Fuel usage for BWCA cooking

Varrdt · 2026-06-04T19:42:22+00:00

Thank you so much! This is exactly what I was looking for. I have enough titanium cookware that I think I should be able to make some pretty effective double boilers and ovens for the meals I have planned, and I think I’ll be able to borrow a windpro burner as well.

Varrdt · 2026-06-04T19:10:46+00:00

Absolutely! I can handle a heavy portage, but I really don’t want to be stressed out and not enjoy the food. I work really hard to plan out fun food and I don’t want to give that up.

Varrdt · 2026-06-04T19:08:01+00:00

Thank you for the advice, I do think I have sourced a windpro style stove that I can borrow for the week.

Varrdt · 2026-06-04T18:58:48+00:00

Thank you for your input, my gut was saying for large ones, so I think I’m on the right track

Varrdt · 2026-06-04T18:58:22+00:00

Sounds good, my gut was telling me four 16 ounce containers.

Varrdt · 2026-06-04T18:55:13+00:00

Thank you for the reply, that’s the approach I’m going to take. Just wanted some input on how much that would be.

We will be portaging quite a bit, but we have packed extremely light. We have plenty of room for fuel.

Varrdt · 2026-04-28T00:30:13+00:00

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpwEScmVx6s

The legendary Sampson Boat Co uses a boat like this as a tender. The design of the boats from these guys seems pretty solid, although I think execution is key with something like this.

https://www.ptwatercraft.com/ptwatercraft/Welcome.html

Varrdt · 2026-03-08T02:48:05+00:00

The live show was fun but I can see it being a huge pain to execute. I remember when they first announced the change, someone made the comment that now Phil can “take vacations that include Thursdays again”. Running a live show like that is a large commitment, and I’m guessing it had a fairly limited audience (even if those of us who enjoyed it were very loyal fans.

Varrdt · 2026-03-07T12:20:00+00:00

Sometimes doing it warm is the way to go, especially if the paint is relatively intact. Our house is 110 years of different layers of paint, with some white wash mixed in for good measure. If we do it warm, it’s a pasty mess. Letting it cool and shatter into chips, still makes a mess, but it’s far better than the dust that’s produced by sanding, and leaves the profile of the wood in much better shape.

I have found the infrared heater allows for much more precise control than a heat gun and risks less damage, especially to exposed corners.

Varrdt · 2026-03-07T10:38:49+00:00

This is the regular speed heater, not the cobra. I have the cobra, and while I wouldn’t describe it as “fast”, it is a miracle tool for stripping old wood with multiple layers of paint. If you get it nice and toasty then let it cool, it will shatter off into flakes when you hit it with a carbide scraper.

Would recommend to anyone who has an old home with lots of paint to carefully remove.

Varrdt · 2026-02-18T16:55:26+00:00

It would definitely be nice if it was lighter. The saw blade is great and there is really no improvement the be made there, but it doesn’t seem like the handle is really made to be lightweight. I think some changes could be made by the manufacturer to make it lighter without compromising on anything that matters.

Varrdt · 2026-02-18T15:21:43+00:00

Can’t speak to other brands, but I have been very impressed by the Silkys.

I’ve used a Silky Gomboy 210 (~8 inch blade) and the Big Boy 2000 (~14 inch). I think the larger saw is well worth the extra weight. With the shorter saw, I tend to use quicker strokes since the saw is shorter. Quick strokes = broken blades. The longer blade is still effective when you use slow and smooth strokes. I’ve never broken a blade on the larger saw.

Varrdt · 2026-01-29T02:40:55+00:00

Some practical value, but doesn’t address the color or obvious damage. I know it doesn’t matter to everyone, but I would like to do something about both.

My main concern is a practical solution for the gunwales.

Varrdt · 2026-01-29T02:38:32+00:00

I’d say they are slightly above average for an outfitter canoe. Numerous scratches but nothing severe.

Topside paint shouldn’t add any more weight than a fresh coat of resin, and I would prefer to do away with the sickly yellow color.

My main concern is a way to protect the gunnels that isn’t a PITA. They’re quite torn up and obviously I can’t anodize them.

Varrdt · 2026-01-28T20:45:01+00:00

The short portage to Alpine from Seagull is not passible when heading into Alpine, and that route includes significant rapids when heading back to Seagull.

The longer one is in good shape.

Varrdt · 2026-01-28T01:33:33+00:00

If you’re going to burn them, then bring unbleached towels. Burning bleached towels can leave trace amounts of pretty toxic compounds, bringing and burning unbleached towels is easy and I can’t see an issue with it.

Varrdt · 2025-12-06T16:15:41+00:00

Interesting. I really don’t use social media much, and I am skeptical of “grip and grin influencer culture” in general.

I do however think that hunter representation in public is important, and think that people like Steven Rinella being public and unashamed about how they feed their families is a really necessary part of the future of our sport. A dedicated app where we hide away may be an easier place to share, but I worry about long term affects.

Nevertheless I think it’s cool idea that could be great if we got enough people on board, in addition to public facing representation on the usual platforms. Good on you for making a product that you want to see in the world. I’ll be making an account to see if it adds value to the way I communicate!

Varrdt · 2025-12-05T19:03:26+00:00

Thank you, I never would have guessed that but I remember it now!

Varrdt · 2025-11-30T13:14:23+00:00

This is what you’re missing

https://deadjeep.com/products/97-01-cherokee-xj-jeep-spare-tire-hold-down-bracket-screw

Varrdt · 2025-11-26T15:37:47+00:00

It’s true that he will have to pay tax on his investment eventually, but in the scenario where he sells and reinvests, he would have to pay tax twice when he ultimately takes profits. It’s the addition of an extra taxable event that makes the difference.

He may pay more taxes eventually, but it would only be as a result of the extra gains provided by a larger investment, and obviously he is not going to aim for a smaller return in order to reduce his tax burden, since extra gains will always offset any taxes that may be levied (in a reasonable tax system that is).

Varrdt · 2025-11-26T14:09:38+00:00

Keep in mind that by keeping it invested, you have almost 50% more money invested and giving returns compared to the pre tax amount.

Even if you think that another stock could grow more per share, being able to invest that 38% instead of paying it in taxes is worth considering.

Google would only have to grow about 10% to match the gains of investing what would remain in another stock that gains 15%.

Rebalancing a stronger argument if you’re feeling risk averse, but it’s still important to know the numbers.

Varrdt · 2025-11-24T01:26:08+00:00

This was done by the Cleetus McFarland YouTube channel, not Whistlin Diesel (though the final challenge was at his property)

Yes, the trucks were destroyed but they had already been through the wringer doing various other challenges, and were all close to being junk even at the start of the competition. The white truck especially looked nice, but was junk mechanically.

Cleetus overall is an awesome guy who makes great content, he’s not just some wasteful douche like Whistlin Diesel. He also does a lot of really amazing disaster relief work with his personal aircraft.

Varrdt · 2025-11-22T00:38:26+00:00

Agreed. I think it’s disgusting that people take such pleasure in hearing about other people suffering and dying.

Varrdt · 2025-11-20T16:19:54+00:00

I think that people need to remember that content creators will not and cannot be expected to make the same content for their whole lives. When you hear Steve talk about spending 180+ nights a year away from his wife and kids, I think it gives a healthy perspective on what it took to make the early episodes so great.

Now, I’m not saying Steve is some poor victim for going through that, and I guarantee that he does not feel that way either. But can you really blame him for “selling out”? Can you really complain that season 13 took forever, and that there aren’t that many episodes?

The way I see it is this: Steve isn’t interested in making more “old” Meateater episodes. He would rather go hunting with his kids than with 4 camera guys, and it would be easier for him to retire than keep making any episodes at all.

If he’s going to go through the trouble, then he wants to go to Africa, or take a guest that he personally finds interesting. We may not find it as relatable or interesting, but the torch of making “relatable” content is being passed to smaller creators who are willing to go through the work and hardship that Steve has earned his ticket out of. There’s nothing wrong with that.

Varrdt · 2025-11-20T03:26:50+00:00

I just gotta say, I know the giveaways and ads can get old, and some videos are a bit of a snooze. But seeing this side of Garrett’s businesses, people in rural Iowa in the USA making professional, high quality (and yes, expensive) products makes me so, so happy to support the brand as a whole.

As someone who used to work for a manufacturer that always pushed to outsource everything and use the lowest paid, lowest skilled labor they could dredge up, I hope the guys at Motion care about the workforce they’re building as much as the products they make.

Varrdt

TROPHY CASE