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Frequently Asked Questions about Canoes
General Questions
Bushranger Canoe Questions
Swagman Canoe Questions
Motor Bracket Questions
Outrigger Kit Questions
General Questions
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Can I get replacement parts for my Australis canoe?
Unlike some other brands, replacement parts for the Australis Bushranger and Swagman canoes are readily available.
Because we make all our products at our factory in Wollongong, and use universal parts across our range,
we are able to supply replacement parts quickly.
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Australis Canoes Pty Ltd is aware of some other
brands of canoes for which replacement parts are not
available, meaning that if a part breaks it may make the
canoe unsafe to use, or unusable altogether. We recommend
that you find out whether replacement parts are available
before making your purchasing decision, if you think that this
may be important to you.
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Can I fit soft backrests to my Australis canoe?
Yes.
We currently fit the soft backrests to our Swagman and Bushranger canoes in our Deluxe fishing package.
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If you already have a canoe and would like to fit soft backrest to it, a kit is able to be purchased as an after-market package that you can fit to your canoe.
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Can I take my canoe out on the ocean?
Although we know that people have done this, Australis Canoes strongly
recommends that you do not take a canoe onto the ocean.
The hull shape of a canoe is not designed to handle the waves
and swell of the ocean, and may tip over.
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When paddling on the ocean, it is recommended that you
stick to either sit-on-top kayaks or a specialist sea kayak,
both of which are designed to be paddled in waves and swell.
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How do I carry a canoe on my car?
The easiest and most secure way to carry you canoe on your
car is to put it up straight onto standard roof racks,
upside-down.
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Do I need cradles on my roof racks for a canoe?
No.
Securing your canoe up-side down on the flat of the
gunwhales is more secure than tying a canoe into
cradles.
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Bushranger Canoe Questions
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Is the 3 seat Bushranger bigger than the 2 seat Bushranger?
No.
The exact same hull is used to make the 2 seat and the
3 seat Bushranger canoes.
The canoes only differ in that the 3 seat Bushranger has
an extra seat and backrest fitted into the middle cockpit of the canoe.
The extra seat and backrest accounts for the slightly heavier
weight of the 3 seat canoe.
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Can I fit a middle seat to my Bushranger 2 and convert it
to a Bushranger 3?
Yes.
A middle seat and backrest kit is available to purchase
as an after-market accessory to allow you to convert your
Bushranger canoe from a 2 seater to a 3 seater.
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If I have a 3 seat Bushranger canoe, can I take the middle
seat out and put it back in?
Not really.
The middle seat is a really snug fit, requiring a crowbar
to get it in, making it quite difficult to take the seat
out and put it back in on a regular basis.
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Swagman Canoe Questions
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Is the Swagman canoe available as a 2 seater?
No.
The Swagman is only available as a 3 seater, as the middle
seat provides support to the structure of the canoe.
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Motor Bracket Questions
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What is the maximum size motor that I can put on my Australis Bushranger or Swagman canoe?
Australis Canoes recommends that a motor size of 2.5Hp
petrol or 28-36 pound electric NOT BE EXCEEDED when
using a motor on either the Bushranger or Swagman canoes.
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What if I have a bigger size motor? Can I still use it?
Exceeding the recommended motor sizes will not make
the canoe travel any faster and may actually cause it to
become unsafe.
Our canoes have a maximum "hull speed" that can
easily be achieved with motors of the recommended size.
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Do I need to put an outrigger kit on if I have a motor bracket on my canoe?
Although not compulsory, we do strongly recommend that you attach an outrigger kit when using a motor on your canoe, to ensure maximum stability.
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Can I fit an Australis motor bracket to my non-Australis canoe?
Usually not.
Our motor brackets are make up to fit perfectly onto the profile of our Bushranger and Swagman canoes, so that you motor will be securely attached.
As most other canoes will not have the exact same profile, the motor bracket will not fit as securely as it should, and it may come off resulting in you losing your motor.
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What materials are our motor brackets made of?
Aluminium square bar, with marine ply wood and 316 marine-grade stainless steel screws.
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Outrigger Kit Questions
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I don't have an Australis canoe, but can I still fit an Australis outrigger kit to my non-Australis canoe?
Maybe.
Whilst our outrigger kits have been made to use with
the Bushranger and Swagman canoes, the kit does come with
universal fittings and you may find that the outrigger kits will
either bolt straight onto your canoe, or may do so with
a small amount of modification.
The poles that the outrigger floats attach to, will
straddle across the middle of most canoes. It is the
brackets that may need to be modifide to be compatible
with your canoe.
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What comes in the outrigger kit?
You can purchase Australis outrigger kits as a single kit or a double kit. Alternatively, you can also purchase the floats only.
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Float only
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Single Outrigger Kit - consisting of:
- 1 x float with 2 wing nuts to attach the float
to the 2 poles
- 2 x 2m (40mm) anodised aluminium poles
- 4 x attaching clamps that affix the poles to the canoe.
Each clamp consists of a:
- Large U-bolt that holds the poles down onto the canoe.
- Backing plate that secures the U-bolt down against the canoe.
- Wingnuts that tighten the backing plate to the U-bolt.
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Double Outrigger Kit - consisting of:
- 2 x floats with 2 wing nuts (per float) to
attach the floats to the 2 poles
- 2 x 3m (40mm) anodised aluminium poles
- 4 x attaching clamps that affix the poles to the canoe.
Each clamp consists of a:
- Large U-bolt that holds the poles down onto the canoe.
- Backing plate that secures the U-bolt down against the canoe.
- Wingnuts that tighten the backing plate to the U-bolt.
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What materials are our outrigger kits made of?
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Float - the same polyethylene as our canoes.
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Poles - 40mm aluminium poles that are anodised to protect
the aluminium and stop your hands turning black when
you handle them.
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U-Bolt - (material)
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Wingnuts - (material)
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Backing plate - aluminium
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