I just had this canoe offered to me for seemingly a good deal. I current have a 14' craftsmen shotgun canoe. It's beat bad enough that I don't trust it too much on moving water. Ill probably retire it to being a puddle jumper.


Are these red Coleman canoes really terrible? I'm not nice to them and they seem to be tough.

They're tough all right, a little heavy
...but tough!

Sure it isn't 15'? They are tough, but 15'ers are tipsy and get you wet if you are the least bit careless. 17' are much more stable. But hey, still beats swimming

I got the fifteen foot made by coleman being a 1985 I believe. payed 50 bucks and its in great shape aluminum isn’t isn’t all beat up if ur just going lake fishing/rec and by yourself they are just fine now trapping outta them would probably be a no lol I put a 35lb thrust elec motor and it moves along very good even in choppy weather

Here's the photo that was sent to me this morning. I'm going over there after service. I'd hate to waste the trip. Doesn't look to used other than being faded.

I have one like that, but I can't remember just how long it is(14 or 15 feet). I got it for $100 and it was a deal. It is a good trapping canoe, but uncomfortable for me to sit in. There isn't enough room under the seat to tuck my legs......I'm one of those old-timey "on your knees while paddling" guys. Sitting flat butted puts your center of gravity too high if, like me, your clumsy. Although I can honestly say I have never flipped a canoe, but I have fallen out of one a time or two!

I just bought one up the street for $150. It's in cherry shape and came with two paddles!

Well I ended up buying it. $140, 2 paddles, '16. I don't like the seats. Maybe take a dremel tool to them?

Same here. As a kid we only knew to sit on the seats but in my early 20s I was taught the right way on my knees. I use a foam cushion for my knees and love it. My ankles will get tight every now and then

Bought a 15 foot green one brand new in the early 80s.Beat the snot out of it trappin,duck hunting,frogging,drug I don't know how many miles through the woods.Dang thing is bullet proof.Still have it.Thing I like about it over the aluminum ones is if you hit an unseen submerged log or something,,they give a little instead of instant flip over.

had a 17' one in Alaska. took a beating and kept on ticking!

Check on the availability of the tubular frame parts before investing in a "Tupperware" boat.

Not to hijack Pikes thread, but if you canoe experts were going to buy a canoe what material is best OVERALL; i.e. Aluminum, PVC, Kevlar......... taking into consideration of durability on rocky rivers, weight for transporting and so on.

Be careful its not brittle from all that sun bleaching

Fiberglass and aluminum can get you in trouble if you hit a rocky bottom. Coleman will eventually wear through the bottom, but you have to try really hard and it takes a lot of abuse. (and they're fairly light.) Aluminum is light but noisy and a sharp rock (or cut-off bridge piling) will screw you. Fiberglass is fairly heavy and a rock or bridge piling will screw you. Kevlar, I believe is expensive but lightweight and tough. Cedar strip wood is pretty but I sure wouldn't take one down a rocky river. I've had several and would probly pick the Coleman.

Thanks for the info Gary!

I used one of those for 2 seasons b4 buying another type of canoe. Don't do much or any reaching over the edges when setting near either end, they spin over easy. Also keep yourself and your gear center of gravity as low as possible. Also if like mine the fiber glass is flexible, that can be problematic if trapping areas where you go over stumps, logs etc. as the bottom can change shape on you quick and that can change your stability quickly.

Bryce