Okay canoe people..which one to get?

“Touring:
Canoes that tend to be more technical than general recreation canoes. They are normally long, narrow canoes designed for efficiency and speed. Although initial stability is reduced, secondary stability is enhanced. This class of canoe is versatile in a variety of water conditions - from calm lakes to moderate whitewater.
Model Material Length Width Depth Weight Capacity
PENOBSCOT 16 OLTONAR/ROYALEX® 16'2" 34" 13 1/4" 58 lbs. 860 lbs.

DISCOVERY 164 SUPERLINK 3™ 16'4" 34" 14 1/2" 74 lbs. 1050 lbs.

PENOBSCOT 17 OLTONAR/ROYALEX® 17'1" 35" 14 1/2" 65 lbs. 1100 lbs.

DISCOVERY 174 SUPERLINK 3™ 17'4" 36" 14" 83 lbs. 1080 lbs.

River Running & Tripping:
Riverrunning/Tripping canoes are high volume canoes designed for whitewater and/or carrying large loads. They are rockered for maneuverability, deep and flared in the ends for dryness, and built to withstand heavy abuse. They are also a great choice for large family outings.
Model Material Length Width Depth Weight Capacity

APPALACHIAN OLTONAR/ROYALEX® 16'0" 35" 15" 67 lbs. 1075 lbs.

DISCOVERY SCOUT SUPERLINK 3™ 16'0" 35" 15" 78 lbs. 1075 lbs.

TRIPPER OLTONAR/ROYALEX® 17'2" 37" 15" 80 lbs. 1100 lbs.

XL TRIPPER OLTONAR/ROYALEX® 20'0" 41" 16 1/2" 105 lbs. 1700 lbs.

DISCOVERY 169 SUPERLINK 3™ 16'9" 37" 15" 85 lbs. 1100 lbs.



Which model should I get? I need something that I can put on top of my Honda Accord. I will be getting a Yakima rack for my car.

I got this info from Canoe link ”

“...I would point you to one of the Penobscot models. I did much of my ACA tandem instructor's training in a Penobscot and it is a pretty darn good all around canoe. It can easily handle the Class II whitewater of tripping situations typical canoe trippers deal with (with the right paddlers and spray cover it would handle certain Class III situations -- but knowing when to portage is an important skill), has good capacity, and durability. It is more expensive than the Discovery models, but the pounds that are saved end up being more important over the years -- the cost can be prorated, but the weight stays the same year after year, and step after step on those portages. The only issue is which length -- the shorter will be a bit more maneuverable (and lighter), while the 17' will be easier paddling over distance and has greater load capacity (which doesn't mean you should add more weight because you can -- it will give you a bit more freeboard with the same weight, a benefit in rapids or choppy open water).

Will you ever have to paddle it solo? Then the 16' will have a slight advantage. Will it be a lot of longer trips? Then the 17' will have an advantage.

If you are set on a career of real bush country river adventures in the far north, then the Tripper starts coming into the picture, but most folks don't need that type of design.

Hope this helps. (Get the vinyl gunnels and trim, not wood -- not as pretty, but a lot less maintenance!)”

“I have to get an Old Town brand because I can get a special discount through the manufacturer.

I will more than likely have 2 people paddling but sometimes it will just be me.

I will mainly be on steady moving water but i would like to have the versatility to handle class2 and easy class 3 rapids with it.

As far as gear. I won't be taking a whole bunch of crap. Just beer and food and my backpack full of gear.

so, whatcha think?”

“As far as gear. I won't be taking a whole bunch of crap. Just beer and food and my backpack full of gear. - bbinkley

That's a couple of hundred pounds. Hee Hee.

I've been in the market for a touring canoe. I had finially decided on a Penobscot 17 but then saw a Mad River canoe that I liked better. Back to studying. Have not bought one yet.
If you can get a good discount, go for the Penobscot 17. That canoe almost paddled itself. Very sweet canoe.”

“if you plan to paddle alone, get a shorter boat. trust me on this one, dude.
as far as which type, you'll be happy with anything.
paddling still water is gonna be slow moving no matter what with a loaded down canoe, paddling in the river is gonna be fun no matter what. in my experience, anyway, which is somewhat limited.”

“you have to bring extra stuff in there with you, binks!!
what about the lawn chairs and barbecue grill?? and a big old cooler? and a tube to get out and float on?

trust me, a canoe is an easy thing to fill up? have you seen what my boat looked like on the buffalo last year? hardly any room to put our feet”

“I have an old coleman 15' canoe (plastic/royalex) that I've probably paddled & an old aluminum 17' 1,000 miles. The coleman has taken a lot of abuse & I've dragged it great distances. Slides nice over snow, leaves & pine needles. I should have worn the bottom off years ago on rock. I tend to like aluminum because I start early in the year when there is still ice on the lakes & the aluminum runner glides along on the ice like an iceskate. I also like the longer 17' wider canoes because you can bring so much more gear with you. We made out first set of portaging wheels from an old wooden sided garden cart that we nylon ratchet strapped to the bottom of the canoe & dissasemble for the water. Wheels are nice for long distance trips with portages. We wheel them right side up so we can leave all the gear in them & roll them along. Rocky trails & narrow cut blowdown are hard to traverse. We've become adept at running this canoe right on to the ice & then off again into the water without getting wet or mishaps. I do like to tie everything down & put everything in waterproof bags. I usually stuff my sleeping bag into a heavy garbage/ compactor bag & then into it's stuffsack. Makeshift covers help to in rougher waters. I've taken them down a few class IV gorges & over one waterfall (empty of gear). Don't like dams & I've had more than one beaver smack the side with his tail. First day of paddling is the hardest & then becomes easier every day. Much nicer than backpacking in hot weather. I used to like 9-12 miles with an elevation climb of 1500-2500 backpacking but easily do 20 miles with a lot more gear in a canoe.”

“get the boat of your dreams...and plan on coming to the Buffalo in May...look on the trip page...my trip...my birthday weekend...it'll be a blast...got the Bunnie last year...and broke her in good!!! and me too...whipped my arse into amazing shape and had sooooooooo much fun doing it too....cool to bring a dog on a canoe trip...check out some of my buffalo photos on my webshots page...oh a boatin we will go, aaaaaa boatin we will go...hi ho a derry o......aaaaaa boatin we will go!!!!

May 02 trip
labor day weekend 02 with Stratdewd
my solo nightmare trip where I dragged the bunnie 6 of 8 miles

enjoy!!!”

“My canoe in AK is a Penobscot 16. Great canoe.”

“i like the mad rivers and the old towns. i agree that wood piedes on it are a bad idea if your into realworld floatin. i prefer royalex by a mile. just get the best value. i have a 17 foot coleman that i took on my trip wif sticky(see his link) and it was a breeze goin solo in it. buckshot highly aprooved of his boat ride.


sticky, you may want to check into those portaging wheels...HAHAH!”

“I have a Old Town Tripper 17'2". It is about 12 years old and still going. I need to put a skid plate on both the front and back as they are getting worn from abuse. I've hunted, fished, and whitewatered (up to class III) in this canoe with no problems. I don't think I've ever turned this canoe over. It is extremely stable. It will carry all my gear with ease. It is a little heavy in portage at 80 lbs, but not bad. I like it.”

“never you mind...I can tug and push like an oxen...don't need no derned stupid wheels...Just need water!”

“I thought for sure Maple had bought a couple of canoes...”

“Don't get stikmon's canoe, you'll just end up carrying it wherever you go...”