School me on buying a used canoe

[wesel123]

LOL....I didn't notice the cup holders.....

[CCH]

That Coleman looks in good shape, but I've seen older ones that didn't hold up to the sun real well (warping.) Coleman aren't the lowest end canoes out there, but they are close. The other thing to consider with a canoe is the hull design. Is it designed for great initial stability (relatively flat bottom and not "tippy") or better final stability (more rounded hull and tips easily but then tends to tip back?) For flat water, you generally want something more flat bottomed. If you are going to be doing rivers with some froth, you might want to go with something that will bounce back better. If you aren't carrying it much more than from vehicle to water, the weight becomes less of a concern. If you are doing multiple portages in the Boundary Waters, much more so. Personally, I would take a good aluminum over a lower end plastic canoe any day and in the used realm they fall in a similar price ranges. I sit on a cushion anyway and can carry it with gloves if it is really toasty. Fiberglass is great, but watch out for old "camp" canoes that may be very durable, but equally heavy.

[Flagster]

That Coleman looks in good shape, but I've seen older ones that didn't hold up to the sun real well (warping.) Coleman aren't the lowest end canoes out there, but they are close. The other thing to consider with a canoe is the hull design. Is it designed for great initial stability (relatively flat bottom and not "tippy") or better final stability (more rounded hull and tips easily but then tends to tip back?) For flat water, you generally want something more flat bottomed. If you are going to be doing rivers with some froth, you might want to go with something that will bounce back better. If you aren't carrying it much more than from vehicle to water, the weight becomes less of a concern. If you are doing multiple portages in the Boundary Waters, much more so. Personally, I would take a good aluminum over a lower end plastic canoe any day and in the used realm they fall in a similar price ranges. I sit on a cushion anyway and can carry it with gloves if it is really toasty. Fiberglass is great, but watch out for old "camp" canoes that may be very durable, but equally heavy.

Good advice...

Aluminum is far superior to cheap composites...unless you are portaging a lot...
I have canoed Boundary waters twice...once when I was 22 with an aluminum...once when I was 34 and I rented a kevlar...can't imagine doing it again with an aluminum boat however...
I have two grummans...one was my grandfathers from the 50s or 60s...bought another one this spring off CL...they are indestructible and great boats that you can't beat up