Need some education on Canoes

Thinking about getting a canoe for the wife and I. Now that the kids are grown up, we want to venture out on our own.
 
I did a little research today on-line. Looked at building one, then realized it might be cheaper/quicker to buy one. One thing I think I need to figure out first though, is what kind of canoe do I need.
 
I think our intended uses would be for just cruising around rivers, lakes (not the great lakes), fishing. I doubt we will do any camping excursions in the canoe. More like car base camp and use the canoe to go exploring/fishing, coming back to camp for the night.
 
Looking for any guidance.
Thanks,
 

If you go to a canoe rental place they will sell you one thats banged up for next to nothing and you can fix it up a little. al you should have to do is patch a few holes and repaint!

Where's Paddle when ya need her?

Yeah I was just thinking the same thing, actually. Where is paddle?
 
Sorry I can't help ya. All I know about canoes is, when you put 'em in the water, they float....if yer lucky!

I thought I heard a Paddle related question..(may not know a lot about blazer engines....) Well Tim.....My suggestion would be....go with a nicer canoe...don't just buy the $499 old town canoe in plastic.....what you need to consider:
Use....what are you going to use it for..
....if you are using it primarily for lake paddling and calm rivers...you can go with a rather flat boat..as in not a lot of rocker...very stable...goes straight...not the best turner...lots of rocker makes a spinny boat...but makes it harder to go straight (lots of corrective strokes)

Size....how big do you want it?
.....if you are going with a tandem canoe....you most likely will be in the 15-18 foot range...too long of a boat..and you have a harder time with smaller rivers..too short a boat...and lakes suck....

Weight....do you plan on doing a lot of portages?
....there are soooo many different kinds of materials boats are made out of....plastic..cheap...Royalex...heavier...but bomb proof.....Composites...the old Spectra/fiberglass layups...then there are the more pricey canoes that have all sorts of light weight...but strong....requires a large check book also....

Tandem or Solo? (self explanatory)

Then comes all the little things..like tractor seats or cane seats....vinyl gunnel's or metal...blah blah blah....oh yeah...Canadian style or American

Ultimately what it comes down to..is there is no one boat that does "everything" Do a lot of research...See what your friends have...go to your local canoe/out door specialty stores...they usually have try out days...or cheap rentals to try out....you don't want to get a boat that you are going to hate in a few years....here are some websites to start looking at......
http://www.novacraft.com
https://www.mohawkcanoes.com/home.htm
http://www.bellcanoe.com/
http://www.madrivercanoe.com/
http://www.swiftcanoe.com/


here's one to read about the different canoe's
http://gorp.away.com/gorp/publishers/ics/how_cano.htm

So there's a TON of info on canoe's for ya...shift through that...educate yourself...and if ya have some more specific questions...feel free to ask...
waaaaaaaa hoooooooo!

Thanks all.
I was hoping Paddle would speak up. lol
 
Tandom for sure.
Less strokes.
Mid length 16' seems to be about right.
34"-36" wide or so.
Rocker keel.
Pretty much in the middle, not too short, not too long, not too wide, not too narrow, not too flat, and not like a horseshoe, not to cheap, but not to expensive.
 
I do like the idea of checking out the rental places first to get a feel for them. Come to think of it, ISU (Illinois State University) rents canoes, and has my local Boy Scout canoes. One thing I do know, I don't want an aluminum canoe.
 
Any preferred brands?
I did like the literature on the Mad River canoes.

I have a 17 foot cedar strip canoe that I love. I've had this canoe for at least 20 years. It's a 4 foot beam at the center, weighs about 70 pounds and in all these years I've never tipped it.
I've used it in lakes, rivers and the pacific ocean. There was one time when a pod of killer whales passed within 15 feet of me!
I used it for trout fishing while my boys played with their toy cars in it.
In windy conditions I put a few heavy rocks in the bow and that seems to help keep me going the direction I choose.
I paid $400 for it and I've been offered $2,000 for it. I bought it used and I have no idea what brand it is or what it's worth.
I don't have any good pics of it but you can see part of it in this old picture.
Good luck my friend!
 


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http://www.wenonah.com/

oops forgot another one....I would suggest mad river or wenonah....even old town....I would personaly go with the royalex over the plastic models.......I would go with a slightly sharper chine....doesn't offer quit as much secondary stability...but you don't have to lean it on it's edge to paddle it....deffinately maybe check into spending a little more and go with a composite....rent a few....try out a ton....I think that's deffinately the best way to figure out what is going to work with you....most of the canoe manufactures I have listed are exceptional in products, quality, and customer service....ultimately a good canoe should hold it's value...and last a long long time...most of the people I paddle with really like Bell....It think they are a little more pricey....but I think most people I know have at least two boats or so....Chevy Lover got a great deal....it's a little risky thought with wood and canvas canoes as to wether or not you get a lemon...and as I said above...if you go to a good out doors store...ie not gander mountain or cabella's..etc....especially one that carries a lot of different brands....they should be able to really steer you in mostly the direction you want...once you kind of narrow it down...then you can start looking for the best deal....or the guilty pleasure of picking up a virgin un paddled canoe.....ooooooooooooooh  *goose bumps*
I paddle solo....I have a Nova Craft Super Nova....it has 2 inches of rocker...(too much for tandem touring) perfect for what I do...it's got a 34" beam...and almost no chine or edge....(canadian style) you lean it on it's side...it paddles great...scares the poop out of ya if you try to keep it level....carbon/kevlar/spectra lay up...and I think it's about 14'7"

I really really really like the mad river canoes....I would also suggest getting the foot braces for the stern paddler (makes paddling soooooo much easier!!!!)

What are foot braces?
 
I love the look of wooden canoes, maybe someday I'll build me one. I got decent woodworking skills. Made a few pieces of furniture over the years, including kitchen cabinets, and several loft beds for my youngest.

Most manufactures offer them..or you can easily make some....http://www.rutabaga.com/product.asp?pid=1012350 here's just one example...the stern paddler can push with their feet to get a god grab with your paddle...making paddling long distances way easier!  here.....I drew you a diagram.....
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woo hoo!!! lots of fun eh?



oh here's a great link for you...almost forgot....http://www.paddling.net  oh and here is a store in your area ....http://www.rutabaga.com

Great pic. lol
 
Madison is like 5 hours from me, close. lol
 
Labor day weekend we are going up to Eagle River and the wife wants to do some canoeing. We might check out some of the local canoe rental places and see what they got and how much they want to sell a used one or two for. I know I can check out some aluminum ones from our local Boy Scout council office. They have 6 and a trailer all 6 hang on. I can rent the life jackets from the local university. Speaking of which, they might sell used ones too. Hmmmm....

do you really want to load an almost 90lb canoe? eeeeeck! stay away from the aluminums....great for beers and bombing down the river...not as pleasant for cruising around the lake....Eagle river......I know it well....I wouldn't buy until you try though.....have a fun weekend!

Dagger used to make some the best canoes. But, unfortunately they decided to focus on kayaks.

quote:

ORIGINAL: dontoe

Dagger used to make some the best canoes. But, unfortunately they decided to focus on kayaks.

their white water boats are fantastic...if ya can still find em...I think one of my canoe friends had one...since moved on to another design...there's a lot of white water canoists in our group

May 4th -'07 Hiwassee River, NC
I had this one built by Dagger about six years ago..........little rocker, extra tumblehome, no keel, bit of a rounded bottom, 17 ft. with foam sandwiched between two layers of thin polyethylene, wood trim and wicker seats. 69 pounds!

Looks great!
Looks like you ahd a good time too.

quote:

ORIGINAL: dontoe
I had this one built by Dagger about six years ago..........little rocker, extra tumblehome, no keel, bit of a rounded bottom, 17 ft. with foam sandwiched between two layers of thin polyethylene, wood trim and wicker seats. 69 pounds!

you mean royalex as the material correct? and 69lbs is light for a 17 foot boat....are you serious? ....hmmmmmm my boat in a royalex lay up would be close to 60lbs and it's only 14'7"....what is the model of that canoe? any ideas? it' looks like a fantastic boat for tripping....

Yeah, that was the weight given when I ordered it. Very easy to portage by myself with the wife carring thge gear. Royalex is it!