The Hugh Heward - Kick off!!

With the restoration complete the 21' tandem canoe that journeyed 7000 miles across the continent poses for a few glamor shots in front of the Verlen Kruger Memorial.

Today the Green Monster returns for another historic paddle, as does Ole #10 another Verlen restoration. Both will be participating in the Hugh Heward 2011.

Thanks Mike for sending us your spot information!

Ole # 10 - Mike Smith

Thr Green Monster 21' - 7000 miler

The Decals go on and the Cross Continent Canoe is complete; Now lets get her on the water and see what she can do! - Nice work Gentleman!!

Never before Never Again...

Well here is the canoe AGAIN - The "Green Monster" LIVES!



The Movie Trailer - Purchase the movie on Amazon




Dared to go Beyond 30 Years of Reflection
by Norm Miller

In 2001 I interviewed Verlen Kruger and Clint Waddell about their historic record paddle journey by canoe. It was the 30th anniversary of this endeavor; which to me is one of the most incredible canoeing accomplishments ever.

The story below I compiled from that interview in hopes of getting it published in a canoeing magazine. I had been a friend of Verlen's since 1997 when one day I just decided to call him on the phone and talk adventure. This is just one of our many conversations. Sadly Verlen passed away in August of 2004 after a long bout with cancer. - more....

.

It's Wednesday tic toc tic toc

Made good progress on Monday getting the hardware and the gunnels started. Plan is to finish the gunnels and have the end caps in place today.

The boys are making good on their goal in regards to completing the canoe, but will it be enough. The plan is to have it ready for the Hughy on Saturday; Personally I would have them all wearing life jackets, It's gonna be that close. But they are sneaky moving closer to the river...
.
Looks like they moved the 7000 mile canoe to a secret workshop; look at all those dang tools!! I've been there myself, blindfolded and sworn to secrecy and forced to drink Michigan beer.

I know sad day being from Wisconsin.

The Refurb continues

A big day at the Superior Canoe Shop of Scott Smith; Another step was completed in restoring Verlen's 7,000 mile canoe.

A 12 and 15 inch layer of cloth down the middle, then a full layer to seal the entire canoe reinforcing the bottom bring the Green Monster back to new.

Next the foam will be added to the ends "a new addition" followed by the gunnels, Stern and Bow end caps, and the original seats, along with the new stickers identifying this as the 7000 mile canoe.

Six days to the Hugh Heward and the forecast at this time is - Temps. in the 60's and partly cloudy. The river is high with all the rain we have had; paddlers should enjoy a great fast day on the river.

Hugh Heward next Saturday

Dubbed the "Green Monster"

The famed 21' Canoe from the "Never Before Never Again Kruger / Waddell Adventure" (Montreal to the Bering Sea) is getting an A1 make over. - Making it's way back to river's edge next Saturday at the Hugh Heward 2011 event.

Great effort from all involved in this project. Including the7000 miles - 5,184,999 paddle strokes and 176 days logged in from Verlen and Clint.

Feel ambitious, sign up to take her for a spin.

More on the Cross Continent Canoe

How sweet it is having this canoe looking like new again! An outstanding effort by the craftsman at Jim's Auto Body!

A dip of the paddle and off with our hats to them for doing all the work and for supplying the primer and paint at no cost to us!

Special shout out to Heidi and Todd Wagner " Owners" and Jerry Sandborn the painter. Time to change the sign to Jim's Auto / Boat and Body!!

That's a whole lot of boat at 21' and some change!

Progress on the Cross Continent Canoe

The primer is a epoxy primer that is made for this kind of application by DuPont. The paint will also be an epoxy by DuPont and it does not take a clear coat like we first thought. It is suppose to be hard enough and they told us that a clear coat on this would cloud up in time.

So a good 101 lesson on that from the pros. from DuPont. The painting should take place in the next few days and they wanna leave it sit and harden over the week-end and should be back with us on Monday.

Now check out the underside of the old ends Verlen made. Mark is gonna do something with them and the old gunnel's. Verlen's compass still works!! - Dan Smith

Discussion Board

Kruger Canoes Adventures has a discussion board; so if your inclined feel free to join us! Click here

Restoration - #2

Here is a shot of ole #10 after restoration.
.

I think it's important to save these ole boats; a shout out to the Smith Family, Chuck Amboy and Mr. Woodruff for putting the time and money to keep these canoes around.

.

The video tells the story, epic in it's own right but the adventure, well... never before and never again. Purchase on Amazon located upper right.
.

New restoration project - the 7000 mile canoe; The plan is to have her together and on the water for sea trials in 3-4 weeks.

.

A look inside, pretty basic; I wonder how old that line is off the stern? The metal tubes will go they were added after the trip to stiffen the canoe after the 7000 mile pounding.

.

Working the restoration magic; new gunnel's, new decals new finish will bring this canoe back to rivers edge.

.

Mark is gonna let this canoe be paddled by friends in the paddling world. Roxane and I are gonna paddle it down the Manistee River from M-72 bridge to Lake Michigan in the Tip of the Mit challenge. I will paddle up the Au sable in my Sea Wind then change to this canoe. I'm excited!!!
.

We have a new log book for the canoe and will keep a record of the paddlers and rivers and miles that it will go. So if any one wants to take a trip in this historical canoe let me know so I can get you on the calender. 5one7-6four7-5seven88 - Dan Smith