Canoes

[jim65wagon]

We're thinking of getting a canoe. Need a good brand, quality built, stable, lightweight, big enough for me, wife and two kids. I can haul it in the bed of the truck with the bed extender, but if we go on an extended trip the bed will be full of gear so there becomes a need for a rack; again brands? quality?
So who knows more about canoes than me? Just FYI if you can name one brand more than Coleman you know more than I.

 

[upcruiser]

Jim, sounds like you want something durable and light. The lighter boats are fiberglass or kevlar, but those are both expensive and a bit fragile(will require wet entries and exits to avoid scratching them on rocks). All company's pretty much have a boat in the line made from a plastic based matierial that is a good compromise of strength and weight. Here are some company's that make some good products...

http://www.wenonah.com/
http://www.madrivercanoe.com/
http://www.swiftcanoe.com/canoes/index.htm
http://www.oldtowncanoe.com/
Canoes definately aren't cheap, but its best to pay a bit more for a good one as it will last you your whole life if taken care of.

I love paddling myself and just picked up a nice hand made fiberglass canoe this summer. I kayak too, but something about having the room to move and the space to bring alot of gear in a canoe that makes them so appealing. As far as I'm concerned, its one of THE best ways to see scenery. Good luck and keep us posted with what you find. I attached a couple of pics that I took this summer from my trusty boat..

 

[OutbacKamper]

Jim;
I am no expert on canoes, but I do have a suggestion:
Check to see if there is a canoe and kayak show in your area this spring/summer. The ability to paddle and compare different models back to back is very useful. Also, IMHO, once you try a kayak you will never go back to a canoe (they have multi-seat models and hybrid canoe/kayaks if you need to fit your family in one boat). I find Kayaks much easier to paddle and manouvre and more comfortable too.
Cheers
Mark

 

[upcruiser]

Actually, that brings up another good point, alot of places sell their demos at the end of the season too. They can be pretty good values.

 

[jim65wagon]

Thanks guys, it just so happens there is a boat show next weekend and we'll be going. Hopefully someone will have something for us to see. In the meantime the rack has been halfway solved. My bed extender can be reversed so the long side goes vertical, it needs a small extension to make it the right height but that should be easy enough. As far as the front we are considering a Yakima rounbar setup that clips to the gutters in the roof. Anyone have any experience with a system like this?

 

[upcruiser]

I've been using Thule setups for the past 10 years but have had Yakimas as well. The gutter mounts are pretty straight forward to install and remove. They come in standard and high tower versions, so keep that in mind when selecting.

I'd also recomend reading up on paddling techniques. It seems pretty straightforward, but there are some strokes and movements that you can read up on that make paddling much more efficient, safer, and allow you better boat controlling skills.

The weather has been unseasonably warm here lately, and I actually went paddling last Friday and Saturday on Lake Superior. Usually this time of year the ice flows extend out as far as you can see, giving a North Pole landscape and feel, but this year the water is totally open here in Marquette. I paddled around Presque Isle and in and out of several sea caves. Man I love paddling! Kayaks are great, but there is a simple beauty to paddling a canoe. I've been becoming more of a canoer now and less and less kayaking. I save the kayak for wave surfing and going out when the conditions are too rough for the canoe.

 

[Nullifier]

Thanks guys, it just so happens there is a boat show next weekend and we'll be going. Hopefully someone will have something for us to see. In the meantime the rack has been halfway solved. My bed extender can be reversed so the long side goes vertical, it needs a small extension to make it the right height but that should be easy enough. As far as the front we are considering a Yakima rounbar setup that clips to the gutters in the roof. Anyone have any experience with a system like this?

Well I own a canoe/kayak shop in FLorida. If it were me I would be looking for a canoe made from royalex. It is a great plastic based material that is tough, repairable, affordable, and light. expect 15-20 years life if stored porperly. My personal favorite brand is Bell Canoe. Now if you are going to be paddling mostly lakes and slow rivers then I would recommend a Northwind. If you are going to be paddling rivers with swift current regularly (no heavy whitwater with the fam) then an Alaskan or Yellowstone would be the choice. You could go to even more economical canoes made from polyethelene, however your wieght goes up significantly and they are a pain to load and carry. If you are on a tighter budget an Old Town Discovery 169 may be right or you.

If your budget is really high say $2,000.00 or more thena nice kevlar or carbon kevlar hybrid would be awesome. However I would say that with your intended family use it is not neccesary.

http://www.bellcanoe.com/products/canoes/index.html

For racks either yakima or thule are great, we sell both. A yakima q-tower system over the cab or Thule Aero foot over the cab will compliment your bed extender perfectly. I would pick up a set of NRS straps (flat out they are the best). make sure you have a good bow and stern line set up. I like the "quick Draw" system from Thule, however yakima has the exact same product under their label as well. One last thing is tie down points in the front of the truck. As yo know the tow hoks are undernieth. Unless you have a bull bar I would suggest some hood loops from Seattle Sports. They mouont onto the fender bolts and come out between the hood and fender when in use ans tuck away under the hood when not. about $4.00 a pair.

 

[Hltoppr]

I've used a 17' kevlar canoe for adv. racing, and have to say that the weight reduction is nice. Make sure it's repairable, as you'll end up draggin' it over rocks at some point in time...

-H-

 

[elcoyote]

You might want to try your local rental shop to see if and when they retire canoes & kayaks from their fleet and get on a list for availability.

I was able to pick up a 17' Jensen this way from a rental place that was getting rid of it. It had some damage to the glass but I patched it up and I've been using it for years to fish. I got it for a mere $200. At the time it retailed for $1800. My repair worked great and it was the first an only time I have worked with fiberglass repair.

 

[jim65wagon]

We got one! Bought an Old Town Camper from the Appomattox River Company in Farmville VA. These guys know their stuff and were very helpful. Their inventory is huge! If you need a canoe or kayak you need to visit their store.
The Camper seems quite large enough for our family needs, and is light enough for one of us to handle. The new Yakima rack for the front arrived Friday night, and was very easy to install. The rear receiver rack worked quite well, it seemed a little wobbly at first but with the canoe and stays it was quite sufficient for the 3 hour drive home on a mix of backroads and freeway driving. Can't wait to try it out Monday!

 

[upcruiser]

Very nice! Is that royalex?

 

[jim65wagon]

Yep that's Royalex. Yep it floats. Got to try it out on a nearby lake yesterday. We can load it and get it tied down in about ten minutes. Of course, today its raining/snowing, can't wait till Saturday.

 

[upcruiser]

Sounds like a great boat. Congrats. I can't wait for things to thaw back home so I can get back on the water. January was ridiculously warm and got to paddle on Lake Superior a couple of times, but winter came back after that.

 

[Grouseman]

Canoe

Jim,

You mentioned that you need a canoe for four people. That is a load. I would google Riverhawk boats and look there. This is a modified semi v in fiberglass and is extremely stable. It weighs 200 pounds. I have an old town square stern 17' and the Riverhawk. Typically both of these boats are for fishing not canoeing, so this might not fit your needs.

SS

 

[jim65wagon]

GM, Thanks but we've got our Old Town now. It's a 16' Camper model, weighs 59 lbs, floats 900lbs, seats the four of us well and is very easy to paddle, with all or just two people. If anyone else is looking for a canoe be sure to check this model out.