Canoe questions....

j williams

j williams

Joined
Nov 14, 2005
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Ok, I have been around and in a canoe long enough that I know I want my own. Those leaky beat up rentals just annoy me, plus I want to keep my gear drier!

Questions, as far as a canoe goes, Ive looked at the solo canoes, and the tandems. I dont want to be limited to only one person, however, alot of time will be spent solo as well as with company. Can I accomplish solo in a 2 person canoe, or do I really need to get a solo one? I mean, is the weight gonna be too off in a tandem with just one person, to make it easily manuverable, and stable?

How about 2 person Kayaks? Any good for solo as well?

Thanks guys!
 
I was in your boat (pun intended) exactly a few years ago adn did some research. Wenonah has two canoes that are designed for solo and tandem use. One is the 17' Jensen which they say is a canoe made for tandem, but does well solo. It's low to the water and relatively narrow and speedy with a pair of experienced paddlers. They also offer a model called the Solo Plus. It's a little over 16' and comes with three seats standard. It's their canoe for the solo paddler who wants to paddle with a partner on occasion. The gunnels are narrow and curved in at the middle so when you paddle solo you aren't leaning over so much.

I got one made of Royalex which is pretty well indestructable, cheaper than their kevlar models and is a bit heavier (over 50 lbs.). I really love it. If I had the cash I'd get one of the lighter ones, but I didn't at the time and I'm still happy. It's manuverable and pretty quick and I can portage it just fine. It's not super stable like a big old pond canoe, but that's not what it's designed for. There's a tradeoff, but that said, I've never dumped it even with an inexperienced paddler with me.

I got it because I wanted my wife to accompany me on occasion and to take on trips, but still be a good choice for my solo outings. Granted that you can't load it up like some big touring canoes but I travel light anyway so I haven't had trouble there. A tandem kayak looked too heavy, too expensive and not very manageable going solo. I didn't try one, but I had heard that they aren't all that great for that application.

Hope that helps.
 
I have a 14 foot Old Town Guide. Bought it at Bass Pro. To me plastic is better than aluminum for shallow Missouri rivers. They go over gravel bars better and are enormously quieter.Aluminum sticks in gravel. Also a flat botom works better in the gravel bars. A keel hangs up.

I use mine solo 90 percent of the time. I just sit in the opposite seat, which is more toward the middle and put all extra weight in the front. I also have a couple of old stadium seats. I just bungee cord them to the canoe seats. Look for them at the thrift stores.

14 foot will not hold a lot of gear. I have never took mine on a overnight trip so have never needed a lot of gear.

I do a lot of wading with the canoe tied to me. Plastic bounces around easy and quietly .For Missouri, I would not consider aluminum.
 
I've got a solo plus too PB, I was just about to post it when I looked up on the thread. I love mine. Its sporty like a porsche with one person. A SWEET canoe. I've got the kevlar ultra light version.
 
Jake, I work pretty fine on a lake in a two person, but on a river I need a solo. Kayaks are a no go for me until I get summo practice in them so I can't comment on those. Turns out if you have a longer upper torso and carry most of your weight up top with wide shoulders, a kayak is way harder than for other body types. I want to get a canoe too, but the wife says no until I get a new truck. She doesn't want to look all crazy with a big ass canoe strapped to the top of her Civic. ...Women.
 
On a side note, if anyone is in the Cincinnati area or near enough to drive to it, Morgan's Canoe sells off all of their rentals pretty much every year and their used stuff is great. I was really surprised at the condition they were in and they were only a bill or two each.
 
Joezilla said:
I've got a solo plus too PB, I was just about to post it when I looked up on the thread. I love mine. Its sporty like a porsche with one person. A SWEET canoe. I've got the kevlar ultra light version.
Click to expand...

Wow! That's a sweet canoe. Must make portaging almost a pleasure.;)
 
My canoe is a pos compared to these others. I can transport the 14 footer in a pickup bed though. I have never been in a premium canoe so I cant compare, although Im sure there is no comparisons . I mostly fish shallow rivers so the Old Town Guide is a good choice for me.
 
That's like water ballet!

I had seen pics of a guy paddling like that but forgot all about it. When spring comes, I'm gonna try it. Thanks for posting that.

I wonder how wet I'll be?
 
J-Williams:

For the rivers in Missouri you will be fine with a 2 man canoe. As previously mentioned, all you need to do is sit in the front seat of the canoe facing backwards (I hope that makes sense). You will be more centered that way and will have plenty of control over the boat. I take mine out all the time like this on everything from the Current River to the Meramac.
 
Man, that solo plus is sweet, but waay more then I can spend on my first canoe.

Dipbait, gotta link to your canoe by chance?

Jlouis, thanks buddy, What kind do you paddle? Ive paddles on both the current and meramac, as well as the Niangua. All nice rivers, I like the meramac alot.
 
Dylside said:
Jake, I work pretty fine on a lake in a two person, but on a river I need a solo. Kayaks are a no go for me until I get summo practice in them so I can't comment on those. Turns out if you have a longer upper torso and carry most of your weight up top with wide shoulders, a kayak is way harder than for other body types. I want to get a canoe too, but the wife says no until I get a new truck. She doesn't want to look all crazy with a big ass canoe strapped to the top of her Civic. ...Women.
Click to expand...

Dylan we must be built alot alike, b/c I can have a helluva time in a kayak. I like canoes better.
 
I just noticed that the seats on this one is different than mine. This might be difficult to use backwards. I dont like those seats at all.

Edited: If the back rest are removeable or better yet ,reversible then there should be no problem.
 
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Craigslist is full of used canoes for a good price. shop wisely and you may score a wicked deal.
 
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