How To Make Canoe Yoke Pads?

Portage pads are a useful tool for protecting your kayak or canoe while carrying it over your shoulder. They can be made from closed-cell foam or an old yoga mat, and can be secured in place with duct tape or bungee cords. Rugged Outdoors Guide offers a tutorial on how to make custom-fitted curved, padded yoke pads for a fraction of the retail cost.

One user, who has a heavy but manageable canoe, found the discomfort from the yoke uncomfortable. They attempted to create a contoured yoke and attach the system using angled aluminum attachment clamps. The attachment system requires some modification to a solo canoe’s wooden gunwale, but after that, it should be easy.

A simple, durable yoke that floats is recommended, fitting most solo canoes up to 28″ beams. Angled aluminum attachment clamps are included, and block pads are also available. It is important not to overtighten the yoke on the canoe, as it may cause discomfort. To secure the pads, drill holes for each piece and use wing nuts on the bottom with a washer. Fold the ends over the block and staple tight, then fold in the long sides and staple tight.

After tinkering with foam layers, the user settled on 5 pieces per pad, which worked out to about 2 14 pieces of padding. A 2 foot section of yoga mat wrapped around the yoke works well, but a level six pad is suggested. Wider webbing is more comfortable, and heavyweight poly webbing has no significant sag or stretch when wet.