Basics of Buying a Canoe
Next, rocker. Take a lengthwise view of a canoe or kayak on dry land. How much of the keel-line touches the floor, and how much curves up banana-style? This is rocker. More rocker means faster spinning and a drier, up-and-over (if sometimes jolting) ride in waves, with the trade-offs of poorer tracking and more vulnerability to wind.
Tumblehome refers to the way some canoes bulge below the gunwales. Like rocker, the amount varies from canoe to canoe. Tumblehome adds stability while still allowing a paddler to take efficient vertical strokes. It can also aid in making turns when the boat is leaned sharply. The transition between the bottom and sides is called "chine," and it can be "hard" and abrupt (giving a more "edgy" performance) or "soft" and smooth. Together, chine and tumblehome affect many factors, including turning and "secondary stability," or how the boat handles when leaned.
Ask the Experts
Now you're ready to shop. We asked some specialists to help guide you through your decision with answers to some crucial questions.
Q: What's the first step a person should make when getting ready to buy a canoe, and how do you identify the best design?
A: Besides suggesting background research like the Canoe & Kayak Magazine Buyer's Guide, every expert answered this question similarly: decide how you plan to use your canoe. This is crucial, because a canoe that's perfect for one type of paddling will nearly always mean a compromise in another.
Be alert for discrepancies between how you wish you could use your boat and how you will probably use it. Be realistic. "It's amazing how many people come to buy a tandem canoe but don't have a regular partner," says James Jackson at the Nantahala Outdoor Center in North Carolina. "There are also people who buy what I call a 'someday' boat: 'Someday I want to do an Arctic canoe trip.' "
Where you live is also a big factor. "The first thing I ask paddlers is, 'Where are you from, and what kind of paddling will you be doing?' " says Bob Taylor, owner of the Appomattox River Company in Farmville, Virginia. "Most people use their boats most often within one or two hours of their home."
What type of paddling opportunities are most accessible to you-big or small lakes, whitewater rivers, protected estuaries? Do you live in the Midwest, and plan to use your canoe mostly for overnights into places with lakes and portages such as the Boundary Waters? A longer, lighter canoe (17 to 18.5 feet) with a sharp entry and minimal rocker might suit you. Or perhaps you're from the coastal Mid-Atlantic or Southeast, where you'd like to explore some of the region's ledgy rivers, and maybe take your partner or kids into quiet estuaries of the Atlantic coast. In that case, consider the versatility and toughness of a 14- to 17-foot Royalex or polyethylene canoe, with a bit of rocker and some volume in the bow.
Keep asking yourself questions. Do you want a boat that you can paddle either tandem or solo? Many 14- to 16-footers will fit that bill. Are you planning on long trips with lots of gear? Make that at least 16 feet, preferably longer (18 feet is a common length for wilderness trippers). Will you be paddling across big lakes? Make sure your canoe is deep enough to not ship water if the waves whip up. Are you a small person, or do you have health concerns like back trouble that might keep you from lifting a heavy canoe? Consider spending more money for a lighter canoe: if you can't load it on the car, you aren't likely to use it.
Still having trouble pinning down your goals and expectations? The experts can help. Darren Bush, of Rutabaga in Madison, Wisconsin, points out that a good canoe salesperson will ask the right questions. "I like to ask customers if they are serious cross-country skiers or cyclists. If so, I know they have good balance." In Bush's experience, these people might be happier sacrificing some stability for a faster canoe.
Just remember: experienced friends and relatives can be excellent sources of information, but they may have biases that don't apply to you. Just because Uncle Harry loves his 15-foot duck-hunting canoe, that doesn't mean it's what you should buy. Sorry, Harry.
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