Canoe/Boat

[BCommodore]

hey guys,

Looking for a conoe or boat (motor or not) to start duck hunting out of this year. Would like it to be a two person one, just for the added room and so I can bring a long a buddy of mine. Any suggestions? Trying not to spend more then $400 on it.

[greatwhite]

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[Redbull]

Lots out there as mentioned. I'd look at a 14' boat or a 14'-16' canoe for 2 people + gear (depending on size of lake). I currently have a 12' long wide transom Sportpal canoe and its very tight with gear and 2 people, if I'm fyling solo its fine.

RB

[Mount Sweetness]

Big ol' plastic Coleman 17 fter, real solid steady canoe, can find them cheap used and they also go on sale at C.T. often

[Farley73]

I use a Novacraft 14' fibreglass canoe. Very stable and lots of room. I've nver had any issues fishing or hunting from it Its nice and light for portaging if necessary. Found it at a yard sale in like new condition. I wouldn't personally go any shorter for 2 people and gear. If you take a dog you may want 16" with a wide flat bottom.

[Oddmott]

My wife has told me I'm supposed to find us a family canoe. lol

I've never owned a boat of any sort and don't know the first thing about them... only jump in friends' a couple times of year for quick tours round various lakes.

We've got a family of 4, the kids are 3 and an infant, and both are quite big/tall for their ages. I'm thinking it's probably best to just go for a 16' right off the bat.

But my wife is not big on physical exertion outside of her triathlon training/racing. She won't help lift a heavy boat so portaging will be up to me. Something as light as possible would be appreciated.

What brands and construction materials should I be looking for? I'll probably buy used to save some $. Oh, and I don't think we'd ever want to attach a motor, so a flat back isn't necessary.

Thanks for any tips folks.

[Bluebulldog]

My wife has told me I'm supposed to find us a family canoe. lol

I've never owned a boat of any sort and don't know the first thing about them... only jump in friends' a couple times of year for quick tours round various lakes.

We've got a family of 4, the kids are 3 and an infant, and both are quite big/tall for their ages. I'm thinking it's probably best to just go for a 16' right off the bat.

But my wife is not big on physical exertion outside of her triathlon training/racing. She won't help lift a heavy boat so portaging will be up to me. Something as light as possible would be appreciated.

What brands and construction materials should I be looking for? I'll probably buy used to save some $. Oh, and I don't think we'd ever want to attach a motor, so a flat back isn't necessary.

Thanks for any tips folks.

The good news...you have lots of options.

The bad news...given your requirements...none are going to be cheap.

There are lots of 16-17' canoes out there for sale, and this time of year they are being sold a bit cheaper, so people don't have to store them. Unless you can get your wife to help, you're going to have to go for Kevlar, or cedar, which means lots of $$$. You could find a lot of fiberglass, aluminum, royalex canoes out there that would suit your purpose, but if it's just you lugging it, you will need the lightest material available.

CT sells a small fold up 2 wheel cart for transporting canoes, but it is no good for portaging. If you decide on a fiberglass model, and all you're doing is taking the canoe from the car / truck down to the water, over level ground, it might just do as well.

http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/brows....jsp?locale=en

[Oddmott]

Thanks BBD... what should i be looking for in terms of added stability? Hull shape and width, foam strips... i really know nothing about the how's and why's and what's necessary or just fluff.

If i'm perfectly honest, i'd say our usage will be just that - out of the garage and onto the car, off the car and into the lake at a launch or campground.
I really don't see too many portaging excursions in our immediate future. My overly romantic wife on the other hand, seems to think that her past tenting in KOA campgrounds experience makes her completely capable of 10-day journeys into the most remote corners of Algonquin Park. :S

[JBen]

Without getting into retail new vs used markets.

What redbull said. There are sooooo many options, they all have Pros, they all have Cons. You can get bigger more sturdier canoes ( a lot to be said for that). They are also pricier and heavier. If your going to be carry a SG, dekes, carrying it from the roof top to the put in, you might very well want the buddy to help carry your 14, 16 fiberglass. I was carrying my Sportspal in 1 hand, gear in other by the time I was 14.


Sportpals are very stable, wide flat bottoms go a long ways. Never, ever went for an unintended swim except once and thats when a freind very seriously braincramped. There was squat I could do about it.

I grew up fishing out canoes.
Still think back fondly to the days my dad would bring us some back lake. Dad, Mom, Me, Sis and our 12' Sportspal.

By the time I was, 10..Safely 10 anyways, I was taking it out on my own. Ive had/owned/used many differeent kinds of canoes over the years and they all have their tradeoffs. The one I think back most fondly on were the Sportspals we owned

[Hainer]

If you don't mind an aluminum canoe I would recommend a springbok 16ft. They have an extremely wide and flat bottom. I am 6'4" and 280lbs and I can stand and walk from stern to bow and stay dry. You should be able to find one well within your price range. I have hunted with 2 guys and a dog with no issues.