How many canoeists do we have here?

[August West]

Couldn't agree more, I thought kayaks would be tons of fun till I actually bought one and had to get in and out of it a couple of times, dyed in the wool canoe man from then on. Chris

 

[cut it out]

old town sportsman 14 ft, was out duck hunting in mine with a friend yesterday. got 5 geese and 5 drake mallards by 2 pm. was a blast!!!!!! we found real fresh bear and her cubs tracks on the creak bank, jumped a bunch of deer too.... got a canoe full of waterfowl and seen a buch of really secluded woods. love canoes!!!!!

 

[Codger_64]

Here is a Dagger Tupelo like the one I have for sale. Just too short and shallow for an adult. The grandkids love it though.

Length: 10' 6", center width: 27", shape: symmetrical, weight: 29 lb., maximum capacity: 180 lb. (150 would be my suggestion)

 

[Mack]

In my personal opinion the aluminums are the only way to go. They are far tougher than I need. My first canoe was some kind of plastic/fiberglass mix and would chip really bad if it scraped. This one makes a little noise across the rocks but is danged near bullet proof.

 

[August West]

I have a 16 ft prospector, seems to be my perfect boat, it's nimble, can carry a lot of weight and has great secondary stability. When I bought it the salesman tried to talk me out of it and tried to sell me something with less rocker and more stability but I am really glad I stuck to my guns and bought the prospector, seems to be my perfect boat. Chris

 

[P. McKinley]

No, I'm not drunk, although a Massachusetts State Policeman once thought so.

I've been paddling all my life. I practice and teach a style of paddling known as Classic Canadian Solo, otherwise known as Omering - named after Omer Stringer, the founder of this style. The boat is a West Hollow Boat Company (Pat Smith) 16' 10" cedar canvas that I completely rebuilt 8 years ago. This photo was taken in Kejimkujik N.P. in southern Nova Scotia.

 

[August West]

I play with canadian style paddling as well, works great in my wenonah and is perfectly comfortable when you get used to it.

 

[Codger_64]

My OT Guide 160 is really wider and heavier than I wanted, but it was a good deal locally on Craigslist. And it was only lightly used. I used it more this past summer and fall than it had been used in two years by the original owner.

 

[Arson]

I have a Native Watercraft 14.5 Tandem. I love it.

[video=youtube;ivzM3Vky9EQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivzM3Vky9EQ[/video]

 

[knife doctor]

Just got a Wenonah Spirit-2 for Christmas for the wife and I. Lots of paddling here (Dismal Swamp, Roanoke River Basin) we can't wait!

 

[mewolf1]

Ive got a Wee Lassie at 10' and 4" freeboard. A bit too tender for big water , but a great "unwinder".
Rigged it tandem when the boys were small; goin back to solo this summer. My favorite boat is a Bell Flashfire @13'.


Kent

 

[Foilist]

I'm a canoe noob. Last spring we moved to a new home that has a small lake/big pond behind it. I'd like to get a cheap, used canoe for paddling around back there that can carry two. Any suggestions? What could I expect to pay for one that is useable but nothing special?

 

[Codger_64]

You should be able to pick up a well-used canoe for $400 +/-. New ones start at $600+ and go to several thousand. Check you local Craigslist.

COLEMAN OUTFITTER 15' CANOE - $50 (CANTON/NEW HARTFORD)
old town canoe - $250 (somers)
Canoe - Old Town Guide 147 - $425 (Hatfield)

 

[Cutshaw]

Yep... I guess the log-on gave it away?

I've still got a Dagger Genesis. It's pictured below next to the $100 Mad River I found for a BFC friend. We met up later and transferred at the Knob Creek MGS.

Two great paddles came in that price with the Mad River.

Most of my time has been spent in whitewater and sea kayaks though - I still prefer a double paddle. The 17' Dagger Apostle gets out more often. This was from a trip to... well... the Apostle Islands.

 

[Foilist]

You should be able to pick up a well-used canoe for $400 +/-. New ones start at $600+ and go to several thousand. Check you local Craigslist.

COLEMAN OUTFITTER 15' CANOE - $50 (CANTON/NEW HARTFORD)
old town canoe - $250 (somers)
Canoe - Old Town Guide 147 - $425 (Hatfield)

Wow! I've never actually used Craig's List. I guess it's time to start.

 

[Codger_64]

I found my latest canoe there and got a good deal. You do get to coon finger and chicken eye the canoe before you lay down money and drive off with it, better than eBay in that regard. You can also be assured of getting the certificate of origin or proper bill of sale which many states require.

I'll also mention that, regardless of the fact that they were inexpensive when new and ignored by canoe snobs and magazines, the Coleman Marine canoes are the schnitz. I put one through many years of torture and it held up quite well. No, they aren't as rigid as most composits, and aren't as maneuverable as most later designs, but they are built like tanks. The "Ram-X" crosslinked polyethelyne hull is floppy until the aluminum keelson, gunnels and internal supports are added. They still drive like a UPS truck, but are nearly idiot-proof. And they have wide beams for stability and a keel for tracking.

 

[upnorth]

Owned an aluminum years ago when I used to knock down ducks and geese.

 

[OwenM]

A canoe trip with friends 2-3 years ago prompted me to rent several sit-on-top kayaks, and then buy one. Wanted something easy to use solo.
Loved canoeing when I was a kid, but haven't done much of it in the last 25 years.
Only got it out a few times this year, though. I'd usually rather be hiking or rock climbing, but there's a couple of overnight floats I'd like to do in 2012.
So far all I've done is day trips on a couple of creeks and rivers, and used it for exercise and "fishing"(that's what I call screwing around and occasionally casting a line with no intention of catching anything) on local lakes.

It's a Native Watercraft Manta Ray 11. Kind of wish I'd bought the 12, which has more features and storage, but the 11 is very convenient. I can throw it in the back of my truck without needing a rack or anything, and it doesn't hang out very far past the tailgate. Not really lightweight, but enough that I can carry it overhead for a few hundred yards without any problem. I have a little kayak cart for when it has to be pulled farther, or up hills from a takeout.

 

[erik markman]

I have a Gatz Yoho 3 since 2 years. I had a Gatz 525 Mohawk before that but the kids found it too tippy but it was a fast canoe.I will get one again later.

 

[Codger_64]

I should mention that if one plans to canoe with a large dog onboard, a little training goes a long way. Even then a bit of help is appreciated sometimes.