Anyone here paddle a BIG canoe?

[kerry]

Read the article in the most recent Canoe magazine on the Mississippi trip in the 28' canoe and it has gotten me interested in paddling one? I saw the exhibit of fur trade canoes on the portage trail on the Mattawa River 30 years ago and have had an interest in them since. Outfitter in CO used to use a 28' Voyageur canoe for his gear boat while his customers paddled C-2's. We tried to keep up with him in our OT Tripper but with only 2 paddlers, he outpaced us.
Anyone here have much experience with them and can comment on their usefulness? The outfitter trailered his to the put-in. Looked pretty heavy and I don't know if it was possible to lauch it anywhere other than a site with boat ramp. Is a boat like this just a nice fantasy but not a practical craft? Clipper Canoes makes a 22' Mariner and someone on Paddling.net gave me some feedback on paddling one. It sounds like a pretty decent boat with a fair amount of manoeverability for a big vessel.
I think it would be fun to paddle one with a large group of friends on some of the rivers on which they were used to open up the continent like the Missouri, Mississippi and even the Great Lakes. Don't know how comfortable I'd be on the Great Lakes in a 22' boat. They used the 36' Montreal canoes for those waters typically I think.

 

[Scott39]

Wow, sounds like a challenge for you. I bought a 19' older Mohawk last year, but did not to get to use it yet, I do plan on paddling it by mt self quite a bit. My is only 30" wide and it is very low profile, probably the lowest I have ever seen so it shouldn't be to bad to paddle it solo. My canoe has a shape of a 19' kayak that is one reason why I bought it. As soon as I get to paddle my 19 footer, I will post up a report.

 

[kerry]

Sounds like you have a marathon racer there. I've got a very old fiberglass 18 1/2' Mohawk Jensen WWIII. It's one of my favorite boats.

 

[Ozarker]

Last year I found these larger trading/barge canoes, I think there is an article and examples on Duckworks.These had a beam of 42 to 60 inches. My thought was to sail and paddle, even had an outboard sq ender. That's what I was thinking, the Great Loop in a canoe! Small outriggers would give me a better assurance that could fold up and be stored along side. High bow covers and a canopy, that's big enough to sleep in! Break down a mountain bike and strap on wheels to go around the damns. You need a trailer you won't toss that on a rack. But the possibilities!! :coffeedrink: