paddling
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 more flexible. Fiberglass is economical
but very heavy and not the best for lengthy portages. Cedar and canvas
are beautiful aesthetic 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 are the differences 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 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.
Written by Brad Wipperman
Photos courtesy Laurie March
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