Thinking about a canoe.

[schnutzy]

Well ya'll, I am thinking about a canoe.

A little background: currently, I have an Old Town Otter kayak. It is nothing special, but it has been great for the last few years. However I am beginning to out grow it, and would like something with a little more storage, and room for my dog to ride along.

I am not looking for anything extreme, just something for day trips mostly. I am looking for something that is easy enough for one person to handle, but could seat a second if needed. I would love to hear y'alls suggestions about length, etc.

[BigAl]

I joined a canoe club 3 years ago and bought a mad river adventure 14'. It tuned out to be heavy and tippy. I sold it. I've tried many different ones since, I really like the Old Town Guide 147 for the price and handling.

[BillTex]

Had a canoe...bought some kayaks...gave the canoe away...bought some more kayaks...another canoe...sold the canoe...bought more kayaks.

I don't think I'll ever have another canoe.
IMO; An open cockpit tandem kayak can do just about anything a canoe can and is much more stable and easier to handle solo + dog.

Final score;
4 yaks
0 canoes

Bill

[schnutzy]

Had a canoe...bought some kayaks...gave the canoe away...bought some more kayaks...another canoe...sold the canoe...bought more kayaks.

I don't think I'll ever have another canoe.
IMO; An open cockpit tandem kayak can do just about anything a canoe can and is much more stable and easier to handle solo + dog.

Final score;
4 yaks
0 canoes

Bill

I have thought about a tandom kayak, but i would like to go to a canoe. I have spent a good bit of time in both over the years, and I just like a canoe better.

[Haggis]

I have thought about a tandom kayak, but i would like to go to a canoe. I have spent a good bit of time in both over the years, and I just like a canoe better.

Here's my solution...



A hybrid of both canoe and kayak. sort of a kaynoe...or is it canyak?

Mine is a Native Watercraft Ultimate 12 and has proven itself as a versatile boat. It has a tunnel hull so it is very stable, track's well on lakes and has handled class 2 river runs with ease. The seat is the most comfortable one you'll ever find in a boat. For toting around the dog this is available in a 14' version, the Ultimate 14.

[schnutzy]

Here's my solution...



A hybrid of both canoe and kayak. sort of a kaynoe...or is it canyak?

Mine is a Native Watercraft Ultimate 12 and has proven itself as a versatile boat. It has a tunnel hull so it is very stable, track's well on lakes and has handled class 2 river runs with ease. The seat is the most comfortable one you'll ever find in a boat. For toting around the dog this is available in a 14' version, the Ultimate 14.

price aside, how is getting in and out of it? one of the reasons i was thinking about a canoe is because it is easier for me to get in and out of.

[Haggis]

Getting in an out is pretty easy, much better than the kayaks in our family fleet. The tunnel ram gives you foot-wells to step into and makes the boat very stable to enter/exit. I got the Ultimate because I was looking for a single person boat that was easy to paddle could be used for both paddling trips and for waterfowl hunting. I can throw my decoy bag in the rear hatch and downed ducks up in the front opening with ease. I still have our Old Town Discovery 169 for when my boy comes along for a duck hunt. We had a Discovery 147 and it was a great tandem boat but a bit hard to single paddle, but a Discovery 109 or Old Town Pack would make for a great multipurpose single paddler boat.

[huskyfargo]

I have an Ultimate 12 for sale in Little Rock, AR. $700

[BillTex]

Yeah...the kayak/canoe hybrids are pretty cool... and flexible.
So many options available nowadays!

But don't rule out an open cockpit tandem kayak.
We have a Perception Kyawee 2 (sp?) and a Old Town Loon...they are both easy entry/egress, stable for fishing, and rugged boats.
Downside is weight; they both go ~ 70#...

Have fun...and before you buy any boat...take a good test paddle, and bring the dog.

[Squatchout]

I sold my sit in yak a while back because of the sitting to low in the boat for old bones thing. I went with an Old Town Discovery 119 solo canoe. Kinda short for speed but very versatile and comfortable.


It's hard to beat any of the Old Town Discos for a rec canoe. Darn near indestructible, But they are a bit heavy. They show up often used on CL. The 158 is small enough to solo and big enough to tandem. I also have a 174 tandem but that is not a boat you want to solo. Big and heavy.

Mad river has a fairly new roto molded hybrid canoe out. Kinda half canoe and half open yak. It has built in backrests. a bud has a 14" and a 16'
http://www.madrivercanoe.com/product...estiny_series/

The Native Ultimate above is a fine craft. Best seat you'll ever sit in. I believe they now make a tandem version.