Ricko Posted April 24, 2020 Report Share Posted April 24, 2020 I'm thinking of buying a Canadian canoe. I have kayaked for a number of years off and on. It would be for 1 or 2 people on lakes and rivers. Has anybody got any buying advice or experiences? Many thanks (Please no references to Deliverance, squeal like a pig etc etc) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Modafinale Posted April 24, 2020 Report Share Posted April 24, 2020 Old town would be my choice, expensive but the best Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grrclark Posted April 24, 2020 Report Share Posted April 24, 2020 (edited) 1 hour ago, Ricko said: (Please no references to Deliverance, squeal like a pig etc etc) You can't make a comment like that and not expect this... Answering your question seriously, not got any specific advice to offer, but have had a good experience with these people. They had a store fairly close to me in Perth. https://www.go-kayaking.com/ Edited April 24, 2020 by grrclark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted April 24, 2020 Report Share Posted April 24, 2020 Red rag to a bull! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnphilip Posted April 24, 2020 Report Share Posted April 24, 2020 Ray Mears, helps build a birch bark canoe I realy enjoyed this while ago . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WalkedUp Posted April 24, 2020 Report Share Posted April 24, 2020 1 hour ago, Ricko said: I'm thinking of buying a Canadian canoe. I have kayaked for a number of years off and on. It would be for 1 or 2 people on lakes and rivers. Has anybody got any buying advice or experiences? Many thanks (Please no references to Deliverance, squeal like a pig etc etc) Fibreglass. Ash gunwales add a classy feel. Try to design with a high freeboard to avoid capsizing. Make sure you have sufficiently robust Anchorage for watertight cargo that assists when you capsize. We took ours and two dogs on white water for two weeks through France. Fantastic fun. Camped in walnut orchards on the side of the river etc. Bliss. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
London Best Posted April 24, 2020 Report Share Posted April 24, 2020 What a great holiday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricko Posted April 24, 2020 Author Report Share Posted April 24, 2020 Looks brilliant. I seem to have acquired a few plastic mango chutney barrels with screw on lids for this purpose. I'd love to make one but my skills lean towards metalwork rather than woodwork. (Would the person who pm'd me about the banjo state a price...🤣) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grrclark Posted April 24, 2020 Report Share Posted April 24, 2020 16 minutes ago, WalkedUp said: Fibreglass. Ash gunwales add a classy feel. Try to design with a high freeboard to avoid capsizing. Make sure you have sufficiently robust Anchorage for watertight cargo that assists when you capsize. We took ours and two dogs on white water for two weeks through France. Fantastic fun. Camped in walnut orchards on the side of the river etc. Bliss. That is a fantastic holiday. Tumblehome is the term for relative stability in a canoe, i'm a saddo geek. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WalkedUp Posted April 24, 2020 Report Share Posted April 24, 2020 My canoe has been sat in the garage for almost 3 years now. I last took it out with some German friends, Kai is some sort of chief “forester” and responsible for controlling deer etc on his region. Anyway, we took it out on the sea on a dead calm day with Jonas, his 8 year old son, the three of us paddling from bay to bay about Holy Island. They wrote later to say that paddle was the highlight from their 12 month secondment in the UK. The sea was like a mill pond but we were still almost swamped by a small fishing boat speeding across 150m away as it’s wash was 6-8” when it got to us. If you are based near me I would be happy to let you use my canoe for a weekend so you can get to see what you like. On the Wirral/Cheshire boarder. http://apachecanoes.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oowee Posted April 24, 2020 Report Share Posted April 24, 2020 The old town ones are good but very heavy and over time the hull becomes 'lumpy' which makes it run slow. A double used alone or with a child will have significant windage on the bow making j stroke painfuly slow. A better bet and still low maintenance is one of the glass ones or even one of the grumen alloy boats (very light and strong but not so nice to handle), so much nicer to paddle. A well made wooden one can be lovely if you can care for it. I would be looking to fit a sail if you plan on doing a voyage such as the Caledonian. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted April 24, 2020 Report Share Posted April 24, 2020 Old town for us, battleship discovery 158, two oversized humans, a dog and fishing, camping, cooking gear. Try logging on song of the paddle forum, lots of good opinions there, and possibly a bargain to be had? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonty Posted April 25, 2020 Report Share Posted April 25, 2020 I have a Venture Ranger 16 canoe. I didn’t have much canoeing experience when I bought it so I went off the advice of a friend who takes canoeing camping trips for his work. It’s very stable and great for either me and the wife or one of us and the two kids. It’s fairly difficult to carry any distance for one person (wife has MS so can’t really help) so I invested in a 2 wheel trolley that straps to one end . I’d thoroughly recommend both the boat and the trolley. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted April 26, 2020 Report Share Posted April 26, 2020 On 24/04/2020 at 12:45, grrclark said: .... They had a store fairly close to me in Perth. https://www.go-kayaking.com/ They closed a few years ago, got our pfd's and my drysuit there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WalkedUp Posted April 26, 2020 Report Share Posted April 26, 2020 My canoe is light enough for a single man to carry with ease. There is a knack to getting it up, then can alternate indefinitely between carrying on your arms or shoulders (via the yoke). Before we were married it was the ideal vessel. Now we have three boys a project I need to undertake is making an outrigger float, one with enough buoyancy to float a capsized canoe and enough stability to reduce the risk of capsizing in the first place. We have float vests but need life jackets for the boys and us if I am to ever take them out on water. A father up in Scotland allowed his children to drown after capsizing, trying to keep himself afloat to save his children became impossible in cold water. Float jackets just make it easier to swim in rough water or aerated rapids, they are no help if you are incapacitated. I miss remembered the details, but it was eight years ago. https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/uk/2012/sep/23/canoe-tragedy-father-scotland-interview Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted April 27, 2020 Report Share Posted April 27, 2020 On 26/04/2020 at 10:31, WalkedUp said: I miss remembered the details, but it was eight years ago. https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/uk/2012/sep/23/canoe-tragedy-father-scotland-interview Yes there have been a few, Loch Freuchie as well which is near me. @Ricko Don`t forget that there are some magnificent Lochs and rivers in Scotland to explore, we spent several days on Tummel at a time and easily could have spent 2 weeks enjoying it even more. Spaniel trying to capsize us as she saw some ducks... And sometimes if you are lucky you can have this island to yourself and enjoy the stunning scenery Have fun, stay safe! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
islandgun Posted April 27, 2020 Report Share Posted April 27, 2020 On 25/04/2020 at 07:14, Jonty said: I have a Venture Ranger 16 canoe. I didn’t have much canoeing experience when I bought it so I went off the advice of a friend who takes canoeing camping trips for his work. It’s very stable and great for either me and the wife or one of us and the two kids. It’s fairly difficult to carry any distance for one person (wife has MS so can’t really help) so I invested in a 2 wheel trolley that straps to one end . I’d thoroughly recommend both the boat and the trolley. We have the same, I bought it for the kids to explore the estuary/lagoon at the end of our croft, tough and strong it works perfectly, some reserve buoyancy would be a good idea though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shufti Posted April 27, 2020 Report Share Posted April 27, 2020 Novacraft 15 sp3 Handles superb on water .Rather heavy to load but worth it. Around £800 ish new last time I looked...billy bargain quality boat. As said go to song of the paddle website HTH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kennett Posted May 1, 2020 Report Share Posted May 1, 2020 This is advertised on Facebook if it's any interest to anyone? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WalkedUp Posted May 1, 2020 Report Share Posted May 1, 2020 Looks a bargain Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Mat Posted May 1, 2020 Report Share Posted May 1, 2020 12 hours ago, WalkedUp said: Looks a bargain As long as you feel like finishing building it! Theres plenty of Facebook market place, I keep pondering one myself Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WalkedUp Posted May 1, 2020 Report Share Posted May 1, 2020 Relatively easy to do, as long as you have time. Perfect project for the recently furloughed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted May 3, 2020 Report Share Posted May 3, 2020 (edited) A wooden built one looks nice, makes sense when glassed over inside and out. Less to maintain but nice to look at. I'd want a small outboard to cross open water then paddle the nice calm bits. Don't forget some soothing rear cream. Just saying in case you hear the banjos. Edited May 3, 2020 by figgy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricko Posted May 9, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 9, 2020 Just happened to glance on FB Marketplace and saw a decent looking Coleman RamX-17 for £250, seemed a decent price and local too, so I snapped it up. Many thanks for all your offers/advice/inspiration etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WalkedUp Posted May 9, 2020 Report Share Posted May 9, 2020 enjoy it 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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