looking to buy a new canadian canoe lads , i would ideally be wanting one to cater for 2 adults and two small children and sometimes two adults.the canoe will be used for trips on loch,s mostly (loch arkaig,loch affric ) and also some rivers although nothing fast.also to carry a lot of kit ie tentipi bergan etc and lots of supply,s which canoe would you go for ??????.
which canadian canoe
- Thread starter Gill
- Start date
gill said:
Hi mate,
I would go for an old town canoe
They are strong, nearly unbreakable and last you without putting service on them.
cheers
Abbe
I took a Mad River Explorer 15RX down the Ardeche in May, my own one arrived two weeks ago, more expensive than most, but a fabulous canoe.
www.madrivercanoe.com
Great service to be had from...
www.marsport.co.uk
www.madrivercanoe.com
Great service to be had from...
www.marsport.co.uk
Bit of a coincidence, Gill - I'm looking for a canoe and have similar requirements. On paper I like the look of the PE version of Sandbender's canoe (heavier but cheaper) or an Old Town Pathfinder or Guide.
However, I suspect final choice will be heavily influenced by what's locally available and suitably priced
However, I suspect final choice will be heavily influenced by what's locally available and suitably priced
hello 
I've got a mobile adventure ranger 16 and for a low to mid price canoe i'd recommend it.There are nicer boats, but for the money i found it hard to beat and she's handled everything we've asked of her.
There is alot to consider that will effect the performance (and price) of a canoe: dimensions, shape and materials are the key areas.
Whatever make you decide on, i'd say 16 ft. is the bear minimum length for two adults and loads of gear or two adults and two kids and some gear. If you're planning extended trips for the whole family i'd think about going longer. Longer canoes tend to have greater capacity, are faster and handle bigger swell (which is a big consideration on open water) but you sacrafice something in manoeverability (both on and off the water!)
Primary and secondry stability is something to consider aswell if you're carrying young kids!
If you want more info about choosing a canoe then this is a good site with loads of interesting stuff...
http://www.myccr.com/SectionGear/GearInfo/Canoes.htm
Here's another to reviews of canoes by the people who own them..
http://www.paddling.net/Reviews/Canoes.html
Here's a good uk site about canoeing (shop,classifieds,community,reviews etc.)
http://www.getoutcanoeing.co.uk/default.asp
Finally, here's another uk site with good classifieds, forum and good info on waterways in the uk.
http://www.ukriversguidebook.co.uk/
the ad is nothing to do with me but i noticed someone is selling a royalex old town xl tripper for £600...(its HUGE at 20 ft. long but can handle 1700 lbs!!)
http://www.ukriversguidebook.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=9190
Hope some of this is useful, i'll shut up now!
I've got a mobile adventure ranger 16 and for a low to mid price canoe i'd recommend it.There are nicer boats, but for the money i found it hard to beat and she's handled everything we've asked of her.
There is alot to consider that will effect the performance (and price) of a canoe: dimensions, shape and materials are the key areas.
Whatever make you decide on, i'd say 16 ft. is the bear minimum length for two adults and loads of gear or two adults and two kids and some gear. If you're planning extended trips for the whole family i'd think about going longer. Longer canoes tend to have greater capacity, are faster and handle bigger swell (which is a big consideration on open water) but you sacrafice something in manoeverability (both on and off the water!)
Primary and secondry stability is something to consider aswell if you're carrying young kids!
If you want more info about choosing a canoe then this is a good site with loads of interesting stuff...
http://www.myccr.com/SectionGear/GearInfo/Canoes.htm
Here's another to reviews of canoes by the people who own them..
http://www.paddling.net/Reviews/Canoes.html
Here's a good uk site about canoeing (shop,classifieds,community,reviews etc.)
http://www.getoutcanoeing.co.uk/default.asp
Finally, here's another uk site with good classifieds, forum and good info on waterways in the uk.
http://www.ukriversguidebook.co.uk/
the ad is nothing to do with me but i noticed someone is selling a royalex old town xl tripper for £600...(its HUGE at 20 ft. long but can handle 1700 lbs!!)
http://www.ukriversguidebook.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=9190
Hope some of this is useful, i'll shut up now!
doc i tried an old town camper with the wife and 2 kids up in killin and it was good i beleive the river was the dochart,there was also an old town allagash which i think was a bit longer.the camper however is about a grand and i would have liked to have got a canoe for a bit less maybe a second hand one but you know as well as me they are few and far between.i,ve also been looking towards the mad river make .i need a canoe that is big and can take a bit of weight.i,m not going to be doing anything too risky with the family. just purely for leisure and carrying capacity.i can,t wait
yes
i was lucky enough to get a tapp varrie 5 second hand, i've had a couple of nights in it so far and i'm delighted with it, i haven't seen a 7 but the 5 feels huge when you're inside and the atmosphere is great, i can't wait to get out again! I'm sure you'll be delighted with yours when you get it! I now find myself in the same boat as you with your stove question, so when i pop up on that thread aswell, don't panic, i'm not a stalker!
i was lucky enough to get a tapp varrie 5 second hand, i've had a couple of nights in it so far and i'm delighted with it, i haven't seen a 7 but the 5 feels huge when you're inside and the atmosphere is great, i can't wait to get out again! I'm sure you'll be delighted with yours when you get it! I now find myself in the same boat as you with your stove question, so when i pop up on that thread aswell, don't panic, i'm not a stalker!
Great links Andrew and Happy camper - thanks.
Gill - the centre at Killin are/were selling used Allagashes (Allagashi? ) for much less than new.
I'll probably be going to the paddling exhibition at the end of Oct in Perth.
Gill - the centre at Killin are/were selling used Allagashes (Allagashi?
) for much less than new.I'll probably be going to the paddling exhibition at the end of Oct in Perth.
Doc said:
Details for those interested...
Paddle 2005
Bell's Sport Centre,
Hay Street,
Perth
Oct 29th -30th
http://canoescotland.com/Default.aspx?tabid=47&itemid=45&mid=931&def=details&selecteddate=10/29/2005
Does anyone have any experience with geodesic aerolite boats? They're a kind of ultra-modern skin-on-frame design using man made materials. The main seling points seem to be that it's easy to make it yourself, it's cheap, and most of all they're EXTREMELY light.
I don't know about you, but when I see a canoe that weighs 10-15kgs the first thought in my head it that I could take it on the train to the lakes and carry it up a mountain. It could open up a lot of new territory, especially to car-less people, like me. This is yet another thing that I can't do until I get back into britain in at least six months, but it's so interesting I couldn't help bringing it up! See www.gaboats.com
I don't know about you, but when I see a canoe that weighs 10-15kgs the first thought in my head it that I could take it on the train to the lakes and carry it up a mountain. It could open up a lot of new territory, especially to car-less people, like me. This is yet another thing that I can't do until I get back into britain in at least six months, but it's so interesting I couldn't help bringing it up! See www.gaboats.com
MagiKelly
Making memories since '67
Hi Gill
I have the same sort of requirements as you, well except for the wife, there is no way she would get in a canoe. Anyway I have the Coleman Journey. I have used it with two adults and two kids. Two adults and loads of kit (including the 7 man TenTipi Varrie ). I have had it for a year now and despite the reasonable cost it has put up with loads of abuse. Also I find having three seats very useful.
I have the same sort of requirements as you, well except for the wife, there is no way she would get in a canoe. Anyway I have the Coleman Journey. I have used it with two adults and two kids. Two adults and loads of kit (including the 7 man TenTipi Varrie
). I have had it for a year now and despite the reasonable cost it has put up with loads of abuse. Also I find having three seats very useful.
nice!!philaw said:
they look great, these folding canoes and kayaks look quite interesting if transport or storage are an issue..
http://www.pakboats.com/
and here's a link to a kayak i fancy trying, you can build in the field using a tarp... http://www.shelter-systems.com/kayak.html
wow! have you seen the price of those folding canoes.
i thought it was a nice idea untill i saw that.
i thought it was a nice idea untill i saw that.
One of the best places to pick up cheap used canoes is the newsletter that the Scottish canoe association publish - free to members.
Doc - take your cheque book to the canoe exhibition and try for a deal on an ex demo boat from one of the exhibitors, often very good deals to be had.
I'd echo some of the others who say that Mad River are the bees knees - I've got several different boats for different purposes, but my favourites have got to be my Prospector and my Mad River explorer.
Gill - a 17 foot prospector would fit the bill for what your looking for perfectly
George
Doc - take your cheque book to the canoe exhibition and try for a deal on an ex demo boat from one of the exhibitors, often very good deals to be had.
I'd echo some of the others who say that Mad River are the bees knees - I've got several different boats for different purposes, but my favourites have got to be my Prospector and my Mad River explorer.
Gill - a 17 foot prospector would fit the bill for what your looking for perfectly
George
P
pfmueller
Guest
Great Canadian canoe is the Fletcher Bill Mason Special (wood/canvas traditional construction). Web address is :fletchercanoes.com. I have one on order and it will be ready in the summer of 2006.
e-mail me and I'd be happy to e-mail photos that are not on their web page.
Regards
Peter
p.s. cost is $3000.00 can dollars = 1435 brit. pounds
e-mail me and I'd be happy to e-mail photos that are not on their web page.
Regards
Peter
p.s. cost is $3000.00 can dollars = 1435 brit. pounds
A 16ft+ canoe of the prospector style is great. I used to use a 17ft fibreglass Scot wilderness canoe for trekking until it got crushed (really) under a combination of ice and snow from a freak storm 6ft+ downfall. Re-placed it with a lighter 17ft Kevlar Langford getting older have to mind the weight. Give yourself enough room to carry extra kit and people. I know of 4 hefty lads plus their kits, in one 16ft canoe, tipped within 15 min. not good. Carry extra paddles at least one tied to the twarts in case of a lost paddle. CG :yo:
not good. Carry extra paddles at least one tied to the twarts in case of a lost paddle. CG :yo:
added to some of the ecellent advice above, i'd recommend you go for royalex over PE if you can afford it particularly if you're going to be doing any portaging. Old town, mad river (which I have), wee-noh-nah and novacraft are all good makes for a general touring canoe i dont think you can beat the prospector model (or its equivalent depending on make).
interesting to see a recommendation for coleman - havent paddled one myself but have heard from a few people that the handle really poorly and are very heavy....
if your unsure try a few out - theres plenty of places on the spey if you're near there - highland canoes in Aviemore for example and there's also snowgoose in Fort William and stirling canoes in erm stirling (I assume you're in Scotland).
might be a good time of year to pick up a second hand one from an outdoor school, be worth asking around bear in mid by the time you buy paddles (go wooden if possible - i like the beavertail design) bouyancy vests and bouyancy bags you'll add another 200 - 350 pounds
interesting to see a recommendation for coleman - havent paddled one myself but have heard from a few people that the handle really poorly and are very heavy....
if your unsure try a few out - theres plenty of places on the spey if you're near there - highland canoes in Aviemore for example and there's also snowgoose in Fort William and stirling canoes in erm stirling
(I assume you're in Scotland). might be a good time of year to pick up a second hand one from an outdoor school, be worth asking around bear in mid by the time you buy paddles (go wooden if possible - i like the beavertail design) bouyancy vests and bouyancy bags you'll add another 200 - 350 pounds
Similar threads
