Hey Guys, I'm down in Tampa, but because you were all so helpful during my recent trip up this past summer, I decided to hit you all up for info once again.
A woman in my church is giving my a Grumman aluminum canoe that washed up on her lake shore about 15 yrs ago, and it has been growing vines ever since. I'm intent on bringing it to Anchorage next summer, on my cartop, and leaving it at my gf's parent's cabin in Talkeetna. I have four questions:
1.) Is it even economically feasible to transport this canoe (any canoe) to AK on my car. (I'm driving up anyway.) These canoes are cheaper than dirt in FL, but I see that they are quite pricey in AK. (I also have an Old Town to bring up as well.) Should I just sell these canoes and buy new at REI when I get there?
2.) In regards to the aluminum canoe: I am considering converting it into a square stern (what you guys in AK refer to as a freighter). Does anyone have any suggestions on that? I originally thought I might simply cut the stern prow off, somewhere near the bulkhead, and rivet on new metal. However, the curvature of the hull, combined with my sheet metal ability, precludes that. What are my options for attaching a stern in this case? Lastly, am I simply barking up the wrong tree? (It has occurred t me that this project could quickly become more costly than it's worth, and that perhaps I should just add on a motor plate at the stern prow.)
3.) I have an early 1970's 4HP Evinrude 2 cylinder, 2 stroke outboard that I hope to power the canoe with. However, when I was fishing the Kenai River this past summer, I heard that AK had banned 2 stroke engines on the Kenai for environmental issues. Is this true? Are there other areas in AK where 2 strokes have been banned? Is this becoming a statewide trend? Lastly, are they banning all 2 strokes or just 2 strokes that do not meet current EPA standards? (In other words, the new Evinrude E-Tec engines are 2 stroke, but meet the current EPA standards, are they banned as well?)
4.) What documentation will I need in AK to register it and get hull numbers for it?
Thanks for your time and any advice you can give. Much obliged.