Canoes.......

[Bow Man]

I was wondering what is the "best" style/ design for a fishing canoe ? It will be for two people, on smaller bodies of water ex: Cootes, Lake Gibson, Grand River....etc...etc.. But there will be a few times that I would use it "up" north (Kill Bear Park) I go there 3-4 times a yr.

I really what something that is wide, very stable and durable. So what would all of you suggest?

Thanks

 

[chalkhorse]

i canoe a lot...

to be honest, unless you have unlimited budgets, i would recommend something used and inexpensive, preferably fibreglass.

fibreglass handles well, is easy to repair and you aren't going to stress every time you scrape bottom.

if you cruise kijiji, you can find a 16 - 17 footer for under 5 or 6 hundred bucks.

better yet, find a fibreglass one with a hole in it for 200.

it's incredibly easy to fix a fibreglass canoe.

if you can, try to find one with a wooden yoke (the center bar in the middle of the canoe)

the yoke serves two main purposes.

one is to keep the sides of the canoe from compressing with the pressure from the outside water.

but the reason you want a wooden yoke is because it is the point that rests on your neck when you carry the canoe by yourself.

any canoe that i've carried that had an aluminum yoke, i've cursed, as they are not usually put at the balance pivot point and they tend to dig into your neck.

i've rarely seen a canoe without ballasts (covered flotation foam) at the front and back of the canoe.

feel free to ask here or pm me if you have any other concerns...

john

 

[BackwoodsBassr]

Bob's special and Prospector models will be nice and stable. I've done trips where we've squeezed 3 dudes and a few days worth of gear in a 16 foot bob's...it was close but we didn't take in any water lol.

Fibreglass is great, easy to repair, and stable in the water, providing for good tracking. However...I like to err on the lighter side of things.

I'm personally looking at a sportspal right now. It's not the same calibre material as a kevlar or even a fiberglass from what I can judge but the price tag is right and the weight is more like what you'd see on a top notch kevlar canoe than a fibreglass model.

I have to ask: are you portaging on these fishing trips?

If you're not taking it through any rapids and don't plan on doing a lot of portaging then I'd go fibreglass for sure...but if you're going to be portaging a few trails a day for a few days in a row give'r on something lighter IMO.

Portaging a fiberglass canoe is noo problem BUT portaging a fiberglass canoe AND camping gear AND fishing gear is a bit tedious...especially if you're going for over 3 days or so.

I like to bring a lot of gear, too much many people would say, but when I'm exploring new places I like to be prepared (and I don't like to limit my fishing opportunities either lol). That being said, I like to go with a light canoe so I can do it all in one trip. The lighter canoe also lets me manoevre a bit better on rougher, unmaintained "trails" while still being reasonably sure I'm not going to be thrown off balance and bash myself up...thus potentially ending an otherwise promising trip.

 

[Bow Man]

It would be for day trips out fishing, and when up north it would be at a cottage. No portaging. But what style ie: width , bottom, etc... is best for fishing.

 

[chalkhorse]

in general, the flatter the bottom, the more stable, but the more work you have to do to get anywhere

 

[chalkhorse]

where are you located?

 

[chalkhorse]

there really isn't a "right" answer to which canoe is best for fishing, just a few wrong ones.

avoid aluminum canoes, as they are hard to handle and carry noise. and plastic canoes, like colemans, are insanely heavy.

the rest is tailored to your own style.

this might help...

http://www.ehow.com/how_11372_buy-canoe.html

 

[Bow Man]

Thanks very one was just curious, was thinking about buying a canoe sometime this season.

I will take my time and try and find the right one.

thanks again.

 

[MartyLee]

fiberglass IS the way to go, find one for afew hundred buck online and pick it up.

 

[apz245]

the wider it is.. the harder you'll be paddling, remember that, sometimes its good to have something that cuts through the water, especially on windy days.

as for which "style" is better, I say the square kind that you can attach a motor to... that way you can troll also (not just out of laziness) edit: I really think this is a GREAT fishing setup for backwaters and lakes with restricted access. even compared to an aluminum cartopper.. I hope to own something like this eventually but its long down on my list of toys

otherwise its a matter of your personal preference, it depends on the shape of the hull and how wide the canoe is but generally wider and flat bottom= stable and harder to paddle, narrow with V Hull is easy to paddle but wobbly, the latter is what I use and on days with 2 people casting or windy ones.. lets just say I'm glad I'm a good swimmer.