Got a Canoe!

[mountainpete]

Hi all,

I bought a canoe last weekend!

Mad River Explorer 16 tt (in red of course). Here are the specs:



I went with the Mad River for a couple of reasons:

1. Price - I got it at a smokin' deal - $800 CAD and it's brand new in perfect condition. The salesperson made a mistake on the price and the manager honored it.
   
2. Construction - I wanted something very durable. I don't want to have to worry about rocks or putting it down on gravel. This thing is a three layer poly that can withstand a lot.
   
3. Stability - every review of the boat said it was very stable and I can attest to that. I can't comfortable stand in it while I flyfish, but two guys can fish out of it with ease. Great on the coppy stuff too.
   
4. Size - I wanted something that I can add a centre seat too later. It's an easy option for this canoe.

I had to get a third cross-bar for my roof rack so I now have two on the canopy and a third over the cab. The canoe is rock solid on the roof and I have no issues crusing at 70+ MPH on the highway.

I have to admit that I was wooed by the light fibreglass and kevlar canoes out there and the significant weight difference. It sure would have been nice to get a lighter unit. But the decision came down to the rugged, flexible hull. It means I don't have to worry about it being on the roof while I go off-road - it can smack overhanging branches at will. Since the canoe is on crossbars mounted to the cab and canopy there is also some torsional pressure put on the canoe. The cab moves seperately from the box on trucks right? With a poly canoe I don't have to worry about the canoe or the canopy cracking.

I have been able to take it out twice already, but I always forget to take pics. I will try and post up a pic next time out!

Pete

[mountainpete]

Also to add...

This was actually a tough decision for me. I really wanted to get a pontoon boat and/or kayak for fishing. Canoes are slow and bulky compared to speedy pontoons and are logs on a river compared to kayaks.

But in the end, I realized that with a canoe I will get more opportunity to do stuff like this with my wife. So it all worked out well

[Jonathan Hanson]

That looks like a great buy, Pete. And for sure infinitely more versatile than a pontoon boat. I'll bet you won't regret it.

[Dave]

Very nice! You will enjoy it. We have an Old Town Guide 160 (green of course!), the specs are similar to yours. Very stable, I fish standing up in the stern sometimes in moving water with my girl friend and our dog in the bow seat. I added the kevlar skid plates since most of what we paddle is gravel/cobble bottom streams that can get very shallow. The poly boats seem to be very tough and handle loads well, but they are heavy.

A friend has the 14'7" version of the Old Town Guide. If I had to do it again that's the route I would go. Much easier to manage on and off the water due to it's smaller size and lower weight.

Glad to see people are still buying open boats, seems like most new boats around here are solo kayaks.

[mountainpete]

Dave,

The Old Town Guide 14'7" was my second choice. It's a really nice boat and really stable and in the end lost out by a hair. If I wouldn't have got such a great deal on the Mad River I would have went with the Guide.

Hopefully I'll get enough courage to try and stand up in it soon...

Pete

[Scott Brady]

Pete,

Very nice. There is just something about being on the water in a kayak or canoe. The quiet of it all.

I have little desire for any motorized boats.

[goodtimes]

Very cool. I was kinda jealous of Bajataco 2 weeks ago, as he was able to stretch out in his canoe and take a nap on the water....looking much more comfortable than I was while trying to take a nap in my 'yak.

Of course, the 'yak moves around a bit better.....but with the ability to take the better half out with you.....I think you'll be happy as can be.

[Nullifier]

good canoe. when the explorer tt series came out we had a major drop in sales of the old town units. much better built when it comes to the details.

old town uses dowels for the wood seats and the palstic buckets will give out in the summer heat after a year or 2. The MRC has 4 fastners holding on the portage yoke making it much more durable and it uses trusses to hang the seat which is much stronger then dowels.

We use that exact canoe in our rental fleet and they hold up well. Due to the rocker in the ends they are very manuverable for a 16' canoe. If you take a good canoe clinic you will never complain about manuverability again once you master the 6 basic strokes

forward (there's more to it then you think)
dynamic draw
static draw
pry
sweep
j stroke

a good instructor will teach the basic handling strokes first

dynamic draw, pry, sweep. you should learn to spin and move side was in any directoin first if you can't do that you wont be effective when under way.

Then the stern pry correction and j stroke. you have to know how to go straight

Then how to use static / dynamic pry's and sweeps well under way. If you master those basics then you can paddle just about anywhere and be in control.

[Dave]

old town uses dowels for the wood seats and the palstic buckets will give out in the summer heat after a year or 2. The MRC has 4 fastners holding on the portage yoke making it much more durable and it uses trusses to hang the seat which is much stronger then dowels.

I did notice some play in the seats and yoke after last summer, but I was able to tighten everything down and so far it's solid. I do see this area as a weak spot on my OT though.

[jim65wagon]

We love our Old Town Camper. The wife and I take it out fishing when we are by ourselves, (the bass tracker is for fishing with the kids). Last week we four took it out on a nice trip down the Rappahannock River, 5 hours of fun, sun and water. It does very well for a log.