Looking To Buy A Canoe

[BredMan]

Been thinking seriously of getting a canoe to float fish streams. I have looked at several web sites but really have no clue what would be the best size, manufacturer, material, layout, etc. Can anyone that has experience shed some light on this subject. Don't want buy something I will regret. Really like the the two models sold by Two Brothers Canoes.

[eric1978]

Are you wanting a solo? If so, I love my OT Guide 119 for the price, and others will recommend the Wenonah Vagabond for about twice as much.

[troutbum479]

buffalo canoes are awesome and fairly priced.

[BredMan]

I would want a tandem setup. May have to take 'Ma' along once in a while. The length is another concern that I have and not because of storage but for stability.

[grizwilson]

Have not floated the Buffalo or Brothers canoes but sure they are good boats. If you are wanting a boat to use both tandem and solo I would suggest an old town camper 15, big enough for two, but light enough (57#)for one to handle and can sit backwards in the front seat makes a decent solo, or can load up for overnighters. A discovery 15 8 is less expensive but has the molded seats (that can be replaced with web for abot $50 on ebay) to allow sitting backwards in the front seat during solo. It weighs about 80# so still manageable for most solo on off portage. I run an old town pack for solo day trips and use a discovery 158 on overnights and tandem day trips. If I had the $$ a camper 15 would replace the discovery but not worth the differnce right now to trade. I am sure brothers or buffalo have similar boats, but I only want to talk what I know not what I might think. If you are even considering allum. spend the money and rent one and a abs or royalex. Most people who love allum have never ran a good canone. I had 2 allum, but rented an old town discovery one day on a trip, came home and sold them bought my first old town.thats my 2 cents.

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[Jigggg11]

You really need to look at the coleman "scanoe", this is a square back 18' flat bottom style,this is a very stable platform, made of very tuff ram x material, very light for loading and unloading out of the back of a truck or off of the trailer, this material is much more quiet and not as hot in the summertime ,and this canoe has a very shallow draft, the ram x material is very slick for gliding over shallow riffles to where you will not be getting in and out of the canoe.Still big enough for an extra cooler and the Mrs..Everybody I take out every year is impressed with this boat. And above all it's modeterly priced,hope this can be of some help on some of the things you need to look at before purchasing. Good luck.

[Justin Spencer]

Old town 169 or 158 are both good boats, for use alone I always turn it around and paddle from what was the front, puts your weight more toward the middle. I would get the shorter boat if you are planning on using it yourself quite a bit. The buffalo's and other royalex canoes are good, but due to their light weight feel tippier than the heavier poly boats. Depending on how you want to transport the canoe, might be worth getting a lighter boat if putting it on top of a vehicle is an issue. We-no-nah makes some great boats and the Northfork and Southfork are the equivalent of the 158 and 169 Old town discovery, I think they hold up a little better, may be a little more expensive. If you want to go the cheaper route I have some canoes I would part with from $100 for the ones in the worst shape on up,(have some old towns and buffalos) for most people money for a new canoe is hard to rationalize unless you plan on using it a lot. PM me if you have any questions.

[fiveweight]

I've had an Old Town 16'9 that has been getting regular, heavy use since 2001. I know some canoe rental places use these as their standard fleet boats, and it's probably because they are relatively cheap and durable. The downside is their weight, hard to put on top of your car alone but it can be done through some creative means. I also sit in the front seat backwards on solo trips, and if you're ever on a lake in windy conditions turning it around can be a pain, but for having one canoe I wouldn't want anything smaller because it can hold a LOT of weight. Two years ago a friend and I did a 5 day trip on the upper Buffalo and did not pack light. We're both big guys and we figure we had about 750 pounds of us, beer and gear. That was certainly pushing it, but it just shows what a work horse such a big canoe can be. I don't think we could have packed light enough to do the trip on a smaller craft through that water. As a bonus, it's wide enough we can both stand up and cast through calm water. It's also nice having a cheap, durable canoe because I never worry about rocks and some times am not so kind to it when dragging it over asphalt or gravel but it has held up remarkably well despite the abuse.

FYI, I paid about 550 for it new so a used fleet craft with many years left shouldn't burn a hole in your pocket. Again, my biggest complaint is the weight but if you have to bang it around a bit on land you at least know you aren't damaging a more delicate, expensive boat.

[Gavin]

The Disco 169 is a pretty good boat...but really heavy and youll probably want to replace the cheap molded seats that it comes with. If your looking for something a lot nicer (Lighter, Faster, more manueverable, lots of trim options) I'd check out the the 17' Wenonah Spirit II or Bell Alaskan. Cheers.

[Wheatenheimer]

I have a Two Brothers Brightwater 14 foot Royalex. I can't say enough good things about it. It does everything I want it to do. I am 6 foot and weigh 185 and it makes a perfect solo canoe for my needs, it is also a great tandem with someone my size or smaller.

I've floated in Buffalo's, Old Town's, Wenonah's and they are all great boats, but they are also nearly 40% higher in cost. Plus with Two Brother's you are buying locally and giving your hard earned cash to two great guys that have a true passion for building quality boats at a reasonable price.

Whatever choice you make, I'm sure that you will really enjoy floating and fishing this Spring and Summer. We are so fortunate to live in a part of the country that has such great fisheries and waterways at our convienence.

Good luck, Brother!