Canoe Question

[initforfun]

Hey all!! I'm in the market for a new canoe and have a tiny budget. I have narrowed it down to 3 possibilities and was hoping folks here could help me. Primarily i will be using it on smaller inland lakes to do some fishing or paddle the wee ones around. The choices are (and budget doesn't allow more than $400-450) Pelican - Daredevil
Mad River - Adventure 14
Old Town - Sportsman 14
I have read numerous reviews online but would like fellow M-S member opinions. Thanks in advance.

[2manyfish]

Myers Sportspal- Great little boat

[Flash]

Several questions for you from one who has fished out a a 17' Kevlar since 1999 and just sold it.

1. Why a 14' er?
2. Is this primarily for lake use or is some river canoeing also in consideration?
3. Is an electric motor an option at some future point or is this always going to be paddled?
4. Is weight a consideration?
5. Are you a dry footer or a wet footer? - meaning are you going to beach this canoe to enter and exit - if so then a robust material is needed.
6. Can you see yourself at some point getting outriggers for your canoe?
7. Is this primarily a cartop transport?

If for primarily a lake, then minimal to zero "Rocker" is a consioderation. The rocker is the amount of curve from bow to stern. Tumblehome is the amount of curve from side to side and impacts either initial stability (less tumblehome = flatter bottom) or stability underway. In other words the canoe design is very important.

A touring canoe from Mad River is likely a very good design. I'll post more later.

[Flash]

Just to expand on some thoughts;

The design of a canoe greatly determines its purpose or use. The bigger (longer and wider) typically the more seaworthy. The narrower they are - typically the more efficient they move through the water. The more rocker they have the more easily they turn side to side and the less rocker the easier they track straight. The more width the harder it is to paddle efficiently as the arm stroke is away from the body. The hull material impacts the efficiency as materials like aluminum and Rolalex are more durable but at the expense of friction. Materials like Fiberglass or Kevlar have less friction (thus more efficient) but can be more problematic on rocks etc. The taller the bow, the more easily it can be swayed by wind and the harder to track straight, yet a taller canoe is typically a dryer canoe in most open water situations.

Fortunately canoe designers understand all these characteristics and thus design canoes for specific as well as multipurpose tasks. Therefore a "Touring" canoe does a lot of these well for most general canoeists. Fishing canoes are found with a squared off stern for mounting a motor and typically have a flatter bottom for initial stability. They are not very efficient paddling canoes as they are designed for a motor. A small trolling motor is quite nice to have in these. A set of outriggers can make these very stable fishing platforms as long as safe boating principles are maintained.

Mad River royalex square stern canoe with a small 36# trolling motor would give you years and years of use. I would go for the largest you can afford. A 16' over a 14' if it is an option.

Best of luck.

:coolgleam

[DaveW731]

I agree that you may be happier with a longer canoe, if that is possible, primarily for stability. Another factor to consider is the keel. The sharper and deeper the keel, the easier it tracks on a straight line (great for lakes and wind) but the less responsive it is in current (bad for rivers).
Regardless of length, sounds like you are looking primarily for a fishing platform that you can paddle around and maybe get the kids interested in over the next few years and will be primarily lake fishing or fishing slow and easy rivers. If this is accurate, especially if you are going to stay at 14', I would go with the canoe that had the widest and flattest bottom. I know that both Old Town and Mad River make quality boats, don't know anything about the other brands you mentioned.

[john warren]

id go longer ,for capacity reasons. if its a lake canoe you want a bit of keep to help keep you on course in breezes. if you want to use a trolling motoor in the future a clamp on motor board is fine.
the one thing i most highly recomend if your taking kids is to make sure it has plenty of boyancy when swamped.

[initforfun]

Hey thanks for the responses all!!


Mainly getting the 14 footer for ease in loading onto truck and portaging. I will be paddling solo most of the time. The canoe will be all around use inland lakes,rivers and everywhere else. I don't see putting trolling motor on it but...never say never. And yes I will be beaching it here and there to work promising looking holes I encounter. I believe I am going to get the Mad River Adventure. Price weight and performance reviews I've gotten having talked to some folks. It seems to be a very versatile boat. If you ever want to get out PM me always looking to meet new folks. Thanks again for all your input!:)

[ironmachineus]

I recently acquired my first canoe. I have had several boats, but I wanted something to leave at home so I could strap it onto the roof of the SUV. If you're largely using this for fishing, and plan on using it on lakes, go longer and wider. You will not regret the stability. You're likely not going to need high maneuverability through rapids and such, and you really need a stable and comfortable platform to fish from. Do not overlook used - check on this site or on craigslist.com - you'll get more for your money, and if it's plastic/fiberglass, little can go wrong with it (even aluminum is generally going to last without problems). I ended up with a 17' flatback, paid only $300 for it. I can stand up in this thing without worry about it tipping. I hunt and fish from it, plus my wife can climb in without any rocking.

[Mickey Finn]

I use a Olde town guide 147. Its a barge on lakes but is easy to handle and though it feels a little tippy is the most stable canoe I've been in.
I use it for hunting, fishing, dog training and touring.

[Flash]

Hey thanks for the responses all!!


Mainly getting the 14 footer for ease in loading onto truck and portaging. I will be paddling solo most of the time. The canoe will be all around use inland lakes,rivers and everywhere else.

There is a product called a "T" hitch canoe loader that attaches to your hitch and has an adjustable (height) and movable "T" that rotates 360 degrees. It is for solo loading of a canoe onto the roof of your vehicle. I have used one since 1999. They cost around $90-100.

The suggestion to go used is a good one. The fellow that bought mine got a $2000 canoe for $750. I'm pretty confident that you can find one in your price range.

Good luck.

:coolgleam