Info on Canoes requested

Info on Canoes requested

Post by samara » Sun, 08 Nov 1998 04:00:00


Looking to buy a used canoe for familly use. Ma, Pa , and 2yr. old. Ma and
pa both whitewater kayak and Pa used to canoe as a kid. I have found a
older wood and canvas canoe, like I used as a kid in very good condition,
but wonder if it is unadvisable to go for beauty rather than practicality
as with a Royalex or similar material boat. We intend to boat mostly flat
water (lakes and estuaries), but I would like to think/hope that the wood
boat would not be suicidal on class 1-mild class2 rivers ( of course when
the little one is older.)
   Any and all thoughts on the matter would be greatly appreciated.

 
 
 

Info on Canoes requested

Post by Gary Pag » Sun, 08 Nov 1998 04:00:00


Quote:
>Looking to buy a used canoe for familly use. Ma, Pa , and 2yr. old. Ma and
>pa both whitewater kayak and Pa used to canoe as a kid. I have found a
>older wood and canvas canoe, like I used as a kid in very good condition,
>but wonder if it is unadvisable to go for beauty rather than practicality
>as with a Royalex or similar material boat. We intend to boat mostly flat
>water (lakes and estuaries), but I would like to think/hope that the wood
>boat would not be suicidal on class 1-mild class2 rivers ( of course when
>the little one is older.)
>   Any and all thoughts on the matter would be greatly appreciated.


I think you have a handle on it.  If you're going the used route, i'd
check with your local paddle shop's bulletin board, or check a local
paddling group for good used gear like Oldtown, Mohawk, Dagger, or Mad
River.

 
 
 

Info on Canoes requested

Post by Nace Fe » Sun, 08 Nov 1998 04:00:00

Go for the practicality of Royalex unless your emotional tie to wood or
canvass is so strong you'll be able to cheerfully overlook the day to day
usage shortcomings of wood.
Quote:

> Looking to buy a used canoe for familly use. Ma, Pa , and 2yr. old. Ma and
> pa both whitewater kayak and Pa used to canoe as a kid. I have found a
> older wood and canvas canoe, like I used as a kid in very good condition,
> but wonder if it is unadvisable to go for beauty rather than practicality
> as with a Royalex or similar material boat. We intend to boat mostly flat
> water (lakes and estuaries), but I would like to think/hope that the wood
> boat would not be suicidal on class 1-mild class2 rivers ( of course when
> the little one is older.)
>    Any and all thoughts on the matter would be greatly appreciated.



 
 
 

Info on Canoes requested

Post by Dave Smit » Sun, 08 Nov 1998 04:00:00

You might want to check with other wood/canvas boat owners at the Wooden
Canoe Heritage Assoc. site at www.wcha.org.  There are lots of folks that
use their wooden boats for just what you are planning.  They will, of
course, take a little more maintenance and care.  If the price and
condition of your find is good you may want to start with the wood/canvas
boat for fla***er use (depending on the hull design) and add a
"tupperware" boat later when you're ready to take the little one on more
challenging paddles.  Also, check the WCHA site for information on paddling
and tripping with kids.
 
 
 

Info on Canoes requested

Post by Rick » Sun, 08 Nov 1998 04:00:00


writes:

Quote:
>Looking to buy a used canoe for familly use. Ma, Pa , and 2yr. old. Ma and
>pa both whitewater kayak and Pa used to canoe as a kid. I have found a
>older wood and canvas canoe, like I used as a kid in very good condition,
>but wonder if it is unadvisable to go for beauty rather than practicality
>as with a Royalex or similar material boat. We intend to boat mostly flat
>water (lakes and estuaries), but I would like to think/hope that the wood
>boat would not be suicidal on class 1-mild class2 rivers ( of course when
>the little one is older.)
>   Any and all thoughts on the matter would be greatly appreciated.


Tim,
   If you have found a good used wood and canvas canoe that is not too
expensive you ought to grab it.  It will handle mild WW occasionally if you are
careful, and many of them have wonderful hulls.  If you don't feel like doing
maintainence look for a good used fiberglass boat, expecially if you are mostly
going to do flat water.  The hot dogs in this NG will push Royalex since most
of them think that fiberglass will break if you look at it (and most of them
think that wood and canvas is worse, except Tim Hewitt).  I had a good
We-no-nah fiberglass canoe for years and abused it constantly in class II
water, it looked bad eventually, but was still very sound; I also paddled a
fiberglass kayak for almost 10 years waiting for it to wear out so I could get
a new one; it never did wear out so I sold it and bought a new boat just for
fun.  And there is nothing wrong with Royalex, it also makes a great boat, just
slower than a good fiberglass boat.  Get your 2 year old a good PFD and haul
him or her along now, I started my kids out at that age and they both did
great.
Rick Bloom
 
 
 

Info on Canoes requested

Post by Joe H. Miller, I » Sun, 08 Nov 1998 04:00:00

If your remotely interested in a glass boat, Swift Canoe Company, in Canada, is
having a blowout of a sale because thay are moving locations.  You can get a
2300.00 expedition kevlar boat for about 1200.00 and their reputation is
outstanding.  www.swiftcanoe.com

Good luck with whatever you get.

Sincerely
Jody Miller

Quote:


> writes:

> >Looking to buy a used canoe for familly use. Ma, Pa , and 2yr. old. Ma and
> >pa both whitewater kayak and Pa used to canoe as a kid. I have found a
> >older wood and canvas canoe, like I used as a kid in very good condition,
> >but wonder if it is unadvisable to go for beauty rather than practicality
> >as with a Royalex or similar material boat. We intend to boat mostly flat
> >water (lakes and estuaries), but I would like to think/hope that the wood
> >boat would not be suicidal on class 1-mild class2 rivers ( of course when
> >the little one is older.)
> >   Any and all thoughts on the matter would be greatly appreciated.

> Tim,
>    If you have found a good used wood and canvas canoe that is not too
> expensive you ought to grab it.  It will handle mild WW occasionally if you are
> careful, and many of them have wonderful hulls.  If you don't feel like doing
> maintainence look for a good used fiberglass boat, expecially if you are mostly
> going to do flat water.  The hot dogs in this NG will push Royalex since most
> of them think that fiberglass will break if you look at it (and most of them
> think that wood and canvas is worse, except Tim Hewitt).  I had a good
> We-no-nah fiberglass canoe for years and abused it constantly in class II
> water, it looked bad eventually, but was still very sound; I also paddled a
> fiberglass kayak for almost 10 years waiting for it to wear out so I could get
> a new one; it never did wear out so I sold it and bought a new boat just for
> fun.  And there is nothing wrong with Royalex, it also makes a great boat, just
> slower than a good fiberglass boat.  Get your 2 year old a good PFD and haul
> him or her along now, I started my kids out at that age and they both did
> great.
> Rick Bloom

  millerj.vcf
< 1K Download
 
 
 

Info on Canoes requested

Post by Benson Gra » Tue, 10 Nov 1998 04:00:00

  You are correct that a "wood boat would not be suicidal on class
1-mild class2 rivers."  Dave's previous suggestion that you check out
the WCHA site at wcha.org is a good suggestion.  You can even see a
picture of a birchbark canoe in whitewater there
(http://www.wcha.org/wcj/wc_v19_n3/).

Benson