darbwa Posted September 11, 2011 Share Posted September 11, 2011 I have read everything I can find to try to avoid posting this topic because I am sure many of you feel like you have seen it (an commented on it) before. However, everyone's situation is different. I have been on water my whole life and have spent a great deal of time in canoes but never my own. I am a relatively infrequent fisherman/paddler in ozark rivers but when I do have the opportunity, I want to make the most of it. That is why I spend a great deal of time soaking up information here on the OAF and trying to prepare for every outing. To that end, i have seen the preparation that some do (like Al's very enviable solo canoe set-up) and I know that i want to prepare in the same manner and therefore, I must get my own canoe. First, I am looking for a tandem that will hold enough to carry gear, food and beverages for 2 on multi-day trips. That is what the primary use of the canoe will be. I will also put the canoe on the pond in my backyard but, even though that is where it will spend most of its time, I want the canoe for the river trips first and foremost. Second, I don't know what material to get. It will not be a high-use canoe but I do want it to last. I will not be transporting it but a few times a year but I don't want to throw my back out trying to move it either. So, if money was no object, what material is the best? Like I said, I have read everything I can find on the OAF, Paddling.net, Old Town's and Wenonah's websites and my head is just swimming with ideas but I don't know which direction to go. Keep in mind that I will ideally get a solo canoe too. At this moment, my canoe of choice is a Wenonah Spirit II but I have no idea what material. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FishinCricket Posted September 11, 2011 Share Posted September 11, 2011 My wife and I float EVERYWHERE and are always paying close attention to the brand and size of canoe.. After years studying we came up with the Old Town Discovery 169 (16ft 9in).. Perfect tandem canoe and (slightly modified) and excellent solo as well.. Handles well and doesn't tip easy, carries allot but is only around 80lbs so it's easily carried by two, manageable by one (though unwieldy when not coupled with a canoe rack or something) Good luck in your search, I'd suggest renting a few different ones and studying their characteristics.. cricket.c21.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eric1978 Posted September 11, 2011 Share Posted September 11, 2011 If money is no object then you want a Royalex canoe. They're considerably lighter and about as durable as the other plastics. Cricket's Disco 169 is probably the most common canoe you'll find on our streams. Stable, capable of carrying tons of gear, affordable, decent to paddle...but quite a bit heavier than a similar model made of Royalex. I bought a Penobscot 16RX a few weeks back and it's great...light as a feather and fast, but it has a little less initial stability than the Disco and they're more expensive. You have to decide what's important to you in a canoe, because there are so many models that will do the job. Some excel at certain aspects more than others, but there is no single "perfect" canoe for everyone. You can't really go too wrong in terms of quality with most models from Old Town, Wenonah, Buffalo, Mohawk, Two Brothers...but which model is right for you depends on your priorities...manueverability or tracking? stability or speed? light and expensive or a little heavier and cheaper? Start looking on craigslist and ebay. There are some great deals to be had out there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mic Posted September 11, 2011 Share Posted September 11, 2011 Is there a canoe shop in the Ozarks that carries different models. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grizwilson Posted September 11, 2011 Share Posted September 11, 2011 Water Hikers in Nixa has demo days in Ozark once a month, they carry Old Town. Ozark Mt. Trading Co. in Garfield Ar. carry Buffalo and Mad River they will be happy to run you down to the water and let you try them. Super good folks. http://www.ozarkmtc.com/ http://www.waterhikers.com/ g “If a cluttered desk is a sign, of a cluttered mind, of what then, is an empty desk a sign?”- Albert Einstein Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wayne SW/MO Posted September 11, 2011 Share Posted September 11, 2011 Keep your eye on Craigslist and buy a Discovery 169 or an Expedition 169. As has been said they are a fine craft for overnights on our streams. They carry a large load, maneuver OK, and don't cost much used. About $400 or less is about right for a clean one. You can always get your money back and upgrade later if you feel the need. Today's release is tomorrows gift to another fisherman. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Sloss Posted September 11, 2011 Share Posted September 11, 2011 If you are going with an old town, see if you can find a used Discovery that is lightly used and clean from at least 7-8 years ago or more. They will last a long time if they are in good shape. In more recent years the construction quality has gone down dramatically. The plastic is thinner and they delaminate and bubble more often. The last time we got some, half of them cracked on the interior layer of plastic inside of two months. The versatility of the design is as good as I have seen in the industry, they just decided to stop building them well anymore. Common in a lot of industries I'm afraid. Wenonah is building a good canoe and Nova Craft has a stout boat. www.elevenpointflyfishing.com www.elevenpointcottages.com (417)270-2497 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justin Spencer Posted September 11, 2011 Share Posted September 11, 2011 Got some old beat up royalex buffaloes I will let go for $75 a piece, outsides have cracks but insides are good and they don't leak for the most part. Lightweight and with a little care could last many seasons, for $75 bucks give one a try and see if you want to drop $1000 on a new one. Take 10 home for less than the price of a new one and they will last you just as long. "The problem with a politician’s quote on Facebook is you don’t know whether or not they really said it." –Abraham Lincoln Tales of an Ozark Campground Proprietor Dead Drift Fly Shop Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gavin Posted September 12, 2011 Share Posted September 12, 2011 Buffaloes are good paddling boats....at $75 your money ahead if you make it down the river 3-4 times...A lightly used Old Town Disco would be hard to pass up...A bud of mine was gonna put up his Mad River Explorer 16 last week...mid 1990's boat, green royalex, wood gunnels & cane seats. Used but in good shape. His ask was $650. St. Louis Hills Area. Not sure if he sold it this weekend or not. PM if interested. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darbwa Posted September 12, 2011 Author Share Posted September 12, 2011 I appreciate all of the feedback. Of course, it leaves me with almost as many questions as answers. I have read About Justin and Brian's issues with the newer Old Towns on other posts and it makes me wary of the Disco 169. That is why I was leaning toward a Wenonah Spirit II. Is Royalex really the best option or is it just the most durable for the price? Intuitively, I would think that Kevlar would be both light and very durable. So, purely hypothetical, if money was no object (and I only wish it weren't), what would be THE canoe? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now