I recently purchased a sportspal 13' sportspal canoe locally for $200. It was pretty old, but overall in good shape. No dents, no leaks, the floor liner and sponsons are in good shape. I brought it home, removed the sponsons and gave it a good power washing, then a $16 spray bomb paint job. I plan on using it on small local lakes and rivers with the 2hp Evinrude that came with it and an electric trolling motor.

Any thoughts, opinions, advice on these boats? They have been around for a long time, I'm sure someone here has some experience with them.

Thanks in advance.

I like them for their lightness.I can throw them on and off the 4 wheeler or truck all day for trapping beaver.
They are great on small water,I wouldn't take one out on the big water,especially if windy.

Best canoe ever!

X2 Great Lake and river runner almost untippable

I do plan on replacing the sponsons and buying some webbed seats. As far as big water goes, there is not much of that here in central PA. There is only two lakes within an hours drive of here that are unlimited horsepower and I don't fish them at all. Most are electric motors only, so to most of you guys they'd be more like ponds.

All the above plus you can tend 'rat sets from the side without rolling. I've drilled through the hull and bolted in a few ribs that tend to slip out of place. Not a big deal.

Nice job. I have the same one that I need to do the same thing. Did you rivet the sponsons back in? Any info on how you did it would be greatly appreciated or a couple pictures. The liner on mine needs to be replaced.

I don't know who many miles I have travelled with those 2 hp iron paddles pushing ya along.

Those edging were really like sandpaper when you went into cattails.

saskbone
I haven't replaced the sponsons yet. When the new ones arrive, my plan is to replace them using stainless 10/32 eye bolts with the eye on the inside of the boat and acorn nuts on the outside to hold the aluminum washers in place that sandwich the sponsons to the boat. That way, i have a place to hook small bungy cords to hold fly rods and gear as i move around the river. I found a website that provides somewhat detailed instructions. When I find the link, I will post it.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ all of this and more ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

I have a 17 footer. Hunt fish trap out of it best canoe I have ever been in

Thanks that would be awesome!

1960 Old Town Octa.... nothing like fly fishing out of a wooden canoe.

You made a good purchase. Very stable, pretty light and surprisingly tough. I don't paddle mine; I row it like an Adirondack guide boat. When solo, I sit in the middle. The foam seats will kill your butt. I just use a seat cushion

if your mostly paddling solo , I wouldn't add seats they just get in the way of gear

when solo I like to sit on a small cooler in the middle but I have also used an upside down milk crate put some pool noodles on the top edges then turn it over and set down , maybe use a cushion on it.

row most the time, kneel and kayak (double) paddle some of the time, 2 hp Honda some of the time, square stern 13'

You got one heck of a deal. I own a similar Radisson and would not part with it. As has been mentioned above, I row mine like a rowboat, sitting in the middle. As stable as they are I still suggest wearing a life jacket whenever you are in it.