
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, April 17, 1995                   TAG: 9504190004
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

PADDLING YOUR OWN CANOE

PERFECT CANOE: That depends on how you expect to use it: one person or two? Still water or whitewater? While an all-purpose canoe doesn't exist, a craft that is 16- to 17-feet long and made of Royalex is a shot in the right direction.

MATERIAL: Fiberglas is lighter and less expensive, which makes it ideal for still water. But river rocks will chew it to pieces. Royalex is tough and flexible, which makes it ideal for rocky rivers.

COLOR: Everything from purple to teal, yellow to orange is available, but you won't go wrong with the old standards: forest green and red. Green is a prudent choice if you want to sneak up on a duck or bass.

COSTS: Expect to pay $450 to $850.

USED CANOES: Most people view canoes as a lifetime investment, so not many used ones come onto the market. If you do find one, it may not be marked down more than 20 percent below its original price.

WHERE TO PADDLE: The James and New rivers offer ideal year-round sport. Smaller streams, including the Roanoke, Maury and Little rivers, are ideal during good-flow periods.

CLUBS: The Roanoke Valley Chapter of the Float Fishermen of Virginia schedules paddling trips and meets the last Wednesday of each month at C.C.'s Restaurant. A new members welcome float will provide novice training May 13 on the Roanoke River. Contact Mike Byrd, 703-297-6381.

COMPETITION: The annual New River Rodeo, April 29 and 30 at McCoy, attracts world-class kayakers. It is organized by the Roanoke County Parks and Recreation Department and Back Country Ski and Sports.

by CNB