No Leaks

My life is plagued by leaks. I’m not referring to divulging secrets (although I can’t be trusted with them). Instead, my continuing fate is to be challenged by a series of plumbing and roof leaks that never seem to end. But when it comes to boats, the few I have owned have always been leak free. That includes my new (to me) Grumman canoe (see photo).

I have been looking for a used Grumman canoe for years. While there are occasional ads for them locally on Craigslist, invariably people are selling 17-foot (and longer) models. A used 15-foot Grumman, my first choice because of its maneuverability when paddling solo, is extremely rare. That makes sense as the longer Grumman models far outsell the 15-footers when new.

Grummans are arguably the best aluminum canoe made. They hold their value, are designed with a feel for the water, and can take a beating (more on that later). They also last for decades. Going by the serial number and several of its design features, mine was manufactured ca. 1985. Yes, they are heavy canoes, but I wasn’t looking for a Wenonah or one of the other ultralights that you easily transport each time you use it.

A few weeks ago I noticed a listing on Craigslist for a used 15-foot Grumman in Sequim. I didn’t contact the owner for a few days, figuring it wouldn’t sell right away and that waiting might help my bargaining position. It did, but only marginally. On the day I went to see it, I stopped off in Port Hadlock to pick up two friends for companionship and to help with the loading. That was a smart move as there’s no way I could have loaded the canoe on my Subaru’s roof rack without Gary. The owner didn’t offer to help or even watch. He was inside staying out of the rain. Sequim might be in the rain shadow, but not that day.

I transported the canoe from Sequim to Mud Bay without incident. Unloading it was another matter. My neighbor and I weren’t in sync when we lifted it off my Subaru and we ended up dropping it from a height of about 5 feet onto my asphalt driveway, where it hit keel first. Ouch! Grummans probably aren’t designed for that, but the effect on my canoe is a testament that you can do it—at least once. We put it in the water for the ultimate test and there were no leaks. Yes!

My Grumman is now at Treasure Island. A friend and I trailered it there from Bremerton on his jet ski trailer. I don’t mean to imply that Grumman canoes are too heavy for car-top transport. They aren’t. Mine weighs about 70 pounds. But you need a couple of strong guys to load one. That doesn’t include me at my age.

The Grumman will get plenty of use at Treasure Island without any additional car or trailer trips. All it needs now is a name.

An interesting side note: Grumman canoes are manufactured in New York. While there is a substantial dealer network, there are no dealers west of Minnesota. Despite that limitation, used Grummans can be found in all regions of the county. You can buy a new one and ship it just about anywhere, but apparently most are bought new in the East and Midwest and then transported around the country when their owners relocate. Grumman longevity must be a factor when owners are deciding whether to move them with the rest of their household goods.