Canoe durability question

[Bill B.]

With the Royalex version of Wenonah's Vagabond no longer made, how well does the so-called "Tuf-weave Flex-Cor" version of the canoe hold up in the rocky environs of Ozark streams? Anybody have one?

[Gavin]

We don't know yet. 

[Al Agnew]

Basically the tough weave is a fiberglass type.  Lots of people stay away from glass canoes on Ozark streams because they scratch easily and you can do more serious damage banging into rocks or wrapping around logs than with a plastic canoe.  But I've used glass canoes for many years, and they are pretty durable and not difficult to repair if you put dings in them.  The tough weave version of the Vagabond is probably a bit faster, and a bit less maneuverable, than the Royalex version was, but in my opinion would be a very serviceable solo for Ozark streams.  The biggest drawback I've found to fiberglass is that it is noisier than plastic, though not quite as noisy as aluminum.  Other than that, it's pretty good stuff.

[rFisherk]

I've been in Wenonahs on lakes in the Quetico, where it is probably the most popular canoe because of the light weight and speed when paddling. They're the best for that, but I wouldn't think they would hold up to the rocks of Ozark streams. At the price, I wouldn't risk it.

I guided on the North Fork of the White for a few years in an Old Town Outfitter fiberglass, and it held up fine. Lots of scratches, but no damage or leaks.

Used a Kevlar poke-boat for many years with no damage, until someone stole it.

After all that, today I use a big, square-stern Osage aluminum canoe. Heavy gauge, very stable and durable; lots of room and load capacity. I can stand and fly fish from it.

[Flysmallie]

14 minutes ago, rFisherk said:

After all that, today I use a big, square-stern Osage aluminum canoe. Heavy gauge, very stable and durable; lots of room and load capacity. I can stand and fly fish from it.

 

 

They are big and clunky but they sure are nice to fish out of.

[mic]

1 hour ago, rFisherk said:

I've been in Wenonahs on lakes in the Quetico, where it is probably the most popular canoe because of the light weight and speed when paddling. They're the best for that, but I wouldn't think they would hold up to the rocks of Ozark streams. At the price, I wouldn't risk it.

I guided on the North Fork of the White for a few years in an Old Town Outfitter fiberglass, and it held up fine. Lots of scratches, but no damage or leaks.

Used a Kevlar poke-boat for many years with no damage, until someone stole it.

After all that, today I use a big, square-stern Osage aluminum canoe. Heavy gauge, very stable and durable; lots of room and load capacity. I can stand and fly fish from it.

 

I've had the pleasure of fishing out of that canoe.  It is very nice ride.  

[Bill B.]

I have located a used Royalex Vagabond that's described as in "excellent" condition. I'll probably look at it tomorrow. I'm also considering buying a Native Ultimate 12 FX.

My wife did a number on my old Vagabond, one fall several years ago. I had it lying next to our gravel driveway and was using it nearly every day. She burned some leaves a few feet away from the canoe. The fire got out of control. When I got home, all that was left was some soot in the shape of a canoe, and a few pieces of hot metal. Not to mention a crying wife. She said the canoe went up in flames -- poof!

[Terrierman]

I wrapped a fiberglass canoe around a tree in Center Creek in 1973.  Pulled it out of the river with a tractor and a long rope.  Popped right back into shape.  Patched the fiberglass and used it with no problems for another 8 or 10 years, finally sold it when I could afford an Old Town.  It's probably still being used somewhere.  Fiberglass is way tough.  But not as flexible as the plastic boats so it will hang on rocks in low water more than polyethylene or royalex.  The not as flexible is bad in that light, but good in that it does not oilcan (flex in the bottom) like the plastic boats can do so they tend to paddle better.  They can also have a much sharper entry line which also contributes to paddling efficiency.  You will never see a plastic canoe used by a serious racer or long distance paddler.  It will always be Kevlar, which is a lighter and a bit stronger and considerably more expensive variation of fiberglass.

[Gavin]

Have a fiberglass solo canoe. Mad River Slipper made in 1985 or so. Similar dimensions to the vagabond but a better paddling boat than the Royalex Vagabond I used to have. Hatethe zzzzzzip when I scrape the gel coat but have not scraped it up enough to worry about the gel coat yet. Wood gunnels finally rotted out. Need to fix this winter.

[Al Agnew]

Gavin, I've only paddled a tuffweave Vagabond once a long time ago, but I remember it being a faster boat than the Royalex version...sharper entry lines and it's also three or four inches longer, a true 14.5 feet instead of the 14'3" that my Royalex ones are.  As Terrierman said, glass canoes in general, if a good model from a good company, are always faster and smoother paddling than any plastic boat.  

I've used one of my glass solos for a good 20 years, and you know I don't baby my canoes and float a lot of skinny water.  I use it when I'm going to be fishing a stream with a lot of dead water, like the Bourbeuse, because it's so much easier to paddle downstream than any of my plastic boats.  The bottom is worn through the gelcoat to the glass weave at the ends, but it still floats and still paddles well.  The only big ding on it was when I ran into it with my riding lawnmower and put a fist-sized crescent-shaped divot in it...fixed it with epoxy.