After a new canoe

[Suffolkrafter]

I'm looking for a new hard shell canoe. I bought an advanced elements inflatable kayak quite a few years ago and it has served me well on rivers, lakes and coastal waters. For an inflatable it performs brilliantly. When the kids were small it would hold all of us comfortably, but now they're too big for it, so we need a second canoe.

I've plenty of experience kayaking, up to grade 3 white water, and so I have decided I'd like a Canadian canoe just for a change. And I enjoy the asthetics of Canadian canoes. I've paddled these on various occasions. However my wife prefers the idea of a kayak, with them being easier to paddle.

I found this:

Shop Perception Kayaks at Confluence Outdoor

Perception kayaks - redefining fun on the water through a rich legacy of blended comfort and performance. Shop and elevate your paddling experience with a Perception kayak from Confluence Outdoor.

www.perceptionkayaks.com

This strikes me as a good compromise. Whereas I fancy myself paddling through the Canadian wilderness for days on end, realistically I'm going to be pottering around local rivers and broads on Sunday with the kids in tow. Has anyone used this canoe? Or can recommend any alternative? (I don't want a sit-on canoe).

 

[pieinthesky]

I haven't used one but it is very heavy and has limited stowage space.

You can get Canadian canoes with seats for kayak type paddling maybe that would be a better compromise?

 

[Suffolkrafter]

Thanks, I hadn't really considered paddling a canoe with kayak paddles, but it seems it can be done.
One thing I also hadn't thought about is that the kayaks I've listed above supposedly track quite well, but are laborious to turn, whereas conversely, a Canadian canoe tends to be better at turning, with the ends being out the water. But therefore are more prone to catching wind. Is this a fair comment?

 

[Broch]

. But therefore are more prone to catching wind. Is this a fair comment?

Canoes tend to be higher at the bow and stern than kayaks so, in general, you have to be more careful getting the loading right in a canoe. Think of it as a wind vane that pivots about the heaviest part of the boat - if the wind is coming towards you it is easier to canoe with weight forward; from behind, weight rearward (ignoring the direction of water travel which will also turn the boat). Your looking for a general neutral weight distribution with slight emphasis to cater for the wind/flow conditions.

We have a few canoe instructors on the forum that I am sure will give you much better guidance

You can get kayaks that turn on a sixpence but they don't track as well and are harder work for a day's trek; equally, you get some canoes that are easier to keep straight than others.

 

[Suffolkrafter]

if the wind is coming towards you it is easier to canoe with weight forward; from behind, weight rearward (ignoring the direct of water travel which will also turn the boat).

Ah, interesting, I hadn't thought of this either. One thing's for sure, it's quite an investment, so I won't be rushing into it.

 

[Duggie Bravo]

Most big retailers will have test boats or hold open days where they have several types of boats for you to try.


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[Laurence Milton]

A bit late in the day....but there is a builder of wooden canoes (lighter than plastic) not far from you and I.......Weston Canoes. (also cheaper than plastic)
Also a builder of lighter plastic canoes near to us as well.....Silverbirch Canoes, in Duralite??

 

[Suffolkrafter]

Ah yes I came across Weston canoes in my searching. Not badly priced either, all things considered.
But I (we) went for the Prodigy tandem in the end, in part because my better half felt more comfortable paddling something more akin to a kayak than a canoe. In any case we've had it out on some local rivers and also some lakes in Cumbria, where it has performed admirably. Does weigh a ton mind (or 33 kg to be more precise). It also has very comfy seats.