Buffalo River Shuttle Fees

[Flysmallie]

Regarding the shuttle fees, are you saying you paid $45 for canoe rental PLUS the $25 shuttle fee?

Yeah, that's what he is saying. I know because I have paid the same from the same outfitter. One year we floated from Tyler to Maumee and had to pay it both ways.

[hoglaw]

I'm not sure why it's that way, but I know that only a few operators hold licenses to do the Buffalo now. They have to get them from the feds, and it's created an oligopoly. I don't know how expensive each boat license is or whether they have to pass on money from shuttles to the feds, but I do know that they can't even shuttle a private boat without one of the licenses.

In the future if you're going on a busy weekend, just do your float and find someone at the takeout that's willing to drive you back to your vehicle for a few bucks. I've paid a case of beer and a pack of cigarettes for a shuttle on crooked before!

[Zack Hoyt]

Yeah, that's what he is saying. I know because I have paid the same from the same outfitter. One year we floated from Tyler to Maumee and had to pay it both ways.

Now thats Bull Sh*t. Which outfitter was this? Tyler to Maumee I am guessing wild Bills?

[Flysmallie]

Now thats Bull Sh*t. Which outfitter was this? Tyler to Maumee I am guessing wild Bills?

Gilbert. This was about 8 years ago. That's one of the reasons we all have our own canoes and run our own shuttles.

A couple of weeks ago we tried to get one vehicle shuttled from Round Spring to Two Rivers on the Current. Our vehicle, our gas, approx. 15 miles........$45.

[Poke 'Em]

It's pretty ridiculous. It seems to me that a shuttle fee is inherent in the cost of renting a canoe (as it is on almost any other river), but then again, what do I know?

[KCRIVERRAT]

Regarding the shuttle fees, are you saying you paid $45 for canoe rental PLUS the $25 shuttle fee?

Yep... $77 total for the day after taxes. Three mile (approx.) shuttle upstream, one way.

[KCRIVERRAT]

And yep, like Flysmallie said, we used Gilberts.

[grizwilson]

Thanks griz... thinking my Discovery 169 purchase will go thru. If not, might contact them about their Buffalo's.

Do you like that particular canoe?

Honestly I have never paddled a Buffalo, many folks like them as they are heavy built, but they weigh more than the Old Town Royalex(72# vs 57#). I have a Discovery 169, Discovery 158 and a Pack Angler solo. I have been thinking of selling one of my discovery to buy a Old Town Camper Royalex but having a hard time thinking 25 lbs lighter is worth $1000 more The only thing I do not like about the discovery is the roto molded seats, can not sit in front seat backwards to solo and the weight. But I have a solo so why would I need two?

[Gavin]

I borrowed a friends Buffalo 16 for a self shuttle float with my my nephew and his dad a couple weeks ago...It paddled just fine. Not sure what all the buffalo options are but the one we had didnt have a carry thwart (piece of aluminum tube instead) and it was a bit on the heavy side....Not a bad boat for the price, but I'd add a carry thwart and some better seats. The ones it had were molded rubber pads. Better than the OT rotomolded butt huggers, but you couldnt put a sit backer on them. Cheers.

[Flysmallie]

Honestly I have never paddled a Buffalo, many folks like them as they are heavy built, but they weigh more than the Old Town Royalex(72# vs 57#). I have a Discovery 169, Discovery 158 and a Pack Angler solo. I have been thinking of selling one of my discovery to buy a Old Town Camper Royalex but having a hard time thinking 25 lbs lighter is worth $1000 more The only thing I do not like about the discovery is the roto molded seats, can not sit in front seat backwards to solo and the weight. But I have a solo so why would I need two?

Yeah those OT molded seats suck. I replaced one a couple of weeks ago with just a 1x12. I did not use any type of spaces, just all the way to the top. I was worried about stability but found that was not an issue. It is the perfect size for my sit backer and I'm now able to sit in a more comfortable position without my knees in my chest.