Basics of Buying a Canoe
Q: Besides design, what are the most important factors buyers should consider?
A: Depends on whom you ask. "Weight," says Steve Piragis of Piragis Outfitters in Ely, Minnesota, whose customers are largely Boundary Waters paddlers. "When people see others go by them on a portage with a 40-pound canoe, that's what they want. Ultralight composites will spoil you."
"Durability," agreed several experts. If you're shopping for a river canoe, toughness and turning ability will probably take precedence over weight.
"Money," says Appomattox River Company's Bob Taylor. For a lot of us, cost is an undeniable factor. Consider purchasing a good used canoe from an outfitter: you'll get the same expert assistance and end up with a better canoe than if you had spent the same money on a new one. "Half our sales are used rental canoes," adds Steve Piragis.
As it turns out, material is the critical variable that often determines all three: weight, durability, and cost. Canoes made of lightweight composites such as a Kevlar or graphite can weigh a feathery 35 pounds-but they won't take the beating of a rocky river and they'll set you back a big chunk of change. Fiberglass is a common material; cost and weight vary quite a bit with specific design and layup. Royalex is a sandwich of plastics and dense foam: it's durable, quiet, and in the middle of the weight and cost range. Plastic polymers (polyethylene) cost less than Royalex, but they're heavier and may not last as long. "The polymers get brittle and crack over time," says Bob Taylor. "But if you really want to get into the sport and that's all you can spend, you can upgrade later." Aluminum is durable but relatively heavy, and noisy when you tap it with a paddle. Wood is beautiful, but isn't cheap, and we'd hate to see you smash it up on a rocky river.
Q: If you had just one piece of advice to give someone shopping for a canoe, what would it be?
A: "Test paddle different canoes, even if it means driving out of your way to a shop on the water or to a demo-day." -Darren Bush. Comfort factors like seat position, legroom, and width for taking paddle strokes are important to test before you commit.
"Make sure you test paddle in different conditions: take the canoe into waves and wind and see how it does." -Steve Piragis.
"Buy your boat at a specialty shop, where you'll get good advice and a good canoe. Remember to focus on value rather than just price. If you buy a $400 canoe and it doesn't fit your needs, it was an expensive purchase." -John Hart (Outdoor Play, Hood River, Oregon).
"Rent first, or take lessons or a guided trip, to get an idea of what suits you." -Julien MacCarthy (ProCanoe and Kayak, Greensboro, North Carolina).
Finally, take care of your canoe once you buy it. Store it indoors if possible, or at least out of the sun and preferably off the ground. And always tie it on the car securely: that means a decent roof rack, center lines, and end lines. It won't matter if you've just bought the ideal canoe if it flies off the car on your way home. And remember that in the end, gear is just a means to an end. Once you've found the perfect canoe, get out there and enjoy it!
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