Old Town Canoe Co Penobscot 164, Vapor 10, Molitor 17, Osprey Angler, Discovery 169 User Manual

Owner’s Manual

Advancing Tradition.

www.oldtowncanoe.com / 800-343-1555 / PO Box 548, Old Town, ME 04468 USA

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction 4
Registering Your Boat 4
Safety Warning 4
General Safety 5
Transportation 6
Storage 6-7
Care and Maintenance 7
Repair 8
Instruction 8-9
Equipment Recommendation 10
Warranty 11-12
Manufacturer’s Statement

of Origin to a Boat 23-24

TABLE DES MATIÈRES

Introduction 14
L’enregistrement

de votre embarcation 14
Mise en garde 14
Principes de sécurité 15
Transport 16
Entreposage 16-17
Entretien 17
Réparations 18
Techniques de base 18-19
Équipement recommandé 20
Garantie 21-22
Déclaration d’origine du

fabricant d’une embarcation 23-24

| 04

Congratulations! Your new boat rep­resents the very best quality, craftsman­ship and technical innovation in the
industry. With proper care your canoe
or kayak will give you years of paddling
enjoyment. With knowledgable use, it
offers almost limitless paddling possi­bilities, at home or wherever your trav­els take you. To begin your adventure
check with your local dealer or pad­dling club for paddling opportunities in
your area. Other paddlers are your best
source for information regarding put­ins, take-outs, trips, etc.

REGISTERING YOUR BOAT

To register your new canoe or kayak
in our warranty database, either com­plete the form included or register on
our website (address on front cover).
Much of the information requested on
the warranty form is voluntary, and we
use it for one reason only: to learn to
serve you better. We will not sell this
information to another company. Reg­istering your boat is for your protection
and convenience only.

SAFETY WARNING

Paddlesports can be very dangerous and physically demanding. The user of
this product should understand that participating in paddlesports may involve
serious injury or death. Observe the following safety standards whenever using
this product.

• Get paddlesport instruction from a
licensed or certifi ed instructor.

• Obtain certifi ed fi rst aid and rescue
training, and carry fi rst aid and res­cue equipment.

• Always wear a nationally-approved
personal fl oatation device.

• Always wear a helmet where
appropriate.

• Dress appropriately for weather
conditions; cold water and/or cold
weather can result in hypothermia.

• Check your equipment prior to each
use for signs of wear or failure.

• Never paddle alone.

• Do not use alcohol or mind altering
drugs prior to using this product.

• Do not paddle in fl ood conditions.

• Be aware of appropriate river water
levels, tidal changes, dangerous
currents and weather changes.

• Scout unfamiliar waters; portage
where appropriate.

• Do not exceed your paddling ability;
be honest with yourself.

• Consult your physician prior to be­ginning your paddlesport training.

• Follow the manufacturer’s recom­mendations for the proper use of
product.

• If additional outfi tting is added
to this craft, use manufacturer’s
approved materials only; do not
impair entry or exit access.

• Read owner’s information package
prior to using this product.

The user of this product acknowledges both an understanding and an assump­tion of the risk involved in paddlesports. If you have any questions about this
or any of our products, do not hesitate to call us.

| 05

GENERAL SAFETY

Paddling enables people of all
ages and abilities to experience nature
with unrivalled closeness and variety.
Adventures range from brief outings to
challenging treks, but even the simplest
trip can quickly lead to danger if proper
precautions are not taken.

No matter what type of canoe or
kayak you’re using, there are basics
every boater should know.

Always wear an appropriately rated
and sized personal fl oatation device
(PFD).

Learn your craft: start slow and
seek proper instruction. Practice your
skills, rescues and fi rst aid techniques
in a variety of conditions until you are
thoroughly familiar with them.

Dress for the water temperature.
Weather conditions can change quickly,
turning a warm afternoon’s paddle into
a challenge to remember. If you prepare
to get wet, you’ll stay warm whatever
nature brings your way!

Protect yourself by learning to read

water and weather, and never leave
shore in conditions for which you are
unprepared. Consult local tide charts
and maps, talk to experts and be aware
of weather forecasts.

Never paddle alone. Let people
know where you plan to go and when
you plan to return.

Finally, be on the lookout for
potential hazards such as other boats,
weather and other natural dangers.

These paddling basics will help keep
you safe, warm and just where you
want to be–on the water!

For sit-on-top rescue instructions
go on-line to www.oceankayak.
com/basics/ and click on “How to
Re-enter a Kayak”

For sit-inside rescue instructions
go on-line to www.neckykayaks.com
or www.oldtowncanoe.com

For canoe rescue instructions go
on-line to www.oldtowncanoe.com

| 06

TRANSPORTATION

Paddling kayaks and canoes may be
the most graceful way to explore our
waters. But handling boats on land can
be cumbersome. Thankfully, proper
equipment makes transportation easy
and safe.

Ideally your canoe should be carried
cockpit-side down, but kayaks can be
transported cockpit-side down, on their
sides with appropriate rack accessories
(like Stackers or J-style hull supports) or
cockpit-side up using cradles or saddles.

No matter how you carry your boat,
be sure to run two straps around the
hull to the roof rack in addition to lines
from the bow and stern to both bum­pers of your vehicle. Straps wrapped
too-tightly around the hull can warp
your boat (especially in hot weather).
Keep the lines snug, and take care not to
harm your boat.

The manufacturer of your roof
rack may have special instructions and
weight recommendations for carrying
boats on your vehicle. Check with the
rack manufacturer if you have questions.

If you do not have a rack system,
soft rack pads can be used between the
boat and your car top. Run straps over
the canoe or kayak and through the car
doors to secure the boat to the roof, in
addition to tying it to your bumpers at
the bow and stern. Remember straps
should be secure, but not overly tight.
Stop and check your load as you drive.

STORAGE

Your new boat is carefully crafted to
ensure optimum durability. But im­proper storage can quickly degrade hull

Cockpit-side down on rack, inset using pads only

On the side using Stackers, inset using J-style

Right-side up using a Hullavator, inset using
saddles

shape, color and UV-protection. Storage
is key!

Above all else, store your kayak out
of the sun. Waxes and protectants are
simply not enough–they will eventually
wash off the boat into our waterways.
Signs of sun damage include fading,
a loss of fl exibility and cracking that
cannot be repaired. Keep your kayak or
canoe inside or under cover, especially
if you live in a sunny climate. A tarp
properly suspended above the boat will
protect the boat from ultraviolet light.
Do not cover your boat by laying a
tarp directly on it. With the heat of the
sun, the tarp creates an oven that can
damage, distort or discolor the hull.
Simply leave an air space to allow for
air circulation.

| 07

If you must store your boat outside,
we recommend you tie it down. Strong
winds can catch the underside, fl ip it
and cause damage.

Canoes should always be stored
upside-down, even overnight. Set them
on saw horses, blocks, slings or garage
rafters if at all possible, as this will al­low the gunwales to carry the weight.

Store your kayak cockpit-side down,
on its side or on end. The best way to
store your polyethylene or composite
kayak is to run webbing straps under
the bulkhead points (or widest points)
and hang the boat or place on cradle­type saw horses. This will keep the
decks from being distorted. Do not
use the strap eyes, carrying handles or
scupper holes to hang your boat. Do
not store your boat on its hull. If the
hull warps, your kayak will not perform
as it should. Use a cockpit cover to
keep dust and critters out.

Attention to proper storage will help
ensure years of excellent service from
your canoe or kayak.

CARE & MAINTENANCE

Your boat is designed to require
minimal maintenance, and a little
timely care will ensure a lifetime of
enjoyment. Whenever you wash your
boat use mild soap and water. Rinse
your boat and hardware thoroughly
after paddling in salt-, brackish or
polluted water. A quick rinse of the
moving parts of the foot braces, rudder
and skeg box keeps them clean and
operating smoothly.

Occasional operational checkups
will keep your boat in tip top condi­tion. Check neoprene hatch covers,

cables, buckles, straps and other mov­ing parts for wear, and replace them
when necessary. Keep all nuts tight and
check hardware exit holes for water­tight silicone seals. Give your hull and
deck a thorough review annually. Light
nicks, scratches and scrapes are part
of the paddling experience, but deep
scratches should be repaired.

All canoe and kayak parts and
repair kits are available through
your local dealer. To locate your
nearest dealer, contact us or visit
our website.

For more care and maintenance
tips, go to our website.

Normally wooden parts are oiled or
coated with polyurethane for protec­tion from the elements. Any areas that
become chipped or worn need only
to be sanded and touched up with a
quality polyurethane, or sanded and re­oiled. We recommend you inspect and
touch-up your boat’s woodwork prior
to off-season storage.

If the hull on your boat is distorted
due to an accident, improper storage
or transportation, correction may be
simple: brief exposure to the heat of the
sun often restores a hull to its original
shape. If that fails, hull shape can often
be restored by applying a low heat
source (such as a low wattage bulb or
hair dryer) to the deformed area. When
the hull is pliable enough, hand-shap­ing can restore the hull. CAUTION:
Overheating can burn you or damage
the hull.

| 08

REPAIR

Your canoe or kayak is built to last.
With proper care and maintenance, as
described on the previous pages, your
boat should give you and your family
years of enjoyment.

Though our canoes and kayaks
are built to withstand years of use and
abuse, mishaps can occur and your
boat may at some point become dam­aged and need repair. In the event of a
problem, we recommend you contact
your local dealer for the appropriate
repair kit or parts. These same dealers
can repair the boat for you or give you
assistance in getting started in the right
direction.

Remember that no kayak is com­pletely watertight. It is normal to take
on a cup or two of water through rivets
or hatches. However, if your kayak is
taking on signifi cant amounts of water,
you may have a pin hole leak. Either
locate the leak yourself (by fi lling the
boat with water and observing leaks),
or take it to your dealer for servicing.
Contact us any time for assistance, and
we’ll see to it you’re back on the water
in no time!

INSTRUCTION

Before you set out, it is important to
get good instruction. Check with your
dealer or local club to fi nd out about
classes offered locally. You should look
for a course that covers basic strokes,
braces and rescue techniques. With any
outdoor activity, it is also good to be
familiar with fi rst aid, especially CPR
and treatment of hypothermia.

Place the blade in the water near your toes

HOW TO PADDLE A KAYAK

The Paddle: Place your hands on the
paddle shaft a little further apart than
shoulder width. As a guide, hold your
arms out to the sides then bend them to
90 degrees at the elbow. This is about
how far your hands should be from
each other as you grasp the paddle.
Remember you only want to hold the
paddle, not choke it. Over grip can tire
your arms.

You may notice some paddlers us­ing off-set or feathered blades rather
than blades that are on the same plane.
Feathered blades are sometimes used to
lessen wind resistance, but are largely
a matter of personal preference. For
beginners a straight blade arrangement
is easiest.

The Paddler: Sit all the way back
in the cockpit of your kayak. Careful
adjustment will make your backrest a
comfortable aid in maintaining proper
body position.

Also adjust your foot braces before
you leave the shore. To properly adjust
foot braces on a sit-on-top kayak,
straighten your legs all the way then
bring them in one foot well. On a sit­inside kayak, foot brace adjustment
should provide a snug fi t for your knees
and thighs. The fi t will depend on the
paddler and the kayak bracing system.
Remember if your legs are too straight,
you may strain your lower back.

Some boats are equipped with thigh
braces. For boats with easily adjusted