The one category you miss is the adventure/expedition paddler. It is where I fall. I do some lake some whitewater and a lot of river but I travel long distances over a longer period of time (oftrn spending weeks at a time on the water). I hunt and fish my way across and around the territory. The prospector series of canoes is where I live. Some are decked some not. Ranging from 16 to 17 feet, these canoes (although not a specialist at anything) are great generalist canoes. I have fallen in love with mine and can be found in one most of my time on the water.
Absolutely. In your category, you'll likely have a 16-foot prospector made of Royalex, Tuf-Stuff or some other durable (but heavy) material. It's what 95% of the adventurer documentary makers use and for good reason. I'm not getting any younger, and to portage an 80 lb canoe is not my idea of fun. I'm also an adventurer and make lots of documentaries but I stick with the 16-foot solo carbon canoe models (weight is around 29 lbs) though they're not great for big water, whitewater or rough handling on portages or rocks, etc.
You can tell when people know a lot about their craft when there’s barely any cuts in the video. This guy seems like he could give a 3hr presentation with no preparation.
You're very kind Elliot! You're right about me not making many edits. That takes time and looks a bit questionable like "what's he trying to hide?" Thank you again for your encouragement!
I asked my friend, a Maine guide, what was a good all-around tandem canoe for both downriver and flatwater use. She recommended the Old Town Penobscot 16, and she was right. I also added a center seat and can paddle it solo. Works on Class II streams yet not too bothered by wind on lakes. Thanks for the overview. I might add that if you live up North and want to leave your canoe out all winter, you probably own an aluminum one. Besides their weight though, they are also noisy!
Thanks for sharing. Seems to me that a canoe with a lot of rocker. A deep of straight keel, and an extra 10-15 cm freeboard would be the best choise if you are living near the ocean where there are always 1-3 meter waves.
Ya, that's a good overall assessment. Extra Freeboard for big waves, keel for control in the wind/waves and rocker can help with wave-riding as well. If it were me though, I'd get a different vessel for 3 meter waves! :) Thanks for the input!
Thanks. Yes a polynesian style canoe (With an outrigger and sail), would probably be better direction to go. They also have a high chin spoon bow that makes broaching less likely... Weight distibution would also have to be considered. Going upwind/downwind ..
You forgot the Wilderness Tripping Class. Canoes that handle whitewater and lakes. The classic Old Town Tripper 172 is an example. Flat bottom, huge capacity and made of Royalex. This is the canoe they threw off the factory roof. The first Royalex canoe.
I see flat bottom canoes as recreational. They are not meant for efficient lake tripping. The operative word is "efficient". I love large flat bottom canoes for holding gear, being steady and being multi-purpose, but I've outlined canoes built mostly for specialty activities (tripping, whitewater, recreation, etc.) without compromise. Any Royalex canoe will be too heavy for portaging over 5 - 10 km of portages over 2 weeks. That said, I do love large, flat bottom canoes that are tough and won't crack easily in whitewater!
@@ruggedoutdoorsguide9904 I’ve done two-week wilderness trips in my Tripper. Yes it’s heavy to portage, but the capacity and durability make it worth it. Old Town also made a 20’ version called the Tripper XL.
I want a recreational lake tripping for Florida's Small shallow rivets and going in between lakes on the St. JOHN RIVER for l9ng camping trips and hu ting Gators.
I'm glad you mentioned Sportspal. They don't get much love on YT. This is the canoe I've decided to go with. The American version. I will mostly use it for fishing Lake Erie backwaters and tributaries. I'm having a hard time deciding to go with the pointed or square stern. I want to put a motor on it for the majority of use. But will also like the occasional peaceful paddle down a river. I'm concerned with the ability to paddle the square stern and worried about the weight of a motor hanging on the side of a pointed. I have no idea which way to go and have zero experience with either option
Unfortunately I can't help you based on my experience. I've had good luck with my trolling motor mount on the side of my prospector canoe, but I guess the real answer would be based on what activity you'll do more. I like the versatility offered by using a trolling motor mount on a double-ended canoe, but that's just me! Thanks for watching!
If you haven't made the decision yet, I can help, I own both square stern and pointed canoes and a side mount wins every time, square sterns make sense in a boat where you sit off on the side, but in a canoe you sit in the middle and the motor is directly behind you and you can really only steer one way, a side mount the tiller is in a comfortable place to steer both ways. Also a square stern sucks to paddle, the square stern makes turbulence and stops the canoe from gliding, so unless you plan on using the motor 100% of the time, get a pointed. The Sportspals usually come with side mounts, if not you can buy one, and the motor weight will not even be noticeable, I've been running side mounts for years. I own fiberglass, and plastic canoes, my next one will be a Sportspal, probably the 12' Special with the yoke and only one seat. I just want it for when I go out alone down creeks and small water, I have big canoes for big adventures already I want something light, tough and comfortable that I can patch with almost anything sticky. But I'd recommend a pointed and go with the longest model that you can manage, it will track better, glide faster and be generally safer especially if you're out on bigger water and the wind picks up.
I’ve had a few square sterns and ended up putting a side bar for an electric motor. It puts the motor in the perfect position for trolling in my opinion. Mounted on the transom cause a lot of back pain by the end of the day....so.... I bought a sports pal wide stern for trolling days and we have an old town and Grumman for paddling days😊🛶
I can't believe that after such a good description of what to look for in a quality canoe, the conversation goes to sports pal! It doesn't matter if has ends on it at all. You might as well put a motor on a Rubbermaid container. They both won't go straight or turn where you want them to. The one good thing about the sports pal is that no matter what you do, it won't sink! For advice on a usable canoe rewatch the video.
A week ago, not having been in a canoe since the Boy Scouts a decade ago, I bought a 17 foot Coleman prospector canoe, made of thick HDPE plastic, with large cold cracks, for 25 dollars at a yard sale. I was very interested to know what it was good for. Seems Recreational use, hunting, or lakewater tripping will be within it's wheelhouse. Possibly some light light rapids.
Coleman is what i would can a good "hack around" canoe. It's usually very durable, but not efficient (if you do any tripping, you'll become frustrated by the lack of maneuverability and heavy weight). Hunting and fishing close to camp or cottage is where it excels but I personally would not take anything weighing over 50 lbs on a portage trip. It's not that I can't carry it, but there are so many great light options now. However, for $25, it's hard to pass up!
Good question! I've never paddled the Bob 15 Special, but I do hold Nova Craft canoes in high regard. Though it's a solo boat, I'm not a huge fan of the prospector design in general. I like asymmetrical canoes with very minimal rocker for ultimate speed and efficiency on flat water. I'd consider the Bob Special for class 1 and 2 rapids if I'm paddling alone.
Looks to me like the16 foot Blazer is a bit of a cross between a weekend flatwater boat and a mild whitewater canoe (class 2 max.). I'm not sure it fits either category well, but it's a bit of a compromise for the sake of diversity.
@@ruggedoutdoorsguide9904 thanks for the reply. Ive never had a conue before and at 60 yrs old not looking to do much more than peddling in a calm lake, at least for now. I see used Mohawk Blazer 16s for sale pretty cheap. Do you think it would be a good one for a older beginner?
@@thomasgriffith3747 The answer in my opinion is YES. The Blazer is a decent beginner canoe as long as you remember that you'll be dealing with the weight. If you're okay with that, then all the other things like price, design, etc. are good motivating factors to start getting out on the water! Best of luck brother.
Yes, but if you're mostly fishing, I'd get a flat-bottom wide canoe. If mostly lake tripping, then a tandem tripper is fine (bit more tippy than flat bottom canoe). Mild rivers should be nearly like a lake or windy lake. You won't want to tackle too many rapids (especially anything beyond class 1) with a kevlar lake tripper. Thanks for the question and thanks for watching!
Good question! I have not done a head-to-head comparison but here are my thoughts; A prospector is the choice for whitewater paddlers, and the conditions are loosely similar (large waves and rough water). So, I'd be relatively confident using a prospector to deal with wake. On the other hand, my lake tripper's bow doesn't rise out of the water as much, so it will cut through waves rather than riding over them. It's a smoother ride. The bow depth on my Wenonah Escape is pretty good, so I'd feel comfortable dealing with any wake. If the waves are bigger than my 17' Escape can handle, I would get off the water ASAP. I don't think the issue of how well it handles wakes should take priority over how well it paddles on open water in general. I'd still choose my 17' Escape over my 16' Evergreen Prospector model. Just one final thought; If I was paddling on larger lakes with lots of waves/wake, I would probably deploy my stabilizers. You can see my full review - th-cam.com/video/t2fxA93qY_c/w-d-xo.html Thanks for commenting and maybe our discussion will help others too!
I am looking to get a canoe for the family (kids aged 7, 5, and 3, with one adult - I am a single parent) to start using while car camping, as well as introducing them to wilderness tripping - something I grew up doing and where my heart lays. I have lots of canoe experience but my children do not. Because they do not have much experience, and no available second adult to stern, I am not willing to get two small canoes. I am considering one larger canoe for now and then later down the road getting something smaller for solo/tandem use. I have been considering a 17 prospector (swift or nova craft), 17.5 prospector (Souris River), Quetico 17 or 18.5 (souris river), 18 prospector (nova craft), 16’6” prospector (holy cow) and a 17’4” explorer (holy cow canoe) all with 3rd seat options. I’m still undecided on materials for each. I’m leaning more towards a Kevlar or tough stuff, maybe blue steel. I like the durability of tformex but that’s some heavy weight to portage alone while having to carry everything else myself as well. I know ultimately there will be compromises but I want to make sure that I will not be overblown by wind while day tripping with minimal weight, but still am able to trip in it when I want to as well. I don’t see us becoming a two tandem canoe family for a very long time. Any thoughts, comments, or suggestions? It’s greatly appreciated.
Wow Jay! I empathize with your situation and I love your commitment to instilling outdoor values to your kids! I was in a similar situation and ultimately I ended up getting multiple canoes. If one is all you can handle, then given what you said, here is what I would do: My priority would be to teach the kids on every trip, so I would focus on flat water, safer routes. That means I would toss the idea of T-Formex because of weight. Then, I would absolutely stick with Kevlar, and just be sure to be careful on portages. I'd get the largest canoe I could lift and carry (perhaps with the help of a 7-year-old to hold a gunwale or end of the canoe while you get under it?). On all my trips during their childhood, I would focus almost exclusively on them, which means my solo excursions (even day trips) would be non-existent. I would get a Souris River or Wenonah (but all the others you mentioned are pretty good as long as it's a lightweight Kevlar). I'm leery of Nova Craft because they make heavier canoes. I would NOT get a Prospector design. Prospectors are good whitewater designs (maneuverable) but I'm thinking of flatwater lake tripping with 3 kids. That means the largest Kevlar ASYMMETRICAL design (only goes one way - can't be flipped around like a prospector). Asymmetrical canoes are faster, more efficient to paddle, and were specifically made for lake water trips. 3 kids at the ages you mentioned (along with gear for 4 people) will easily take up the space in any canoe (including an 18.5' beast). My kids are now 9, 11, and 13 and we can't fit them with an adult in our Wenonah 17.5' Kevlar anymore. Once yours get to be 14, 12, and 10, I would suggest selling the large Kevlar tripping canoe for 2 smaller ones (as short as 15'). I would still make them as light as possible (you won't be any younger and your 14-year-old may not be up for carrying it alone). That is assuming you're all still interested in canoe camping. Anyway, those are my quick thoughts for now. You sound like a nice family making the best in your situation and I truly wish you all the best on your excursions with 3 very important passengers! My 3 are very close to my biggest priority in my life and I'm in the process of planning an easy trip to get them to like the outdoors. A great option for a "wilderness" trip that is really easy for kids with only 1 (maybe 2) portage (from the car to the water) would be The Bottle Lake/Sucker Lake trip at Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park. Blessings to you Jay!
I can personally attest to the fact Swift boats are worth every penny they are insanely refined and comfortable and if they're in the budget it's an unconscious decision that being said Nova craft are also equally awesome a P17 Swift would work great for you they will work with you on seating configurations if you custom order your boat they have tons of options now with removable seats and kids seats amazing customer service .. Your always going to be in the stern and you can teach all of your kids to take turns as your bow paddlers
First thing to consider is safety. A longer canoe only goes as fast as the experienced paddler .. a canoe long but not wide is not the safest canoe. A Prospector model made by any manufacturer is the best all around canoe for any purpose.
@@ruggedoutdoorsguide9904 I had the Evergreen Prospector and used it for thousands of miles of solo .. I thought it was perfect except for the sharp inside edge of the gunwale, cut my knuckles during lift once, almost lost the canoe due to the gunwale almost cutting the painter during a tie up in rough water. I REALLY enjoyed the hull design, it provided great lift as well as great stability and easy to paddle too. I'm a guy who thinks the term 'racing canoe' is just downright anti-enjoyment .. so efficiency is not a high priority, and I know that paddling style and paddle blade is far more important than hull efficiency.
@@robertmosurinjohn9911 "A longer canoe only goes as fast as the experienced paddler" - this is misconception. There is optimal speed for each length of a boat, "optimal" meaning in terms of energy-spent-per-meter; and this optimal speed depends on boat length. Same energy, same vendor, but different length of boats: you can do more miles on 17' canoe than on 15' canoe. "In the 1800s, William Froude, researching warships for the British Admiralty, observed that models run at speeds in proportion to the square root of their length." You are so right saying "'racing canoe' is just downright anti-enjoyment"!!! I am considering buying canoe for mostly solo recreational, some portaging with family; Swift Canoe. "Algonquin 16" has less rocker than "Prospector 16", and they even have Prospector "Combi" models (with three seats); but since I am complete beginner, I'd go with classic Prospector 16 so I can do exercises in a water, I have few classic books, and build my skills faster. Plus, "Prospector" is in each rental centre.
The one category you miss is the adventure/expedition paddler. It is where I fall. I do some lake some whitewater and a lot of river but I travel long distances over a longer period of time (oftrn spending weeks at a time on the water). I hunt and fish my way across and around the territory. The prospector series of canoes is where I live. Some are decked some not. Ranging from 16 to 17 feet, these canoes (although not a specialist at anything) are great generalist canoes. I have fallen in love with mine and can be found in one most of my time on the water.
Absolutely. In your category, you'll likely have a 16-foot prospector made of Royalex, Tuf-Stuff or some other durable (but heavy) material. It's what 95% of the adventurer documentary makers use and for good reason. I'm not getting any younger, and to portage an 80 lb canoe is not my idea of fun. I'm also an adventurer and make lots of documentaries but I stick with the 16-foot solo carbon canoe models (weight is around 29 lbs) though they're not great for big water, whitewater or rough handling on portages or rocks, etc.
That was a fantastic , easy to understand summary. Great job.
Glad you enjoyed it!
You can tell when people know a lot about their craft when there’s barely any cuts in the video. This guy seems like he could give a 3hr presentation with no preparation.
You're very kind Elliot! You're right about me not making many edits. That takes time and looks a bit questionable like "what's he trying to hide?" Thank you again for your encouragement!
I asked my friend, a Maine guide, what was a good all-around tandem canoe for both downriver and flatwater use. She recommended the Old Town Penobscot 16, and she was right. I also added a center seat and can paddle it solo. Works on Class II streams yet not too bothered by wind on lakes.
Thanks for the overview. I might add that if you live up North and want to leave your canoe out all winter, you probably own an aluminum one. Besides their weight though, they are also noisy!
Thanks for the insight. It may help others!
My dagger royalite sure knew how to crack with winter freeze and thaw. Oh ya, cold in quebec.
Thanks for sharing. Seems to me that a canoe with a lot of rocker. A deep of straight keel, and an extra 10-15 cm freeboard would be the best choise if you are living near the ocean where there are always 1-3 meter waves.
Ya, that's a good overall assessment. Extra Freeboard for big waves, keel for control in the wind/waves and rocker can help with wave-riding as well. If it were me though, I'd get a different vessel for 3 meter waves! :) Thanks for the input!
Thanks. Yes a polynesian style canoe (With an outrigger and sail), would probably be better direction to go. They also have a high chin spoon bow that makes broaching less likely... Weight distibution would also have to be considered. Going upwind/downwind ..
You forgot the Wilderness Tripping Class. Canoes that handle whitewater and lakes. The classic Old Town Tripper 172 is an example. Flat bottom, huge capacity and made of Royalex. This is the canoe they threw off the factory roof. The first Royalex canoe.
I see flat bottom canoes as recreational. They are not meant for efficient lake tripping. The operative word is "efficient". I love large flat bottom canoes for holding gear, being steady and being multi-purpose, but I've outlined canoes built mostly for specialty activities (tripping, whitewater, recreation, etc.) without compromise. Any Royalex canoe will be too heavy for portaging over 5 - 10 km of portages over 2 weeks. That said, I do love large, flat bottom canoes that are tough and won't crack easily in whitewater!
@@ruggedoutdoorsguide9904 I’ve done two-week wilderness trips in my Tripper. Yes it’s heavy to portage, but the capacity and durability make it worth it. Old Town also made a 20’ version called the Tripper XL.
I want a recreational lake tripping for Florida's Small shallow rivets and going in between lakes on the St. JOHN RIVER for l9ng camping trips and hu ting Gators.
Very well explained!! The comparison to cars was very useful.
Wonderful to hear. I like to explain things clearly and with examples if possible! Thanks so much for watching!
Very helpful. Thanks for producing and posting.
My pleasure! Positive feedback is always appreciated!
Very useful information.
Thanks for commenting! Positive feedback is always appreciated.
Amazing summary, thank you.
My pleasure!
I'm glad you mentioned Sportspal. They don't get much love on YT. This is the canoe I've decided to go with. The American version. I will mostly use it for fishing Lake Erie backwaters and tributaries. I'm having a hard time deciding to go with the pointed or square stern. I want to put a motor on it for the majority of use. But will also like the occasional peaceful paddle down a river. I'm concerned with the ability to paddle the square stern and worried about the weight of a motor hanging on the side of a pointed. I have no idea which way to go and have zero experience with either option
Unfortunately I can't help you based on my experience. I've had good luck with my trolling motor mount on the side of my prospector canoe, but I guess the real answer would be based on what activity you'll do more. I like the versatility offered by using a trolling motor mount on a double-ended canoe, but that's just me! Thanks for watching!
If you haven't made the decision yet, I can help, I own both square stern and pointed canoes and a side mount wins every time, square sterns make sense in a boat where you sit off on the side, but in a canoe you sit in the middle and the motor is directly behind you and you can really only steer one way, a side mount the tiller is in a comfortable place to steer both ways. Also a square stern sucks to paddle, the square stern makes turbulence and stops the canoe from gliding, so unless you plan on using the motor 100% of the time, get a pointed. The Sportspals usually come with side mounts, if not you can buy one, and the motor weight will not even be noticeable, I've been running side mounts for years.
I own fiberglass, and plastic canoes, my next one will be a Sportspal, probably the 12' Special with the yoke and only one seat. I just want it for when I go out alone down creeks and small water, I have big canoes for big adventures already I want something light, tough and comfortable that I can patch with almost anything sticky.
But I'd recommend a pointed and go with the longest model that you can manage, it will track better, glide faster and be generally safer especially if you're out on bigger water and the wind picks up.
I’ve had a few square sterns and ended up putting a side bar for an electric motor. It puts the motor in the perfect position for trolling in my opinion. Mounted on the transom cause a lot of back pain by the end of the day....so.... I bought a sports pal wide stern for trolling days and we have an old town and Grumman for paddling days😊🛶
I can't believe that after such a good description of what to look for in a quality canoe, the conversation goes to sports pal!
It doesn't matter if has ends on it at all. You might as well put a motor on a Rubbermaid container. They both won't go straight or turn where you want them to. The one good thing about the sports pal is that no matter what you do, it won't sink!
For advice on a usable canoe rewatch the video.
A week ago, not having been in a canoe since the Boy Scouts a decade ago, I bought a 17 foot Coleman prospector canoe, made of thick HDPE plastic, with large cold cracks, for 25 dollars at a yard sale. I was very interested to know what it was good for. Seems Recreational use, hunting, or lakewater tripping will be within it's wheelhouse. Possibly some light light rapids.
Coleman is what i would can a good "hack around" canoe. It's usually very durable, but not efficient (if you do any tripping, you'll become frustrated by the lack of maneuverability and heavy weight). Hunting and fishing close to camp or cottage is where it excels but I personally would not take anything weighing over 50 lbs on a portage trip. It's not that I can't carry it, but there are so many great light options now. However, for $25, it's hard to pass up!
Bro 25 dollars??? Your lucky
Great Video! Thank you. Where would you place the Bob 15 Special and how would you compare it to the prospector design? Thank you very much !! :)
Good question! I've never paddled the Bob 15 Special, but I do hold Nova Craft canoes in high regard. Though it's a solo boat, I'm not a huge fan of the prospector design in general. I like asymmetrical canoes with very minimal rocker for ultimate speed and efficiency on flat water. I'd consider the Bob Special for class 1 and 2 rapids if I'm paddling alone.
Great video! Love the background!
Thanks so much! Comments are always appreciated!
Great info
Love to hear encouraging words! Thanks for watching!
Well done Sir! Thank you! :)
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching and for your feedback!
What category would a Mohawk Blazer 16 fit in. What type of usage is it made for?
Looks to me like the16 foot Blazer is a bit of a cross between a weekend flatwater boat and a mild whitewater canoe (class 2 max.). I'm not sure it fits either category well, but it's a bit of a compromise for the sake of diversity.
@@ruggedoutdoorsguide9904 thanks for the reply. Ive never had a conue before and at 60 yrs old not looking to do much more than peddling in a calm lake, at least for now. I see used Mohawk Blazer 16s for sale pretty cheap. Do you think it would be a good one for a older beginner?
@@thomasgriffith3747 The answer in my opinion is YES. The Blazer is a decent beginner canoe as long as you remember that you'll be dealing with the weight. If you're okay with that, then all the other things like price, design, etc. are good motivating factors to start getting out on the water! Best of luck brother.
Lake tripper for me! Maybe whitewater some day tho :)
makes sense for most people!
Fantastique vidéo !
Merci de bien vouloir
Great video thank you. Lake water tripping canoe, would be decent for fishing and some mild rivers?? With a dog?
Yes, but if you're mostly fishing, I'd get a flat-bottom wide canoe. If mostly lake tripping, then a tandem tripper is fine (bit more tippy than flat bottom canoe). Mild rivers should be nearly like a lake or windy lake. You won't want to tackle too many rapids (especially anything beyond class 1) with a kevlar lake tripper. Thanks for the question and thanks for watching!
@@ruggedoutdoorsguide9904 thank you
Good sound advice
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching and commenting!
@ruggedoutdoorsguide9904 I'm no novice, but still clear, undisputable, and entertaining
What about the Prospector vs the dedicated lake boat on large lakes or salt water bays that have boat wakes? Which handles the wakes better?
Good question! I have not done a head-to-head comparison but here are my thoughts; A prospector is the choice for whitewater paddlers, and the conditions are loosely similar (large waves and rough water). So, I'd be relatively confident using a prospector to deal with wake. On the other hand, my lake tripper's bow doesn't rise out of the water as much, so it will cut through waves rather than riding over them. It's a smoother ride. The bow depth on my Wenonah Escape is pretty good, so I'd feel comfortable dealing with any wake. If the waves are bigger than my 17' Escape can handle, I would get off the water ASAP. I don't think the issue of how well it handles wakes should take priority over how well it paddles on open water in general. I'd still choose my 17' Escape over my 16' Evergreen Prospector model. Just one final thought; If I was paddling on larger lakes with lots of waves/wake, I would probably deploy my stabilizers. You can see my full review - th-cam.com/video/t2fxA93qY_c/w-d-xo.html
Thanks for commenting and maybe our discussion will help others too!
g
That's the reason i have three canoes.Keep going with your videos i like them a lot.👍
Thanks, will do! I appreciate your encouragement friend!
I am looking to get a canoe for the family (kids aged 7, 5, and 3, with one adult - I am a single parent) to start using while car camping, as well as introducing them to wilderness tripping - something I grew up doing and where my heart lays. I have lots of canoe experience but my children do not. Because they do not have much experience, and no available second adult to stern, I am not willing to get two small canoes. I am considering one larger canoe for now and then later down the road getting something smaller for solo/tandem use.
I have been considering a 17 prospector (swift or nova craft), 17.5 prospector (Souris River), Quetico 17 or 18.5 (souris river), 18 prospector (nova craft), 16’6” prospector (holy cow) and a 17’4” explorer (holy cow canoe) all with 3rd seat options. I’m still undecided on materials for each. I’m leaning more towards a Kevlar or tough stuff, maybe blue steel. I like the durability of tformex but that’s some heavy weight to portage alone while having to carry everything else myself as well.
I know ultimately there will be compromises but I want to make sure that I will not be overblown by wind while day tripping with minimal weight, but still am able to trip in it when I want to as well. I don’t see us becoming a two tandem canoe family for a very long time.
Any thoughts, comments, or suggestions? It’s greatly appreciated.
Wow Jay! I empathize with your situation and I love your commitment to instilling outdoor values to your kids! I was in a similar situation and ultimately I ended up getting multiple canoes. If one is all you can handle, then given what you said, here is what I would do:
My priority would be to teach the kids on every trip, so I would focus on flat water, safer routes. That means I would toss the idea of T-Formex because of weight. Then, I would absolutely stick with Kevlar, and just be sure to be careful on portages. I'd get the largest canoe I could lift and carry (perhaps with the help of a 7-year-old to hold a gunwale or end of the canoe while you get under it?). On all my trips during their childhood, I would focus almost exclusively on them, which means my solo excursions (even day trips) would be non-existent. I would get a Souris River or Wenonah (but all the others you mentioned are pretty good as long as it's a lightweight Kevlar). I'm leery of Nova Craft because they make heavier canoes. I would NOT get a Prospector design. Prospectors are good whitewater designs (maneuverable) but I'm thinking of flatwater lake tripping with 3 kids. That means the largest Kevlar ASYMMETRICAL design (only goes one way - can't be flipped around like a prospector). Asymmetrical canoes are faster, more efficient to paddle, and were specifically made for lake water trips. 3 kids at the ages you mentioned (along with gear for 4 people) will easily take up the space in any canoe (including an 18.5' beast). My kids are now 9, 11, and 13 and we can't fit them with an adult in our Wenonah 17.5' Kevlar anymore.
Once yours get to be 14, 12, and 10, I would suggest selling the large Kevlar tripping canoe for 2 smaller ones (as short as 15'). I would still make them as light as possible (you won't be any younger and your 14-year-old may not be up for carrying it alone). That is assuming you're all still interested in canoe camping.
Anyway, those are my quick thoughts for now. You sound like a nice family making the best in your situation and I truly wish you all the best on your excursions with 3 very important passengers! My 3 are very close to my biggest priority in my life and I'm in the process of planning an easy trip to get them to like the outdoors. A great option for a "wilderness" trip that is really easy for kids with only 1 (maybe 2) portage (from the car to the water) would be The Bottle Lake/Sucker Lake trip at Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park.
Blessings to you Jay!
I can personally attest to the fact Swift boats are worth every penny they are insanely refined and comfortable and if they're in the budget it's an unconscious decision that being said Nova craft are also equally awesome a P17 Swift would work great for you they will work with you on seating configurations if you custom order your boat they have tons of options now with removable seats and kids seats amazing customer service ..
Your always going to be in the stern and you can teach all of your kids to take turns as your bow paddlers
First thing to consider is safety. A longer canoe only goes as fast as the experienced paddler .. a canoe long but not wide is not the safest canoe. A Prospector model made by any manufacturer is the best all around canoe for any purpose.
Yup - that's why I mentioned the prospector. I have one from Evergreen, but I'm not a fan of its efficiency (or lack thereof) for solo lake travel.
@@ruggedoutdoorsguide9904 I had the Evergreen Prospector and used it for thousands of miles of solo .. I thought it was perfect except for the sharp inside edge of the gunwale, cut my knuckles during lift once, almost lost the canoe due to the gunwale almost cutting the painter during a tie up in rough water. I REALLY enjoyed the hull design, it provided great lift as well as great stability and easy to paddle too. I'm a guy who thinks the term 'racing canoe' is just downright anti-enjoyment .. so efficiency is not a high priority, and I know that paddling style and paddle blade is far more important than hull efficiency.
@@robertmosurinjohn9911 "A longer canoe only goes as fast as the experienced paddler" - this is misconception. There is optimal speed for each length of a boat, "optimal" meaning in terms of energy-spent-per-meter; and this optimal speed depends on boat length. Same energy, same vendor, but different length of boats: you can do more miles on 17' canoe than on 15' canoe.
"In the 1800s, William Froude, researching warships for the British Admiralty, observed that models run at speeds in proportion to the square root of their length."
You are so right saying "'racing canoe' is just downright anti-enjoyment"!!!
I am considering buying canoe for mostly solo recreational, some portaging with family; Swift Canoe. "Algonquin 16" has less rocker than "Prospector 16", and they even have Prospector "Combi" models (with three seats); but since I am complete beginner, I'd go with classic Prospector 16 so I can do exercises in a water, I have few classic books, and build my skills faster. Plus, "Prospector" is in each rental centre.
The first thing you need to think about is what you want to do with the canoe! Everything else follows.
Absolutely! I made the video because lots of people don't know that there is such a thing as different canoes for different purposes.