Klepper Aerius II Classic - Klepper Folding Kayaks in Canada

» Photos and Stories » Georgian Bay Aerius II 520 Classic Paddling

Georgian Bay & Manitouwadge Paddling + Sailing
1960s Aerius II 520 Classic

John frequently sends us photo updates of his paddling and sailing experiences. He is also now the proud owner of the Klepper brass plaque which is installed in every Klepper (this brass plaque is featured on each of the Klepper kayak pages on this site). John took several of the following photos in Manitouwadge or on Georgian Bay & surrounding areas. He created his own solo spraycover for his double kayak, and modified his kayak to be able to control sail and all from the back position. His homemade spraycover follows some of the advice given by Ralph Diaz, but he brought his own ingenuity to the design.

For those of you who like to 'tinker', he also rigged-up a solar panel for his GPS. You'll see details of the solar panel in one of the photos. The home-made mast extension he uses with the Klepper Freewind Sail "... may be a little high" according to John. Notice the windswept trees in several photos, this landscape is a staple in Group of Seven paintings.

Little Lake Manitouwadge Autumn 2010
Photo above: Fall paddling on Little Lake in Manitouwadge

Fall paddling on Little Lake in Manitouwadge .
Photo above: More Fall paddling surrounded by the Boreal Forest :-)
Homemade sprayskirt on the Klepper Aerius II

At the mouth entering Lake Superior from Ney's Provincial Park
Photo above: In the few days I was at Ney's Provincial Park,
I only managed to go out onto Lake Superior once owing to the weather,
but that once was worth the trip.
The lake was like a roller coaster I went across the large bay to Pic Island
where I turned, put up the Pacific Action sail and almost flew back to the
Little Pic River no photos were possible but it did prove
how good an Aerius 2 is in wind and waves...

John's introduction for his trip to Ney's Provincial Park (photos above and below): There are two PIC rivers in Northern Ontario, the biggest between Manitouwadge and Marathon (The Pic River), and the Little Pic River that flows into Lake Superior at Neys Pro Park, I have been told that the word PIC is OJIBWAY for muddy and when these rivers are seen they look brown as they have a lot of sediment or sand in them and from the air this “brown” water can be seen going into Lake Superior, after rain this “sandy water” is very visible although at any time these rivers never look clear, this sand going down stream has built up sand dunes at the mouth of the Pic River near Marathon. The Little Pic River has provided a nice long beach at Neys Prov Park with lots of sand around the shore line. If paddling down the Little Pic River into Lake Superior a sand bank is on the right hand side just before going into the lake and all craft will be stranded on it, (it's easy to get off) the left hand side of the river flows fast and you reach a point where you are going into Lake Superior there's no turning back no matter what lies ahead oddly as it sounds from the bank of the river it dosn't seem to be going fast.

John Allsop at Neys Ontario Provincial Park
Photo above: Pacific Action Sail and Spring Creek Outriggers looking towards the bridges, the bridges are the rail bridge, train going over, and further on the road bridge which is hwy 17.

John Allsop's Klepper Aerius II 520
Photo above: John's Klepper Aerius II 520 with no sail looking down stream.
The canoes are rented out by the Prov Park, people who rent them
are told they MUST not go out onto Lake Superior a freight train is passing.
I had my tent close to the launch site and these trains were very loud day and night.

Sailing the Pacific Action Sail at Neys Ontario Provincial Park
Photo above: With Pacific Action Sail, sailing towards the bridges for a closer look,
I was told it is not possible to go far past the road bridge.
The canoe launch has very deep “oozy ”mud and footwear could be lost in it.
I have Kokatat Nomad boots which go up to below the knee and
I needed them although a lot of mud was brought into the Klepper.

Pacific Action Sail and Spring Creek Outriggers
Photo above: Pacific Action 2.2 sm Sail and Spring Creek Outriggers
(they made John special long arms)

Pacific Action Sail Mounting Control

Photo above: Pacific Action 2.2 sm Sail mounting control.
John indicated he "...will try to perfect the mount where the
PA Sail is to one side, I have tried it and it does work."

Lateen Sail on John's Aerius II 520

Photo above: John's Aerius II 520 with a “Lateen Sail”
for which he put a line to the bow to hold it.

John's Klepper Aerius II Classic 520

Photo above: Klepper Freewind sailing in
Manitouwadge with Spring Creek Outriggers

John Klepper Freewind Sail and Homemade Extension

Photo above: Freewind sailing in Manitouwadge

Sailing with Loons

Photo above: Notice the loons on the right-hand side,
John calls this Klepper Jib "sailing with loons"

John's Classic II 520 on Manitouwadge Main Lake

Photo above: On Manitouwadge Main Lake -
doesn't that make you want to get out there and paddle?

John A. on White Lake ON

Photo above: Solar panel on Manitouwadge White Lake. John explains "I use the fold up solar cells from Canadian Tire. These cells put out a nominal 12V so I expect the range is more like 8 to 14V if under cloudy conditions or bright sunshine. The Garmin GPS 76 (no longer in production) and the Garmin GPSMAP 76CSx both can go up to 36 volts external power so I figured that if the unit can be plugged into a cigarette lighter in a car it would be ok to plug it into a small 12volt battery which is what I did first, then I thought about eliminating the battery and the solar cell idea surfaced, I had no idea if it would work, but it did. Between the solar cell and the GPS I use a cable obtained from GARMIN that allows the GPS to be plugged into the cig socket in a car. The GARMIN 76 is fine even on cloudy days but the GARMIN MAP 76CSx although the voltage required is the same the power is not enough." John's solution is the perfect example of an explorer enjoying his summer on the water in a Klepper...

Photo above: My favourite photo in John's album... Sunset on Lake Huron.
John mounts the British Flag and other flags on his sail mast.

Photo above: John with his boat and Georgian Bay in the Background.

Photo above: Sailing on Grand River, Cambridge

Photo above: A closer view of the console and his homemade spraycover.