Lightweight Canoes

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Wabajack

Joined
Jan 16, 2007
Messages
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Hey all,

I was hoping someone around here might know of a good one person canoe that weighs in at around 20 lbs? It will also need to hold around 250 lbs (me and my gear). :)

I have been looking around the 'interweb' and haven't had any luck, there are just to many out there to sift through.

Cheers,
~ Wabajack
 
I experimented with about all the lightweight canoes like the kevlar Wenonahs and such. I found that for one person and the lightest weight boat that still had good carrying cappacity was the Phonix Poke boat in kevlar. Now they have one in carbon fiber that is about 17 pounds.

Check out the poke boats. not cheap, but unique and effectiive at the nitch they fill.
 
In most cases when you remove weight from a boat you remove durability. You can get down in the 35lb class however and still have a damn nice boat. A lightweight boat also comes at a price. I do like the Yellowstone from Bell canoe in Black Gold.
14'
37lbs.
24"@the rail
24"@the 3"waterline
Abit of rocker fore and aft
Dry dry dry
 
Wabajack said:
Hey all,

I was hoping someone around here might know of a good one person canoe that weighs in at around 20 lbs? It will also need to hold around 250 lbs (me and my gear). :)

I have been looking around the 'interweb' and haven't had any luck, there are just to many out there to sift through.

Cheers,
~ Wabajack
Click to expand...

Need more info. Specifically, what type of water are you planning on paddling most? Lakes, rivers, streams, moving water? Try this site. Lots of good people there to help ya. www.paddling.net
 
I paddle a 16' WeNoNah prospecter in royalex, I also have a 12 foot perception kayak. Depending on what you want to do, look at last post, you might want to consider a kayak. Chris
 
Thanks for the help everyone, it has been a great help. :)

I intend to use the canoe mostly for small lakes and calmer rivers in the backcountry.

I have also found:

http://hemlockcanoe.com/

They have a few interesting models, ecspecially the xl nessmuk.
 
The Pokeboats in Kevlar are small kayaks-12'--14' that have really large cockpit openings. Like a semi-covered canoe. Expensive though. Anything in that weight range is going to be. Some of the small roto molded poly recreational boats are down in the 30 lb range and very affordable. Another thought for a small extended trip boat is a small-13'-14'-tandem kayak that converts to a single. I used one for a week in the Daks and could pack a lot into it, front and back.
 
My parents have a cedar strip canoe that they lucked into buying from a fisherman (from what I remember he tipped the canoe and almost drowned because he couldn't swim, he wanted to get something less tippy). Anyways said fisherman built the canoe from plans in his basement. Last week I saw this book http://www.amazon.com/Canoecraft-Il...5/ref=pd_sim_b_shvl_img_7/103-3748066-5603806 and I swear one of the canoes on the cover is almost exactly the one my parents have.

It is the lightest I have ever used (but then I've never used a Kevlar or Carbon Fiber canoe) and it handles beautifully. It is better for 2 people than for 1, but it is still light enough that I can lift it with one hand (balance though is harder). I kind of wonder what a one person version would be like (I'm more of a Kayak fan).
 
Thanks all,

Alright, so far I’m currently deciding (debating would seem more appropriate :D) between these three boat company offerings:

Hemlock Canoes - http://hemlockcanoe.com/
- 11'10" Nessmuk xl - 25 lbs

Hornbeck Boats - http://www.hornbeckboats.com/index.htm
- 10'5" Adirondak Classic - 16 lbs

Placid Boats - http://placidboats.com/index1.html
- 12' Spitfire - 23 lbs

So what would you choose out of these three for trips that would include multiple night stays in the backcountry? Other suggestions would also be appreciated. :)
 
Do you paddle now? If so what?

I have never had much luck with canoes under 14', admittedly, it very well could be me and not the boat. :p Chris
 
runningboar said:
Do you paddle now? If so what?
Click to expand...

Embarrassingly, a lot less then I would like to :o. I have had a little experience with tandem canoes and am fairly capable with a kayak (nothing to fancy I should mention). I go kayaking at least once a year for a few days and whenever the opportunity comes up to go canoeing (maybe 2 times during the season, if that) on mainly day trips. The reason for the limited exposure to such activities really ensues due to the lack of owning my own watercraft, and the dilemma of there being very little in the means of accessible canoe locations in my locality. So the solo canoe I am picking up will be my "indoctrination",so to speak, into more dedicated canoeing. :)
 
Look at a Bell before you decide. Better yet, find a local demo-day and take several for a test paddle. You might even fall in like with a Bell MeWolf designed or built. ;)

Codger
 
Wabajack said:
Thanks all,

Alright, so far I’m currently deciding (debating would seem more appropriate :D) between these three boat company offerings:

Hemlock Canoes - http://hemlockcanoe.com/
- 11'10" Nessmuk xl - 25 lbs

Hornbeck Boats - http://www.hornbeckboats.com/index.htm
- 10'5" Adirondak Classic - 16 lbs
Click to expand...

None of these boats will fit your criteria. They are too small! At 250 plus gear you will be VERY unhappy. Look for a boat in the 14 foot range + or-

Placid Boats - http://placidboats.com/index1.html
- 12' Spitfire - 23 lbs
Click to expand...
I worked with this guy and it states that HE designed the trim at Bell, he did not, I did. I wouldn't work with this guy for a million bucks. All of his designs are probably ok, but..... ya it's personal. :mad:

It seems you are willing to spend good money on a boat. Paddle as many as you can, THEN decide. I don't buy a car til I test drive it.JMO
 
The best thing to do which has been said is to try a bunch out.

If you go to the different manufactures web sights and look at the dealer listings in your area you may be surprised, I found a guy with in 20 miles of me on a river with all the models I was thinking of and got to test them all before I placed my order.
You also may find a little more weight won't bother you and could end up saving your self a bunch of money.

One more thing, the buyers guide on paddling.nets web site is awesome, if you haven't used it check it out.

Good luck
Helle
 
I had the same bug and bought a Dagger Tupelo. I am 6'-1" and 185#. I dubbed the canoe "green submarine" after my first excursion. Less than ten feet long, very little initial stability and no secondary stability. Freeboard was not acceptable with me and ten pounds of gear. I have a 14 footer that is comfortable. I'd rather have a 17 footer for the loads I take camping up to two weeks solo. And for the stability. Sure, at 17', they can drive like a UPS truck. But once you really learn a boat, you can make it do things you wouldn't have thought possible.

Ultralight pack canoes are a great concept. Nessmuk was an ultralite guy and did not reccomend them for us normal sized guys.

Codger
 
I paddled a 14 footer by myself on pretty quiet river water and was fairly shocked just how easy it was to tip it with just me in it. Yes, the gear would help stabilize it somewhat. Canoes are just pretty darn unforgiving solo. I ended up buying a sit on top kayak that I like for paddling around solo. It has enough room for a good sized pack for camping purposes. I don't think I'd enjoy it much in cold weather though as you do get a little wet.
 
22-rimfire said:
I paddled a 14 footer by myself on pretty quiet river water and was fairly shocked just how easy it was to tip it with just me in it. Yes, the gear would help stabilize it somewhat. Canoes are just pretty darn unforgiving solo. I ended up buying a sit on top kayak that I like for paddling around solo. It has enough room for a good sized pack for camping purposes. I don't think I'd enjoy it much in cold weather though as you do get a little wet.
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"Canoes are just pretty darn unforgiving solo".

Can't agree with that at all, although I could see someone feeling that way if they're new to paddling. Get comfortable in a canoe & you'll find them to be very forgiving. A good freestyler will amaze you at what can be done solo without tipping it over.
 
Codger_64 said:
Look at a Bell before you decide. Better yet, find a local demo-day and take several for a test paddle. You might even fall in like with a Bell MeWolf designed or built. ;)

Codger
Click to expand...

As suggested here, try to find a demo day & paddle as many boats as you can. That's the best advice you're gonna get. It's good to get others opinions, but paddling different boats is the best way to decide on the right boat for you. A person's skill level is always going to come into play when evaluating a boat, so that's also something you have to consider when getting opinions. You may hate a boat that someone else loves, simply because your skill levels may be very different. One reason why paddling them yourself is important. There are alot of nice boats out there that will meet your needs, some better than others. Wenonah, Bell, Hemlock, Souris River, Mohawk & others are just some of them. Ask questions & talk to people who paddle, (look for clubs in your area) but bottom line try as many as you can & see what you like. For what your looking to do, I'd recommend something in the 14-15' range. The boats you mentioned might not be your best choice. I'm a little biased towards Hemlock Canoes, as I'm pretty close to them. The owner, Dave Curtis makes beautiful boats & he's a great guy to deal with. He's very down to earth & will definitely steer you in the right direction for what you want to do. Good luck.
 
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