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Buying
a Canoe
Things to consider before you make your purchase
©
Outdoor Adventure Canada
Of all our
canoeing gear the canoe is the biggest investment and for those
who are buying their first canoe it can be somewhat daunting.
With prices ranging from approximately $800.00 to $4000.00 you
want to be sure you make the appropriate choice.
First of all
you need to decide a few things...
What type of
trip will the canoe be used for?
This could be a recreational
canoe for the lake at your cottage or a more advanced model
for wilderness tripping. If you are wilderness tripping the
canoe you choose will depend on the type of water you will travel
on. There are different considerations for whitewater trips.
Certain styles perform better on large lakes and other styles
are better suited to running rapids. If you will be portaging
quite a bit then you may want to consider models made from lighter
materials.
How many people
will be in the canoe on the average trip?
If you plan to solo
your canoe all the time then you might choose a different size
than if you plan to take others and only solo some of the time.
It may be that the canoe will never be soloed. This will determine
the symmetry and size of canoe that you choose. For example:
If you plan to use the boat with two adults and two children
but there will be a chance that you will solo once or twice
a season then you would look for a model that suited both purposes.
If you plan to tandem
and solo the same canoe there are two major design choices.
You could consider purchasing a canoe with a symmetrical hull
design. This would allow you to turn the canoe around when soloing,
meaning that you would sit in the bow facing the stern making
soloing less cumbersome. The other option is to purchase an
asymmetrical design and having a third seat installed as a solo
seat. The extra seat would allow you to sit closer to the center.
If you plan to only
solo the canoe then you might want to look at a model that is
asymmetrical and a little shorter in length (about 15 feet).
These canoes are specifically designed for the solo paddler.
If you are planning
to tandem you will probably want a canoe that is about 16 feet
long unless you are going on lengthy trips. If you are taking
three or more people then you will probably want a 17 foot length
model. Symmetrical or asymmetrical will depend on the type of
canoeing and your preferences.
What will be
the average weight in the canoe?
Consider the weight
of your gear and paddlers on the average trip. Some canoe designs
are better when they are loaded at a certain weight. The maximum
load refers to the amount of weight that a canoe can hold and
while maintaining 6" of free board (the height of the canoe
remaining above the waterline). The optimum load refers canoe's
load capacity for optimum performance. You should buy a canoe
with an optimal rating that matches the loads you plan on carrying.
What will be
the average trip length?
If you plan to take
a canoe on longer trips you will need a larger load capacity
than you would if you are buying a canoe just to putter on the
lake at the cottage.
What type of material will your canoe be made from?
This will depend
entirely on how you will use the canoe. If you are tripping
with numerous portages you might want to consider materials
such as Kevlar over fiberglass or ABS (Royalex) because Kevlar
is lighter. Expedition Kevlar is well suited to wilderness tripping.
Ultralight Kevlar is the lightest of materials but is a little
more fragile than Expedition Kevlar. Royalex is more suitable
for rapids and whitewater because it is very flexible like a
bleach bottle. Fiberglass is economical but very heavy and not
the best for lengthy portages. Cedar and canvas are very esthetic
and fairly light but require a great deal of care and maintenance.
Aluminum canoes are noisy and have a cold feel but will withstand
a good deal of abuse.
What is your
trim preference?
Most canoes are available
with either wood or aluminum trim on the gunwales. Wood is a
little heavier, usually adding about 3 pounds, but has a nicer
feel than aluminum. It feels warmer in the cold weather and
with a little maintenance will stay beautiful for many years.
Wood is also a little more expensive, generally adding about
$250.00 to the price. Aluminum is less expensive and lighter
but also scratches easily. Aluminum trim feels cold in the spring
and fall. Some styles of canoes come with vinyl trim.
Here are other
considerations and information that will help you make an informed
choice…
What is the
difference between asymmetrical and symmetrical canoes?
A canoe has symmetrical
hull if both the bow and the stern are the same shape. A canoe
with a symmetrical hull has good maneuverability, behaves predictably
on the water and has good initial stability when entering or
exiting the canoe. Symmetrical canoes are great for accommodating
the solo canoeist because it can be reversed allowing the soloist
to sit in the bow facing the stern.
An asymmetrical
canoe sacrifices initial stability. You have to take greater
care getting in and out and moving around but you will have
greater secondary stability which means less chance of tipping
on the water. Asymmetrical canoes are generally faster than
symmetrical models.
Initial
stability isn't just about getting in and out of the canoe.
Intial stability also refers to how stable the craft is when
in the flat position. Secondary stability refers to how stable
the canoe is if you lean.
How does the
rocker affect the stability and tracking of a canoe?
If the canoe has
a straight line keel it has little or no rocker. This type of
rocker provides excellent tracking on open water but it is not
very maneuverable. An extreme rocker is greatly curved along
the keel line from the bow to the stern. It is a very maneuverable
canoe but sacrifices tracking. A moderate rocker is what one
finds on most canoes. The keel line is mostly flat but curves
upwards toward the stern and bow. A moderate rocker provides
good tracking and maneuverability. However, if you are running
rapids look for a steep rocker.
How does hull
shape affect performance?
If the canoe has
a flat hull it will have offer great initial stability and provide
steadiness for fishing and photography. If the canoe has a shallow
arched hull, the canoe won't have as good initial stability
as the flatter model but it will have far better secondary stability.
A shallow V is sometimes used as a hull shape. It offers performance
that is close to that of a shallow arched hull. A shallow V
will track deeper so it can get hung up on rocks in shallow
water. Round hulls are typically found on racing canoes but
they are very prone to tipping.
Why is the
shape of the sides and bow important?
If the sides (tumblehome)
are flared, curving out from the keel, they will shed the water
well and increase stability. Straight sides travel without any
curvature and other sides curve upward from the keel and then
inward so that the canoe is narrower at the beam or top than
at the bottom. The turned in designs are less stable but ease
paddling because you don't have to stretch as far. Canoe designs
use combinations of all three shapes.
A sharp bow will
cut through the water for fast performance. A blunt bow will
have more contact with the water.
What about
length, width and depth?
A longer canoe will
have a faster hull speed, track better and will carry heavier
loads than a shorter canoe. Shorter canoes will weigh less and
be more maneuverable.
The width or beam
has a great effect on canoe performance. A wide canoe beam will
be very stable but slow. A narrower canoe is faster but not
as stable. A deep canoe will carry more, shed more water and
is better in waves, but it is also harder to steer in windy
conditions and it weighs more. Deeper canoes are also troublesome
on shallow rivers and creeks.
How are the
seats constructed?
Seat construction
varies between manufacturers. There are metal framed seats with
foam padding, molded ABS seats, and wooden seats woven with
either cane or webbing. Some seats are on sliders allowing you
to configure your canoe as needed and others are fixed. Some
manufacturers have added a slight angle to the seat which makes
kneeling more comfortable.
How is the
yoke constructed?
This is important
especially if you will be doing a great deal of portaging. What
yoke will feel best depends on your body and preferences. Some
manufacturers offer yoke pads or contoured yokes which make
portaging more comfortable.
Now that you have an
idea of what you need from a canoe and a basic knowledge of how
design elements alter the stability and performance it is time
to research some canoe manufacturers. Look at styles that suit
your needs and rent several different canoes to see what you feel
most comfortable with before you buy a canoe. Once you narrow
your decision down to a few canoes take some time and discuss
your intended choices with fellow canoeists. There is no better
resource than people who can give you their opinions from first
hand experience.
Note: If you are ordering
a canoe, be sure to follow-up on your order shortly after you
place it to ensure that the process has been started and leave
enough time for manufacture and delivery before your trip.
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