something different. Reposition the boat, your blocks, your bars, or find another way to transport it.

Tip: Don’t use ratchet straps and if you do snug them rather than tightening them too much. Also be sure the metal on the strap doesn’t come in contact with your boat. A thousand miles of vibration won’t be kind to your boat or board

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

To learn more about how and where to purchase a roof rack please visit www.canoesportoutfitters.com