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Canoe Help
Posted on 7/3/19 at 9:35 am
Posted on 7/3/19 at 9:35 am
Let me start by saying that kayaks have taken over. There is a wealth of information EVERYWHERE about them and no shortage of models and dealers. Finding a guide or informed dealer for a canoe has been a challenge especially here in Alabama.
Anyway, I am looking for a new canoe. My wife and I are currently using a Mad River Adventure 16. It's great for what we use it for (rocky rivers and creeks here in Central Alabama). However, it's heavy and the seats get uncomfortable after all day fishing.
We need something that's gonna handle some light white water (class 1-2 type stuff on the Cahaba), lots of rocky shoals, room for two and day trip gear (beer, lunch, small dog), stability, and durability. Since it's my wife and I canoeing, I need something lighter than what we have.
Any advice appreciated!
Anyway, I am looking for a new canoe. My wife and I are currently using a Mad River Adventure 16. It's great for what we use it for (rocky rivers and creeks here in Central Alabama). However, it's heavy and the seats get uncomfortable after all day fishing.
We need something that's gonna handle some light white water (class 1-2 type stuff on the Cahaba), lots of rocky shoals, room for two and day trip gear (beer, lunch, small dog), stability, and durability. Since it's my wife and I canoeing, I need something lighter than what we have.
Any advice appreciated!
5
Posted on 7/3/19 at 9:47 am to Aubie Spr96
Esquif makes some top notch canoes, check out their touring line
LINK /
LINK /
Posted on 7/3/19 at 9:55 am to Aubie Spr96
Let's start with your budget.
I would be on the lookout for a used Royalex canoe (that's the material it is made of, not a manufacturer). They stopped making royalex back in 2013/2014 but it is tough and lightweight.
And if you're really only dealing with 1s and 2s, pretty much any canoe will tackle that. I wouldn't get a WW canoe for that, just something with a moderate rocker.
What is the max weight you want?
I would be on the lookout for a used Royalex canoe (that's the material it is made of, not a manufacturer). They stopped making royalex back in 2013/2014 but it is tough and lightweight.
And if you're really only dealing with 1s and 2s, pretty much any canoe will tackle that. I wouldn't get a WW canoe for that, just something with a moderate rocker.
What is the max weight you want?
Posted on 7/3/19 at 11:46 am to Aubie Spr96
I canoe all the time. A canoe is a far superior craft for an outdoorsman than a kayak.
Many canoes will fit your needs. Check craigslist. Seriously, they're everywhere on there. (If you find an old town Appalachian I will find you, and I will take it from you by force if need be.)
Basically what you just described (day trips & fishing/floating down a lively creek in a craft with good secondary stability and some maneuverability) is what nearly every general purpose canoe was made to do just fine. I'd look for one more suited for maneuvering (more rocker), and even though the more tumblehome that a craft has reduces its stability, more tumblehome is better for landing fish and also easier on your paddle by making it easier to execute clean, vertical, non-side sweeping strokes and without beating up the paddle shaft, but that's a personal preference.
Stay away from freighter type canoes that are built for flatwater and/or tripping expeditions. You need something more nimble. That's literally the only DON'T DO that you have to watch out for, less it ruin your chances of having a good trip.
However, IMO/IME, I don't like a canoe with a rib on the bottom for creek, river and swamp canoes, and, overall, for general purpose canoeing. I have no need to enhance my ability to track straight for long distances in the above situations: proper paddling technique will never be supplanted. Consequently, the keel can cause or exacerbate all sorts of problems that wouldn't be otherwise (e.g., hanging on rocks, making it harder to slide effortlessly over logs and debris, causing tipping from the keel "teetering" on an underwater object, etc.); plus in a river environment the keel actually IMPEDES maneuverability when that is the last thing you want.
That said, if I were paddling big, open still waters with multiple day's worth of gear, then a totally different type of canoe- like one with a pronounced keel (and other design features)- would be desirable. Likewise, if I were floating fast, debris filled waters with heavy currents and multiple day's of gear- whitewater or not- then a specialized canoe is more desirable. The latter is more of the type canoe that you should lean towards, but a general purpose canoe is fine.
Just remember that canoes are no different than the rule that applies to every other watercraft: Buy a vessel for what you are going to use it for 90% of the time and make do with the other 10%.
Gonna be hard to float a swamp donkey out like I did this one in a 'yak!
Many canoes will fit your needs. Check craigslist. Seriously, they're everywhere on there. (If you find an old town Appalachian I will find you, and I will take it from you by force if need be.)
Basically what you just described (day trips & fishing/floating down a lively creek in a craft with good secondary stability and some maneuverability) is what nearly every general purpose canoe was made to do just fine. I'd look for one more suited for maneuvering (more rocker), and even though the more tumblehome that a craft has reduces its stability, more tumblehome is better for landing fish and also easier on your paddle by making it easier to execute clean, vertical, non-side sweeping strokes and without beating up the paddle shaft, but that's a personal preference.
Stay away from freighter type canoes that are built for flatwater and/or tripping expeditions. You need something more nimble. That's literally the only DON'T DO that you have to watch out for, less it ruin your chances of having a good trip.
However, IMO/IME, I don't like a canoe with a rib on the bottom for creek, river and swamp canoes, and, overall, for general purpose canoeing. I have no need to enhance my ability to track straight for long distances in the above situations: proper paddling technique will never be supplanted. Consequently, the keel can cause or exacerbate all sorts of problems that wouldn't be otherwise (e.g., hanging on rocks, making it harder to slide effortlessly over logs and debris, causing tipping from the keel "teetering" on an underwater object, etc.); plus in a river environment the keel actually IMPEDES maneuverability when that is the last thing you want.
That said, if I were paddling big, open still waters with multiple day's worth of gear, then a totally different type of canoe- like one with a pronounced keel (and other design features)- would be desirable. Likewise, if I were floating fast, debris filled waters with heavy currents and multiple day's of gear- whitewater or not- then a specialized canoe is more desirable. The latter is more of the type canoe that you should lean towards, but a general purpose canoe is fine.
Just remember that canoes are no different than the rule that applies to every other watercraft: Buy a vessel for what you are going to use it for 90% of the time and make do with the other 10%.
Gonna be hard to float a swamp donkey out like I did this one in a 'yak!
Posted on 7/3/19 at 12:53 pm to Aubie Spr96
You’ll have to find royalex on Craigslist.
I found an Old Town Camper 16 for $500 on CL.
It has been a joy to take down the French Broad and the New River.
I took a true beating on the French Broad end ended up having hip surgery. But the canoe has still made it and will probably go another 15 years at the rate that I use it.
Also, I bought a cheap fiberglass canoe from probably the 80s on CL for 35 dollars.
I keep it at my dock and am minimally concerned if it gets stolen.
I found an Old Town Camper 16 for $500 on CL.
It has been a joy to take down the French Broad and the New River.
I took a true beating on the French Broad end ended up having hip surgery. But the canoe has still made it and will probably go another 15 years at the rate that I use it.
Also, I bought a cheap fiberglass canoe from probably the 80s on CL for 35 dollars.
I keep it at my dock and am minimally concerned if it gets stolen.
This post was edited on 7/3/19 at 12:54 pm
Posted on 7/3/19 at 11:03 pm to Aubie Spr96
Cahaba is my old stomping ground. The Cahaba can take a pretty relaxed canoes. IMHO you are asking for a bit much... tandem day trip + dog, white water, lightweight, and under $2k. However, the MR Adventure 16 you have now is more kayak than canoe. I think you can find what you are looking for but you may have to expand your territory to eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina. There are some clubs in central and north Alabama that can steer you in right direction.
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