how / where to purchase a canoe?!

[twochordcool]

Hello ya'll!

I was checking prices on canoe rentals and I was rather blown away on the prices - $45 to $60 per day, depending on what canoe.

I got to thinking how it could be something I could use quite a few times during the year - and rather than forking over $180 to someone for a 3 day excursion each and every time, I would consider just paying off a loan $50 a month for a canoe.

So, can you help me choose one?

How much should I expect to pay?

I'll generally use it for overnights and multiday trips into the wilderness, with room for gear and another person.

Any and all info would be much appreciated.

[poconoron]

I just recently looked at new canoes at Gander Mt., a camping/sporting store nearby and the prices for a 14-16 footers brand new were between $400-$600. The brands they carried were Mad River and Old Town (both good names) and some lesser names I've forgotten and wouldn't buy anyway. I think I may be picking up either of those names (MR or OT) and will pay around $450 for the 14 footer. I've also considered Ebay where decent buys come up periodically- you just have to be willing to travel to wherever it is being sold for pick-up. But you can defintely get a decent buy there if you shop selectively and know what you are getting for the money.

I came to the same conclusion as you did- it doesn't pay to shell out the $ for rentals if you want to do it a few times each year. I also have a 12 foot Hornbeck, but I wanted a little more room and stability for carrying more people.
The Hornbeck is my solo paddling baby......

[Wldrns]

I got to thinking how it could be something I could use quite a few times during the year - and rather than forking over $180 to someone for a 3 day excursion each and every time, I would consider just paying off a loan $50 a month for a canoe.

You can get a good deal on used canoes at the larger shops, and on new ones at the end of season. All your questions will be best answered by going directly to the source. Three outfitter shop owners with lots of canoes I personally know who will help you out are:

Dave in Saranac Lake and Floodwood at St. Regis Canoe Outfitters

Brian (Mac) and Grace in Lake Clear at Mac's Canoe Livery

John in Inlet and Old Forge at Mountainman Outdoor Supply

[Riosacandaga]

check the for sale section on www.npmb.com for used stuff...

[Grandpa Paddler]

Hello ya'll!
How much should I expect to pay?
I'll generally use it for overnights and multiday trips into the wilderness, with room for gear and another person.

How much depends on brand and layup. How much do you want it to weigh?
Less pounds=more $$$ If you're looking @ lots of portages (carries) you will want a lighter canoe. If you will be paddling shallower/rocky streams, then the lightweights are not for you-royalex or roto-molded will take a beating but are much heavier.
Then there is the matter of hull configuration...do you want speed, handling or primary (initial stablity)?
Trying to decide which canoe is worse than picking out a new car/truck. The ideal situation is just get multiple canoes!
Check out this site http://www.paddling.net/message/show...tml?fid=advice
You will get lots of help from paddlers much more qualified than me.
And beware, paddling is an addiction

[coolrobc]

Not sure how far this would be for you, but you could look here too:

http://www.oakorchardcanoe.com/

[poconoron]

How much depends on brand and layup. How much do you want it to weigh?
Less pounds=more $$$ If you're looking @ lots of portages (carries) you will want a lighter canoe. If you will be paddling shallower/rocky streams, then the lightweights are not for you-royalex or roto-molded will take a beating but are much heavier.
Then there is the matter of hull configuration...do you want speed, handling or primary (initial stablity)?
Trying to decide which canoe is worse than picking out a new car/truck. The ideal situation is just get multiple canoes!
Check out this site http://www.paddling.net/message/show...tml?fid=advice
You will get lots of help from paddlers much more qualified than me.
And beware, paddling is an addiction

GP Paddler makes a good point- your price is going to be dictated by how you will use the canoe- lake paddling, river paddling (which can be tougher on the canoe), portages (where weight considerations come into play), etc.

In my case, the 14 foot Mad River I am buying weighs in at 75 lbs. and is priced at $450 new- and I will NOT be portaging it. If I was looking for a lighter canoe, that cost would go up significantly. But my 12 foot Hornbeck weighing in at 26 lbs. is perfect for that...........

[Hobbitling]

you could always make one yourself, if you have the space, time, and tools. you can end up with a great boat for not too much more than a ready built. a Piroque flat bottom canoe is easy, cheap, and great for shallow water. or you can do round bottom designs. check these sites out.

http://www.clcboats.com/

http://www.riverstoneinternet.com/canoebuilding/ultralightcanoe.html

http://www.boatdesigns.com/departments.asp?dept=8

the stitch and glue method is easier than a wood strip canoe. It involves marine grade plywood panels bound together with wire and epoxied at the seams. Its actually quite strong and and light. The boats look amazing. some day, when I'm not living in an apartment, I plan on making one.
Just dont treat it like a work of art though. My friend built a wood strip canoe, but it took him two years, and after all that, he took it out once, paddled it about fifty feet out and back, and its been hanging on his wall ever since. AAARGH! it is beautiful though.

[alschnier]

I've had a lot of luck w. mountainman in inlet. they are well informed & competitively priced. I'm a satisfied repeat customer. They didn;t have the exact model I needed (wenonah minnesota II kevlar), & ordered one for me. had it in a very short time. I think they're having their end of ther year blowout this weekend or next.

[johnstp]

There's a big end-of-season sale in Old Forge next weekend (Sept. 23-24).

[canoe_junkie]

On line inventory of clearance canoes at Mountainman Outdoors:

http://www.mountainmanoutdoors.com/inventory.htm

[canoe_junkie]

On line inventory of clearance canoes at Mountainman Outdoors:
http://www.mountainmanoutdoors.com/inventory.htm

Click the welcome link on the bottom for a listing by manufacturer.

[ADKlvr]

Contact wilderness photo .......his friend Jason might part with his aluminum one, ......is probably heavy but stable and indestructable.

[charlie wilson]

Where to look

Mountain Man, St Regis Outfitters and Adk lakes and Trails are all great places to look. Add Raquette River Outfitters in Tupper Lake and Lake George Kayak in Bolton Landing to your list.

[Old Rivers]

For trips longer than week-end for 2 paddlers, you will likely need a wilderness tripper class canoe of 17" or so. For week-end trips & day trips for 2 a 16" canoe will be better. There is a big difference between the 2. The 17 footer will likely be much deeper, a little wider, and very difficult to paddle by yourself & portage. IOW, you may need to compromise unless you buy both. Fiberglass cloth or royalex would be my choice and I own one of each; A Mad River glass and an Old Town royalex. Both serve me well but I prefer the Mad River. You can also get a middle seat for it & exchange it with middle thwart & it will serve both as a solo canoe seat & a yoke. I would not get anything smaller than 16". I would add The Boat House in Schenectady as a source and ask Sally to match anybody's price if needed.