how / where to purchase a canoe?!

[charlie wilson]

Combi boats just don't work very well for customers. They are fine for dealers, as they fit a compact couple or a single, very large, iundividual. I endorse the get one good solo for the majority of your paddling, rent a tandem or a second solo as needed.

Another variant is to get the solo you want for yourself and a second used rec kayak. When you go alone, use the good solo. When out with your wife; she gets the good boat, you use the heavier rotomolded monster.

There's an opportunity coming up 18-20 May in the Old Forge area. Mountain Man's Adk. Paddlefest will have Bell's BuckTail, Native WaterCraft's Compass 10.5 and 12.5, Placid boatworks SpitFire and RapidFire, and Vermont Canoes Tupper on the beach for testing. Olmsteadville, home to all the Hornbecks is 45 miles to the east and Blue Mtn Outfitters, with Swift's Adirondack decked boats is 30 miles north. Why not try them all and make an informed decision?

[yellowcanoe]

That would be May 18-20 not for eleven days!

Pray for no snow, no mud, no wind, and maybe even warm air!

Make sure you try the Rapidfire and the Spitfire.

Charlie is being modest.

They are in a completely different league from Hornbeck boats. I have paddled both but recommend anyone in the market for a boat "kick the tires" for themselves.

[Wldrns]

...Make sure you try the Rapidfire and the Spitfire.

Charlie is being modest.

They are in a completely different league from Hornbeck boats. I have paddled both but recommend anyone in the market for a boat "kick the tires" for themselves.

I agree. Look around various outdoor forums and you catch some of the depth of Charlie's knowledge (and modesty/honesty as a businessman).

I have one of Charlie's recent RapidFires. I also have one of Peter's hybrid graphite Lost Pond boats. They each have a very different purpose, though there is some region of overlap. I love them both for what they do. Anyone considering either should definitely visit Charlie or Pete, preferably both, for test rides, then decide (if you can).

[Msample]

Ebay

Is usually a crapshoot IMO....but this posting caught my eye . Due to the relatively short time frame, this boat could go cheap . It is IMO the Ferrari of flatwater solo tripping canoes . If you can drive to NH.....think about it .

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280105186379

[charlie wilson]

Dear all;

Thanks for the kind words, but please remember that Placid Boatworks is two guys. My partner Joe Moore is younger, faster and probably the key component in our success. Among other things, he found Dymonwood, which we use in our thwarts and decks, improved and streamlined my old BCW trim procedures, and mostly provides the energy to keep the company running.

cew

[fishinnut]

If you looking for a lite wieght awesome canoe-Old Town offers some real nice models-$$$$$ a bit expensive.If your looking for a rugged (heavier) model coleman has a ram-x. It is exceptionly tough,holds a bunch of gear and also is one of a few canoes which has a keel which makes for easier control and helps keep the wind from turning you in the water.It also is very reasonably priced. Hope the info was helpful. Good luck and happy paddleing!!!!

[aft paddle]

Wait a minute

When I was a kid there weren't many options on what type of canoe you started out with. It was either a relic of an Old Town some relative had that hadn't seen water in about twenty years or an (UGH) aluminum noise trap--but simply put any canoe was better than no canoe. I still believe any canoe is better than no canoe. I currently have four ranging from plastic to wood and canvas and I can have a ball in any of them. What did you start in Charlie?

[charlie wilson]

I started at the beginning

I first paddled my grandfathers 13 ft Old Town wood and canvas, which was followed by a progression of Grummans at scout camp[s]. Grumman's, for all their flaws, are significantly better paddling boats than Colman/Pelican and OT Discos. I took 2 BWCA trips in a CoreCraft.

I paddled Sawyer Supers and Canadians in the late 60s and into the 70's before shifting to Mad Rivers Malecite, TW Special and Screamer, the latter causing a sea shift to solo canoeing. I swapped a Kev Screamer for a BlackHawk Covenant, then Proem and a Curtis Vagabond, Nomad, DragonFly then LadyBug. Somewhere in there I owned a Pat Moore Reverie II, a Lotus Egret and Caper.

During my stint with Bell I paddled mostly FlashFire and WildFire and acquired a Loon Works Nakoma, which I still enjoy, a Dagger Cascade C-1 and a Davey Hearn designed BatMax. I still paddle Flash's, but they are lighter, and have a different nameplate. Later I picked up a GyroMax.

If the only canoes available were Pelicans or Discos I doubt I'd paddle. There is no joy of the responsive interaction of the water, blade, hull and body about the things. As a fishing platform I suppose they're fine, but for the athletic sport of paddling, I don't see that either would encourage anyone to go out again.