A canoe or a inflatable raft??

“Ok, folks, I have a decision to make. Which is better and why? Sam's Club has an inflatable raft that is really neat for about 100 bucks and appears to weigh about 40 lbs and will fit in the trunk of my car. OR, is there a canoe out there for about the same price that is lightweight and will easily fit on top?”

“There are defiantly canoes out there that weigh the same or less, but I doubt you'll find one at that price.”

“Least I've ever seen a canoe for sale for was $200. That was our 40 year old fiberglass warhorse with the bondoed bow.

If you want a canoe that will weigh 40 pounds you will have to pay a bit for it. It will go places a raft won't and be much easier to maneuver though.”

“What's the intended use?

Check the want adds/pawn shops first.

Paddling a raft for any distance will inhale largely.”

“If you want a canoe that will weigh 40 pounds you will have to pay a bit for it. It will go places a raft won't and be much easier to maneuver though.”
Sassafras
8:12:54 AM
3/27/06

It will also last a lot longer.”

“I have a inflatable kayak. SUCKS big time

I would go for the raft, more fun and less work.
you lose air and it makes it sooo much harder to paddle.”

“Canoe. Hands down.”

“sorry i did not read it right
go for the canoe!!!!”

“Inflatable rafts are only good for floating with a current. Very hard to paddle them anywhere.”

“Canoe canoe.”

“Thank you all for convincing me to go with the canoe. It will be mostly for rivers and bayou's. Perhaps I need to save my c-note and add a couple more to it for a good, light one, assuming there is one around 35-40 lbs. for one person and a pack.
Thanks again...................”

“Go for something in the 16 to 17 foot range. It may be just a little heavier (60 lbs or so), but you'll be glad you did; especially if you plan on taking gear along with you. And by all means, make sure it doesn't have a keel!!

Good luck, let me know which one you get.”

“If you don't want to go anywhere a raft is fine.”

“Rafts are kinda neat to drag way back into the woods. I've used them to cross bodies of water that would have taken DAYS to walk around.

But first & foremost a canoe. Actually multiple canoes. The small ones don't hold a lot of gear but are easier to portage. I love BIG, wide bodied canoes & have used the same one for thousands of miles over 30 years.”

“Good decision
“Go for something in the 16 to 17 foot range. It may be just a little heavier (60 lbs or so), but you'll be glad you did; especially if you plan on taking gear along with you. And by all means, make sure it doesn't have a keel!!

Good luck, let me know which one you get.”
canoeman
4:34:50 PM
3/27/06
ignore this user

I think 16' to 17' would be way too big especially for solo paddling. I've never had a problem fitting two peoples worth of gear in my 14' Radisson. It weighs 41lbs with an 850lb capacity, but I find it a bit cumbersome carrying on the trails in my area. I have trouble maneuvering it around trees. My cousin has a 12’ Radisson, but it gets a bit tight with two guys, gear, and dog in the boat. His canoe is a lot easier carrying on the trail though. When I get the money, my next canoe will be 10’-5” Hornbeck canoe.”

“I have been paddling canoes and kayaks for more than 25 years, so I guess I have a bias, but I would always choose a canoe for what you are describing. Inflatables of any type are too easy to puncture, especially in murky water where you can't see what sharp objects are lurking just below the surface of the water. Inflatables also should have their air pressure adjusted whenever they are taken out of the water, as when you land for a while. That means hauling a pump around to reinflate when you go back in the water. If you don't adjust the air pressure when they are out of the water, they expand and stretch over time. As they stretch the walls of the tubes get thinner, and more prone to puncture.

60 pounds is traditionally considered a light canoe. I have a Wenonah Prism in Kevlar, a solo boat, that weighs 42 pounds and can take the bumps one encounters in class II rivers. They make canoes, including the Prism, even lighter by eliminating the reenforcement needed to sustain impacts against rocks in rivers, and now they also have fancy materials lighter than Kevlar. If you don't intend to do any class II or higher rivers, by all means go light.

For the type of paddling you describe, I would include Wenonah and Bell canoes in your search.”

“Just you paddling?

If so, look into solo canoes. I have seen a few of these up in the Boundary Waters. A bit shorter than the 16 and 17 foot guys and weigh a little less.

After you get the canoe, you need yourself a good paddle. Check these guys out!

http://gillespiepaddles.com/

These guys will custom make you just about anything, but it will cost you, maybe more that the craft.

If you have the tools, making a paddle is the best way to go. These guys will custom make you just about anything”

“18 LBS...folds to 8 X 21 X 31 in a backpack....

Scroll down through the others to the bottom "FoldLight Packcraft" Skin on Frame...

http://www.keroboats.com/kayaks.html”

“I did two spring river runs in my two canoes this past weekend, one in my 16 ft'er and one in my 12 ft'er, both Old Towns.

Funny thing happend along the way...around a bend about 12 miles down and another 4 miles from a suitable "put in",I came upon a very flat and discarded inflatable raft. I think I've said all I have to on that.

Check out Pelican canoes. Very affordable and they do look like some really nice boats.”

“Get a canoe and the raft. Paddle the canoe and tow the raft, which should be filled with brewskies and bikini babes.”

“You guys crack me up. How in the world can you say "this" is better than "that" without knowing what in the he11 this guys wants to do or where he lives?

These are different products used for different purposes... you can't say "this on or that one" without having more info.

There are sea-kayaks, white-water kayaks, a host of different kinds of rafts, etc., etc.

I currently own two inflatable kayaks, a 18' "touring" canoe, and have, in the past, owned (1) whitewater rafts (2) sea kayaks (3) misc other water-toys.

All are different, I can't take my touring canoe out on the ocean, etc.
last edited: 3/27/06 5:59:25 PM”

“


I have had both a canoe (which I loved) and this inflatable pontoon. Each has its place and it's advantages and disadvantages. My pontoon is great on rivers and small lakes, rows very easily (although it doesn't track as well as a canoe) and weighs about 45lb. But if I had to choose between it and a canoe for versatility, I'd give a slight edge to the canoe. Just like any trip though, you'll adjust your trip to fit your gear or vice versa. I plan on getting another canoe and keeping my pontoon as well. My spring pontoon float in Ontario is only a few months away!


PS: If you're still stuck on what to do, I'd take Buck's advice and go with the bikini babes.”

“Lumberzack, I'm really SURPRISED at you! No keel on a canoe in the Adirondacks? Haven't you ever gone canoeing in the dacks before the ice thawed completely? God know you can paddle forever there.

An aluminum canoe LOADED with gear glides effortlessly over ice. I've used it extensively in the Adirondacks. Very easy to paddle up on to the ice with 2 people & a rope. Glides back into the water just as nice.”

“catskhiker, I think you might be confused with my post. I was quoting canoeman as part of a reply. My Radisson has a keel.”

“....or you could just do what I do and borrow your neighbor's.”

“Why not try out a kayak, before you decide? For a solo paddler, they're great!”