Not motor oil Chris,but I used 32 or 46 hydraulic oil depending on outdoor temps.No color to it so it's a bit hard to know when you run out..
Any oil is better than no oil,but the life of your chain may not last as long or stay as sharp as with using "bar oil".
Be careful on Cooks!,it can blow up quick on canoe's. I'd think you would want more experiance out there. You can get pretty far from shore. Lot's of open water.
I always heard the amount of snow rec'd through the winter on the north end of Superior,dictated water levels through out the great lakes?.This year/past winter,they have rec'd more than in recent years. The trickle down effect will take almost to the summer I've heard.