Solo Canoe Vs Conversion

[goggleeyes]

Want to pick you guy's brain about getting a solo canoe or converting a tandem into a solo. I was wondering about the old town guide 147. I would remove both seats since they are molded and move the one from the front to the middle back area. How would this work vs a solo say the Buffalo 14 or another 14 or so long. I am a bigger guy so I think I would need something in this size? It would be used mainly in the rivers in the area. Thanks for your thoughts.

[bobber]

if your a big guy you need to be close to the middle of the canoe, ...you don't want one end way up in the air, and be tail dragging down the river. you want your canoe to set level (or trim)with you, and your gear... the way you will be using it.... i think that the 147 guide is pretty wide in the center? making it very hard to paddle... look at a Mohawk solo 15 ,or something in that line. check weight levels max cap. ratings... kind of rule of thumb is, a long narrow canoe will go smoothly through the water but won't corner well at all. and a short wide canoe takes lot of energy to push the water away from the hull to move through the water at the same speed, but feels very stable, now some place in between is what you need

[eric1978]

The problem with canoes that size is they're a little too small for tandems and a little too big for solos. The Wenonah Vagabond is a longer solo that's still very light. Ask Al about its stability. They're 45 pounds and they're expensive.

If you really feel you need to get a canoe that big as a solo, I would seriously consider making sure it's royalex. The main problem with a canoe bigger than a solo is that it gets pretty heavy, and if you have to portage, or even get from truck to river by yourself, it's gets tough.

The Wenonah Solo Plus comes with three seats, so you can paddle it solo or tandem. 62 pounds, even more expensive...

Bobber's right that the Guide 147 is gonna be pretty wide at the center. At 36", it's gonna be a bear to paddle. It's also 75 pounds, which would be quite heavy for a solo.

The Mohawk may be your best bet, but if I was spending that much I'd just go ahead and get the Vagabond.

Just a note, I've been packing on some weight the last couple years, and I'm pushing 200 pounds. I don't know how big a guy you are, but my Guide 119 is plenty stable for my fat butt, even with the seat raised to about the height of the gunwales. Your best bet is to find a place where you can take a test drive in a few different models.

[goggleeyes]

So if I'm reading your comments right the guide is wider thus making it harder to paddle. Is that the main difference between a solo and the tandem. I thought maybe I could save a little money converting the guide. But a little extra money may be worth it. I'm a little bigger than you Eric, about 275. So I feel I need a little extra length (be nice).

Bobber I would place as close to the middle as I could.

Weight of the canoe may not seem as big a deal to me. Don't really think the portage issue is that big of a deal, maybe missing something though.

Do you think the Mohawk is better than the Buffalo?

[eric1978]

So if I'm reading your comments right the guide is wider thus making it harder to paddle. Is that the main difference between a solo and the tandem. I thought maybe I could save a little money converting the guide. But a little extra money may be worth it. I'm a little bigger than you Eric, about 275. So I feel I need a little extra length (be nice).

Bobber I would place as close to the middle as I could.

Weight of the canoe may not seem as big a deal to me. Don't really think the portage issue is that big of a deal, maybe missing something though.

Do you think the Mohawk is better than the Buffalo?

If you have long arms, paddling comfort may not be too horrible in the 147, but it will be a slow mover. If you're not worried about a workout every once in a while through stretches of slack water, then it's really not that big of a deal. The longer and skinnier a canoe is, the faster it will be and the better it will track.

Ideal seat placement for a solo is typically when the front of the seat is right around the center of the canoe. Mine is a few inches back from center, but it's easy enough to even out putting some gear up front.

If you're not planning on floating really skinny water, or less popular stretches where you have to portage around some log jams, then no, weight isn't a big deal once you get it on the water. Again, it'll be a little slower paddling...But if you do float some smalls streams or creeks and have to drag a bunch or portage frequently, you will quickly become really sick of moving a heavy canoe. I had to carry mine about fifty yards on my last float around a log jam, and I thought I was going to die. It's only 43 pounds, but of course like an idiot I carried the canoe with all my gear still in it, so it may have been closer to 80 or so.

I don't have any experience with Mohawk or Buffalo, but I've heard mixed reviews for both. Each company has some decent models, and some sub-par models.

Go back and check out some of Al's threads about solo canoes...he's done some really in-depth analysis and comparisons that really helped me choose my solo. Here are a couple threads to check out:

http://ozarkanglers.com/forums/index.php?s...p;hl=solo+canoe

http://ozarkanglers.com/forums/index.php?s...p;hl=solo+canoe

I documented a seat modification from start to finish with lots of pictures. If you do wind up having to move a seat around, you might find this thread helpful:

http://ozarkanglers.com/forums/index.php?s...p;hl=guide+solo

[bobber]

Mohawk is having a blem sale in ft.smith they moved the factory, and have some deals .buffalo canoes just fired back up into production so some seconds could be had..once a year Wenonah has a big sale of blems ... (blems ,damage caused in manufacturing) so some deals are out there ! don't just jump on the first thing that comes along! take your time to find THE ONE! i would say is a key factor..... don't even look at PELICANS OR COLEMAN'S STICK TO A real name brand. THE NEW HULL MATERIAL IS SOFTER THAN THE OLDER STUFF . THIS MAKES OLDER CANOES (BETTER FOR THE BUCKS) WINTER TIME is a great time to make deals because not too many folks are out using them and the are always in the way for some. but ,no canoe does it all! and that's the real trick to find one that does what you are going to do with it. paddling . net has some good reviews on canoes . do some home work, look for paddling clubs in your area and follow links that lead you to the FIND! and, a deal is only a deal if you feel good about it!

[bobber]

Mohawk is having a blem sale in ft.smith they moved the factory, and have some deals .buffalo canoes just fired back up into production so some seconds could be had..once a year Wenonah has a big sale of blems ... (blems ,damage caused in manufacturing) so some deals are out there ! don't just jump on the first thing that comes along! take your time to find THE ONE! i would say is a key factor..... don't even look at PELICANS OR COLEMAN'S STICK TO A real name brand. THE NEW HULL MATERIAL IS SOFTER THAN THE OLDER STUFF . THIS MAKES OLDER CANOES (BETTER FOR THE BUCKS) WINTER TIME is a great time to make deals because not too many folks are out using them and the are always in the way for some. but ,no canoe does it all! and that's the real trick to find one that does what you are going to do with it. paddling . net has some good reviews on canoes . do some home work, look for paddling clubs in your area and follow links that lead you to the FIND! and, a deal is only a deal if you feel good about it!

[goggleeyes]

I sure don't want to get a canoe that I am unhappy with. The more I have seemed to research or look for different brands and styles the more unsure I become of what I want. I was at BP the other day and saw the Old Town Guide 147 there and thought it might work by moving the seats around and save some money.

Eric your seat looks great the way you put it in there I'll have to keep that in mind if I need to change the one I get. Looking at yours I thought a swivel seat would be awesome to put in.

I'm not pulling the trigger today so I'll try to take my time and find one that I will be have with.

[Wayne SW/MO]

The 147 is a stable canoe, but they are heavy. I've fish out of the front of a couple and they're tight. Fishnwrench could fill you in, he has a lot of experience in the 147.

[eric1978]

I sure don't want to get a canoe that I am unhappy with. The more I have seemed to research or look for different brands and styles the more unsure I become of what I want. I was at BP the other day and saw the Old Town Guide 147 there and thought it might work by moving the seats around and save some money.

Eric your seat looks great the way you put it in there I'll have to keep that in mind if I need to change the one I get. Looking at yours I thought a swivel seat would be awesome to put in.

I'm not pulling the trigger today so I'll try to take my time and find one that I will be have with.

The swivel seat crossed my mind for a split second, but that would have opened a whole new can of worms on an already pretty involved project. Besides, even a one-handed correction stroke can turn the canoe nearly 90 degrees in water with little to no current, so it's not really a necessity. On a heavier or less maneuverable craft it may be a good idea.

Like bobber said, take your time. Check craigslist and ebay daily for deals of a lifetime. They pop up occassionally, but if you find one, jump on it, because they will go fast.