Kayak/Canoe Question

“The guide series is a good series. If I remember right they are composite but that's where the experience and longevity of Old Town come into play. 14 footer would be a good size for two people and gear.”

“Thanks for the input, I don't mind paying for quality, I just want to know what I am paying for”

“freaking steal.

too bad it's that far from me.. i'd get it..
last edited: 7/27/09 5:13:45 PM”

“I would go for either a (keeled) composite like the Penobscot or the old tried and true aluminum. The aluminum may be a little lighter but it will also be noisier---something to consider if you're fishing or hauling a lot of loose gear. The composite may be a little heavier but it will be much quieter and tougher. The weight will only be a factor if you have lengthy portages where you can't use a wheeled cart.

For camping trips I would stick with the canoe over the kayak: you can keep most of your gear confined to one or two packs while the kayak is better suited to multiple small stuff sacks or packs.”

“alum canoe is also hotter then any of the others unless they are dark on the inside.”

“aluminum is also harder to knock back into usable shape if it gets damaged. I personally don't like aluminum but that is a personal preference as much as anything.”

“I split the price a canoe a number of years back with a friend. I really wanted an Old Town but his budget forced us to a Coleman.

The Coleman only holds about half the weight of a similarly sized Old Town.

The Coleman is worth about $20 today where the Old Town would still be worth nearly what we paid for it and would sell quickly.

If you can find a dealer selling cosmetic blems, you can save some dough and have a canoe that will perform the same.

I much prefer a kayak for paddling, but a canoe will haul much more.”

“Lest I am misunderstood... I am not endorsing a Coleman. Let's look at something similar...
A brown hardware store poly tarp will keep you dry if you pitch it right. But it is no Henry Shire/Six Moons tarp tent.

For the occasional float downstream on the weekend the Coleman will get the job done. And that has its place. For fun... and real paddling adventures you are not gonna like it for long. But it's not meant to do that. The Coleman is for someone who wants a boat that won't sink, that they can run over sandbars and gravel rifts. It'll serve but it won't serve well.

Old Town is not the olny quality canoe maker out there either. Mad River has some great stuff. Wenoah (sp) has some good canoes. If you like the idea of a tin can Grumman is king of the metal boats. Then of course you can have a boat custom made to suit you. If you want to get onto big water like large lakes you might as well be in a washtub with a Coleman cause they don't handle waves of any size with any grace.

But if all you want is two weekends a year floating downstream to a car spottted for the ride back it may fill the bill without breaking the bank.
last edited: 7/27/09 9:39:12 PM”

“If you can hold out to the end of the season, you've save a few bucks. Two years ago bought a 16 ft We-no-nah in December, $200 off.”

“Who are you and why are you named after MY amp!?!?!?!?!”