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Canoe recommendations? #7535907
03/22/22 10:14 PM
03/22/22 10:14 PM
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 292
NM
U
uncleduck Offline OP
trapper
uncleduck  Offline OP
trapper
U

Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 292
NM
I'm looking at buying a canoe this summer and am hoping for some advice from those with more experience. Mainly will be used solo for fishing or just casual paddling around large ponds or small lakes but I would like to have one suitable for occasionally taking a second person. Any recommendations on size, materials, designs, brands, etc to look for or to avoid would be appreciated. Thanks

Re: Canoe recommendations? [Re: uncleduck] #7535913
03/22/22 10:17 PM
03/22/22 10:17 PM
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 20,914
North East Kansas
Marty Offline
trapper
Marty  Offline
trapper

Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 20,914
North East Kansas
I bought an osage osagian aluminum 17' 10 years ago for $200 and it has been great. 750# load capacity and ez to deal with by myself. When alone I sit in the front seat facing backward to paddle and it puts me more toward the center..


E
'Honey Badger Militia'
Sleep, the anti woke adote.
Re: Canoe recommendations? [Re: uncleduck] #7535915
03/22/22 10:19 PM
03/22/22 10:19 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 41,592
Northern Maine
Bruce T Offline
trapper
Bruce T  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 41,592
Northern Maine
Love my 16 foot Grumman aluminum square stern canoe.Light and easy to use.Great for ponds and deadwaters and streams.


Nevada bound
Re: Canoe recommendations? [Re: Bruce T] #7535920
03/22/22 10:24 PM
03/22/22 10:24 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,997
Otsego, MI 66
K
K-zoo Offline
trapper
K-zoo  Offline
trapper
K

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,997
Otsego, MI 66
I bought a 15' aluminum Browning AeroCraft back in 1976 or 77 and still use it today. Been a great canoe.


Member NTA, MTPCA, FTA, NRA, MUCC
2 Cor. 5:17
Re: Canoe recommendations? [Re: uncleduck] #7535922
03/22/22 10:33 PM
03/22/22 10:33 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,065
Missouri
M
mississippiposse Offline
trapper
mississippiposse  Offline
trapper
M

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,065
Missouri
Grumman 16 ft sq stern. Purchased used in 1981 for $200. Hauled on top my truck or in bed for years. Used it for trapping,turkey hunting, squirrel hunting , duck hunting and fishing. Used trolling motor and at times a 4 hp Johnson outboard other times sold it to years ago and got $500. Lot of great times. At my age I just sit in my 16 ft Alweld to fish

Re: Canoe recommendations? [Re: uncleduck] #7535926
03/22/22 10:37 PM
03/22/22 10:37 PM
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,261
james bay frontierOnt.
B
Boco Offline
trapper
Boco  Offline
trapper
B

Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,261
james bay frontierOnt.
I like a 14 foot fibreglas.light enough to portage or throw on top of the 4 wheeler and big enough for two people for day trips.
Fibreglas are tough and easier to repair than aluminum or cedar strip/canvas.


Forget that fear of gravity-get a little savagery in your life.
Re: Canoe recommendations? [Re: Marty] #7535929
03/22/22 10:40 PM
03/22/22 10:40 PM
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 2,220
SE NEBRASKA
NebrCatMan Offline
trapper
NebrCatMan  Offline
trapper

Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 2,220
SE NEBRASKA
Originally Posted by Marty
I bought an osage osagian aluminum 17' 10 years ago for $200 and it has been great. 750# load capacity and ez to deal with by myself. When alone I sit in the front seat facing backward to paddle and it puts me more toward the center..

Love my aluminum canoe.... 17 ft.... I do the same thing Marty does when I am by myself.... I can handle the canoe way better !!


Remember "Forbidden Fruit makes many Jams"
Re: Canoe recommendations? [Re: uncleduck] #7535933
03/22/22 10:43 PM
03/22/22 10:43 PM
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 23,481
New Hampshire
N
Nessmuck Offline
trapper
Nessmuck  Offline
trapper
N

Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 23,481
New Hampshire
[Linked Image]
[Linked Image]

Can’t beat the paddling pleasure of an Old Town wooden / canvas canoe. 1960…16 foot..very stable OCTA ..75 lbs

Last edited by Nessmuck; 03/22/22 10:44 PM.

It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees.
Re: Canoe recommendations? [Re: uncleduck] #7535938
03/22/22 10:48 PM
03/22/22 10:48 PM
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 23,481
New Hampshire
N
Nessmuck Offline
trapper
Nessmuck  Offline
trapper
N

Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 23,481
New Hampshire
[Linked Image]

The wife and I …out for a stroll in the White Mountains


It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees.
Re: Canoe recommendations? [Re: uncleduck] #7535981
03/22/22 11:23 PM
03/22/22 11:23 PM
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,758
Arkansas
W
Wallace Offline
trapper
Wallace  Offline
trapper
W

Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,758
Arkansas
I have a friend that is really into canoes. He looks for older brands that used roylex. Much lighter and durable than most materials.

Re: Canoe recommendations? [Re: uncleduck] #7536004
03/22/22 11:53 PM
03/22/22 11:53 PM
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 5,945
South metro, MN
C
Calvin Offline
trapper
Calvin  Offline
trapper
C

Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 5,945
South metro, MN
Nothing bigger than 15ft. I sold my 17 fter years ago. Good riddance.

Wider is better (tip a narrow canoe in Alaska once, swim 20 minutes to shore half hypothermic and you'll know what I mean).

And get one with a keel. The keeless is all the rage...until you get on a lake with a crosswind and you become a sideways water kite ( then you smash into the BWCA rocks at Mach V).

I"ve been in spendy canoes and they are lighter to portage, but light isn't usually stable. I'll never give up my cheap, super wide plastic 15 footer now.

Pelican makes a cheaper one. Might be the same canoe I have (under a different name). A full 42" wide.

Pro tip: Paddles are for metrosexuals. Screw some oar locks on and you'll likely never use a paddle again (unless you're floating a river, or just goofing around with a friend).


Last edited by Calvin; 03/23/22 01:50 AM.
Re: Canoe recommendations? [Re: uncleduck] #7536045
03/23/22 03:38 AM
03/23/22 03:38 AM
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 176
Flushing, Michigan
C
chamookman Offline
trapper
chamookman  Offline
trapper
C

Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 176
Flushing, Michigan
Take a look at Radisson Canoes. I have a 12' Solo - Love it. Bob

Re: Canoe recommendations? [Re: uncleduck] #7536106
03/23/22 06:47 AM
03/23/22 06:47 AM
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,560
Va
B
bandy Offline
trapper
bandy  Offline
trapper
B

Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,560
Va
[Linked Image]
14.5 northeastern works for me.


No matter where you go there you are.
Re: Canoe recommendations? [Re: uncleduck] #7536118
03/23/22 07:04 AM
03/23/22 07:04 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,579
Duluth, MN
C
Clark Offline
trapper
Clark  Offline
trapper
C

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,579
Duluth, MN
As fellow Minnesotans Calvin and I will secretly pride ourselves in knowing more about canoes than the average person. Granted, we would never say that out loud but a casual glance into backyards across the state will reveal that we have an inordinate love for canoes. And there are good ones and bad ones. Generally I agree with Calvin but not entirely…

Weight and material type are the largest concern for me. Many on here are recommending canoes that weigh >70 lbs. That’s fine if you can dump the canoe from the back of your truck into the river/lake/pond. Keeping the weight to 60 lbs max will make for a much nicer canoe. Royalex is a great material and I would recommend a canoe made from it.

Unlike Calvin I don’t think a wider canoe is better. Unless you like the undeniable feeling of paddling (or rowing!) a refrigerator. Keeping it to 30” wide is fine. On a hot summer day learn the limits of your canoe and you’ll never want for a more stable platform.

There are several models of canoes that are designed as either solo or tandem canoes and I think they are in the 15’ range. Keel or keel less? If you’re on a river the keel doesn’t do much for you. If lakes are more your destination then a keel will help, especially if you insist on rowing.


Common sense is the collection of prejudices acquired by age eighteen. -Albert Einstein
Re: Canoe recommendations? [Re: NebrCatMan] #7536120
03/23/22 07:05 AM
03/23/22 07:05 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 41,592
Northern Maine
Bruce T Offline
trapper
Bruce T  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 41,592
Northern Maine
Originally Posted by NebrCatMan
Originally Posted by Marty
I bought an osage osagian aluminum 17' 10 years ago for $200 and it has been great. 750# load capacity and ez to deal with by myself. When alone I sit in the front seat facing backward to paddle and it puts me more toward the center..

Love my aluminum canoe.... 17 ft.... I do the same thing Marty does when I am by myself.... I can handle the canoe way better !!

X3 except square sterns


Nevada bound
Re: Canoe recommendations? [Re: uncleduck] #7536126
03/23/22 07:12 AM
03/23/22 07:12 AM
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 8,114
Manitoba
N
Northof50 Offline
trapper
Northof50  Offline
trapper
N

Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 8,114
Manitoba
Originally Posted by uncleduck
I'm looking at buying a canoe this summer and am hoping for some advice from those with more experience. Mainly will be used solo for fishing or just casual paddling around large ponds or small lakes but I would like to have one suitable for occasionally taking a second person. Any recommendations on size, materials, designs, brands, etc to look for or to avoid would be appreciated. Thanks


What do you have to move it around with, would be the first question ?
I bought a 20 foot Grummun and tried to take it home on a VW Rabbit. Luckily the people delivered it to me , all 800 miles.
How many come up in the local by-sell in your area.
Where are you going to store it in the off-season ? Deals with the finish that it may have

Re: Canoe recommendations? [Re: uncleduck] #7536130
03/23/22 07:22 AM
03/23/22 07:22 AM
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 6,364
east central WI
K
k snow Offline
trapper
k snow  Offline
trapper
K

Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 6,364
east central WI
I have an older Sears, 17 foot aluminum canoe. After trapping out of it for a week on local rivers and ponds, I'd be in the market for a good 15 footer. I am not that big of a guy, and even with traps and gear (muskrat, not beaver), and sitting in it backwards, the bow still was out of the water and any wind made it almost too much to handle. When the wife and I take it out in the summer, we look like a battleship going across the lake. Its the perfect size for two and a week's worth of camping gear though.

Re: Canoe recommendations? [Re: chamookman] #7536140
03/23/22 07:33 AM
03/23/22 07:33 AM
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,870
Mn
N
nightlife Offline
trapper
nightlife  Offline
trapper
N

Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,870
Mn
Originally Posted by Nessmuck
[Linked Image]
[Linked Image]

Can’t beat the paddling pleasure of an Old Town wooden / canvas canoe. 1960…16 foot..very stable OCTA ..75 lbs

Originally Posted by chamookman
Take a look at Radisson Canoes. I have a 12' Solo - Love it. Bob


Or a sportspal which is a better copy of the rad made of one piece of thicker material but still light, I have both a 13 and 16 footer and use the 16 more, both are square stern and usually sport a motor just for convenience but also have oar locks and row just fine with them but padding is not so good due to the width like squaring around a whale but almost untipable

By the way I love the handling of an old wood/canvas canoe nothing handles better except may a true birchbark one and I only have one experience to go by on that



�Everything in excess! To enjoy the flavor of life, take big bites. Moderation is for monks.�
― Robert A. Heinlein
Re: Canoe recommendations? [Re: uncleduck] #7536152
03/23/22 07:59 AM
03/23/22 07:59 AM
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 307
N.Y.,E. Adks
TRADER TUT Offline
trapper
TRADER TUT  Offline
trapper

Joined: May 2014
Posts: 307
N.Y.,E. Adks
Have the small Grumman 12', setup w/oarlocks. old auto compass bolted to seat. My poorman's guideboat....Tut


I Farm The Forest
Re: Canoe recommendations? [Re: Northof50] #7536159
03/23/22 08:13 AM
03/23/22 08:13 AM
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 292
NM
U
uncleduck Offline OP
trapper
uncleduck  Offline OP
trapper
U

Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 292
NM
Originally Posted by Northof50

What do you have to move it around with, would be the first question ?
I bought a 20 foot Grummun and tried to take it home on a VW Rabbit. Luckily the people delivered it to me , all 800 miles.
How many come up in the local by-sell in your area.
Where are you going to store it in the off-season ? Deals with the finish that it may have


Plan on moving it with a 1/2 ton pickup that has a headache rack and a second equal height bar above the tailgate. Plan to store outside under my porch, so it would be in some elements but not direct sun.

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