Canoe??
- This topic has 14 replies, 11 voices, and was last updated Sep 18, 2011 at 4:14 pm by
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Before you lock into a canoe, I would look at some of the hybrid boats like the Native Ultimate or the Wilderness System Commander.
It really depends on where you are going to use it and what you are going to use it for.
An aluminum canoe here on the rivers in the Ozarks is not good. They are noisy and the aluminum doesn’t glide over the rocks like plastic will. But if that’s not the type of water your are fishing then my suggestion is pointless.
I can cast out of my Old Town pretty well just sitting down, I can, but rarely stand and I’m a big guy. But most of my fishing is spent with the canoe sitting on a gravel bar while I get out and wade the area.
I’d go for a Royalex tandem canoe in the 16-17′ range, and around 36″ wide or thereabouts. Wenonah, Bell, & Mad River make good boats.
If you cant afford a Royalex boat go for one made out or cross link or polylink…The Wenonah North & Southfork models are good entry level choices..I know several canoe rental owners and those are the boats they buying for their fleets. They used to buy Old Town Disco’s…but they say the new Old Towns dont hold up very well.
Avoid the Coleman & Pelican canoes…that Ram X plastic cannot be repaired…Nothing sticks to it other than duct tape..Cheers.
I’ve got a Wenonah Fisherman 14′ made from Royalex. It’s a great canoe for fishing, but it doesn’t track as well as some of the touring canoes due to the priority being placed on the stability and width of the canoe rather than speed and efficiency. I’ve paddled it across Fontana lake to Hazel Creek from Cable Cove and back. We never felt to concerned about tipping over out in the chop, but the next time I do that trip, I’ll probably bring my electric kicker. It’s a haul!
Jonathan…how long did it take you to paddle Cable Cove to Hazel Creek? I’ve done it with an outboard but want to try it with my Native Ultimate.
I picked mine up on Craigslist for $130 with paddles. It is Northeast Outfitters (Dicks Sports Generic) and it floats. Its plastic, has 2 web mesh seats, and wood bars across.
It is nothing special, there are no bells and whistles to it. It floats, gets me to where I want to fish, it takes a beating on the rocks during our droughts, fits on my car roof-I can get it up there solo, and was inexpensive.
It is great for ponds and lakes. I’ll be taking it out in a few hours on a Potomac tidal creek. If you find one for that deal, take it.
My parents live across the street from the lake and I store it under their deck during the off season. On a side note, keeping a canoe on your car roof is one easy way to find
Jonathan…how long did it take you to paddle Cable Cove to Hazel Creek? I’ve done it with an outboard but want to try it with my Native Ultimate.
If I remember correctly, it was about 1.5 hours.
Yeah canoes are very easy to come by for cheap these days.
I would look at getting one with as flat a bottom as possible; rolled-hull canoes are truly relics of the days when they were made of bark or canvas.
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