Can you borrow a canoe you find on a back lake?, Can you borrow a canoe you find on a bac

Since I moved up here I have found many canoes stashed on back lakes.

Many seem to have been sitting for years and I've even pulled a few out of the water that were half flooded flipped them and put them back from the lake a few feet.

My question is can you borrow one for a few hours on the same small body of water and put it back with respect?

These are not brand new bass boats or super expensive canoes, most are beat up old monsters who's last piece of life is to exist on a small back lake.

I've seen some chained up but the other day I found one with life jackets paddles a net and I thought you know what that's a nice person. They probably think someone will borrow it anyways and they might as well be safe taking it out.

And these lakes are small so if the owners did show up they could easily call you over.

I'm just asking because do I really want to carry one in when I know there are 10 sitting in the bush I could borrow for a few hours?

Thoughts please?

Well if it was mine i wouldent mind at all as long as you left it as you found it...and if your in shouting distance whats the harm in borrowing a canoe or boat thats been sitting in the bush for years...some people leave it there just fo that reason...in newfoundland people leave a jar with pen and paper so others can write a small note with dates, names and small story about there adventures...it interisting to see how many people used that same fishing spot or cabin or trail over the years.

WOW I love that idea of the pen and jar.

I have found many stashed canoes and row boats over the years. I haven’t ever borrow one but have thought about it. If it were mine and I left it it would be a community boat for sure.

Personally I wouldn't just out of respect for someone elses equipment unless I asked them. What happens if something breaks, who do you tell even if you're honest. What if someone sees you and reports it, someone may think you're trying to steal it.
I sort of relate it to "borrowing my wife" with good intent, but at least she can beat you with the 12 inch cast iron frying pan if you get raunchy, lol.

I was delivering a package the other day and noticed this beautiful woman stashed up in the house, I figured, now why would some guy just stash a perfectly beautiful wife like that. Why not borrow her, take her out for a spin, explore the bush a little and then bring her back safe and sound.

Seriously, leave the canoe alone. If someone really wanted you to borrow it, there would be a sign that said "feel free to use the canoe, put it back the way you found it" otherwise you are just at minimum causing the guy who owns the canoe some inconvenience if you borrow it at the wrong time, at maximum it could be looked at as theft (I was going to bring the car back, honest) and some backwoods lurkers tend to frown on that. I once came across a fishing rod sitting on the shore, line in the water, nobody in sight, this is miles from anywhere during a fly-in trip, on a lake with no roads and fly-in only access. The operator told us we were the only people out in the area on any of the three lakes we could access so we have every expectation that we are alone and this rod looks old enough to have been abandoned years ago. As I am drifting past the rod a completely buck naked dude steps out of the woods from behind a tree, scared the crap out of my buddy and I, we are literally 5 feet away and never saw him. He stands there hands on his hips wearing a grin and nothing else and says (I sh*t you not), "you guys have a good long look at my rod" (pause, queue deliverance music) "betcha wonder whats on the end of it". We look at each other and he says "minners, been catching smallmouth all day, you guys should come join me for shorelunch". To which we could only reply no thanks, we ate earlier.

Traveling around the backwoods I have come across canoes, boats, a shotgun, tree stands, animal traps, and other assorted items but I would never consider just borrowing something without permission. It isn't mine, it belongs to someone, and they took the initiative to haul it out there so good for them. Would you borrow a tree stand? Or a duck blind? Not having a lock is not the same as having permission.

Well that's a pretty good explanation everyone should be able to understand.

Use it one hundred times over.
It’s left in the bush, not in your house like a wife…that’s a bit of a stretch comparing that.
If it’s yours and you don’t want people using it, take it home or chain it up.(not the wife…unless she’s into that)

Bush canoes are community canoes, unless they’re locked up, IMO.
I’ve paddled around with a frying pan in more than one bush canoe.
Also had some jacka$$ cut down a tree and steal a bush canoe that I chained up.

Same as a duck blind.... use it dont abuse it

I totally agree with Drew. Usually those canoes are on their last mission being left at a back lake. I have borrowed them and left them to be borrowed.As Ray Ray said …use it don’t abuse it. Leave it as good or better than you found it.
I found a canoe turned over on shore once that had a note saying this canoe was not abandoned but feel free to use it with respect.

I have considered borrowing a boat. Maybe leave my cell# on it in case they show up. That way the owner could summon you back and I could give him a few bux for the rental..

while hunting up north I had a wounded deer cross a river not my wounded deer. the next morning dad and I went to the landing where there were several over turned boats and canoes. We borrowed one of the canoes and paddled up the river to start the search again. We ended up getting the buck that had been wounded by a CO. He gave up on it when I started to follow it. We loaded it into canoe and paddled back to the landing. Cleaned the canoe and put paddles back in side. No harm done.

Take my wife please....lmao

I'd say use it. But only if you're prepared to replace/repair it if you damage it. Leaving an unusable canoe for the guy who busted his butt to take it in there in the first place would be bad form.

If you find it you can use it, I left her on the lake with paddles and 1 life jacket. Enjoy!

I've always wondered the same thing. Can I borrow that if I brought in paddles and life jackets?

There is a small back lake that I could get my 12' boat if I didn't like my trailer because it would take one hell of a beating on the rocks getting it in/out. However, there is a 12' boat pulled up on shore and flipped over. I've been there a few times and have never seen it moved so what's the harm?

If I left my canoe or 12' boat chained to a tree, people would understand that it's for use by those who have a key. If it's not chained up...can you use it???

My frame of mind is:
- is it right to use it?
- how would I feel if I showed up and someone was out in my boat?

I know I have thought about using someone's turned over canoe/boat but I just can't seem to do it. It's not mine.