canoe options

Dave M

Dave M

Well-known member
I am looking for a canoe for some early season river hunting , i have looked at various kayaks and am not to comfortable with a 80 lb lab in one with all the gear and whatnot . What my plans are is to carry a half dozen woodies , and a few mallards to out of the way spots this early season Basically i will be traveling light. I had a friend who had a Coleman canoe i think 15 foot , that was a tippy canoe where everytime you got in it felt as though you were going for a swim , so i need something that is kind of beamy and not to long . I would like to stay around 14 feet long if possible for concealment reasons as well as transporting reasons . Anyone have opinions on this subject ? And how about hiding the sucker in the marsh ? Thanks




Dave
 
Dave,
depending on what kind of river you're talking about, you might look into one of the marsh type boats (4-Rivers, mo-marsh). They will handle the load, are very stable as far as handling a dog moving around and shooting from them, and they hide well compared to canoes. However, they aren't as river-friendly as a canoe is. Most of the guys that I've seen hunting with a canoe will use it for transport then stash the canoe and hunt from a seat/bucket.

When looking at canoes, make sure you check the primary/secondary stability closely. Some canoes have a really rounded bottom, making them feel very tippy. It's not all about beam, but where that widening occurs that controls this.

Scott
 
I do a lot of canoe hunting. I don't have a clue as to what brand mine is b/c I bought it second hand from a canoe outfitter who was getting rid of it b/c it was "broken". Nothing a new set of ribs couldn't fix. It's aluminum, higher sides, a fairly round bottom and can feel tippy but I've yet to flip it (though I know it can be done).

I have a 15 footer that I really like. As for concealing it? Camo that bad boy up with paint (I just go with the $1 or $2 cans of spray paint at walmart). I also have some somewhat leafy fabric (looks like leaves coming out all over it) if I'm going to be in an area that it's going to be more than partially concealed.

And I do hunt out of the canoe. Never done it with a dog, done training with mine (about 60 lbs) and he's good about not flipping the canoe when getting in so long as he can touch the ground. Otherwise it's a trick to get him in and I'd prefer not to have to haul him out by his vest to get him in. He's learned to get out as long as he's not on straight up metal and slipping around.

There is a canoe that I saw that I'd LOVE to have, or build:
http://www.wooden-canoes.com/canoes/whisper.htm
 
Coleman canoes are tippy....been there done that as a teenager.

One thing to look at are a Meyers Sportspal (not a Radisson Sportspal - Al is too thin) - they are just about impossible to capsize and quite since they are foam lined.

Here is a place I bout a S-12 Model from about 10 years ago. I liked the small solo canoe for myself, my gear and my little AWS. You will likely need to look at the S-14 or an S-16 model. The Olive drab is a nice color. http://www.castlecraft.com/...tspal_double-end.htm

Or better yet - watch craigslist and purchase a used grumman, michicraft of smokercraft canoe and save some dough - 15 model. 17 foot is great because you can load up more gear but better paddled by two people and heavy.
 
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I'll second what Nick said about the Castlecraft Sportspal line. My hunting partner has a 11'-7" model that was black. He painted it dark brown and used grass stenciling to help hide it. It was easy to paddle for one guy in the stern and the other ready to jump shoot from the bow. We went places that many others could only dream of getting to with that little canoe. It flew out of the back of his pickup at the end of last season and bent the nose to the side. It still needs to be straightened out, but it only seems like a job for the ball peen and a little patience. If he wasn't a good friend, I'd convince him that it wasn't worth fixing and he should just give it to me to get it out of his yard.LOL When you get the right one for you, we want to see pics of it in action!
 
I was looking into the momarsh but to get one here to RI. is expensive to ship it ,i cannot find one locally , I just got an e-mail about a 12 foot canoe used for 50.00 , i will go take a look at it and see what it is . I am looking for something i can move it around with little effort . I will le you guys know what i come up with . Thank you !


Dave
 
Dani,

Thanks for your input , i was looking for something other than aluminum , i like glass it is alot quieter and warmer up here in New England . The Coleman we used before was real tippy almost uncomfortable with 2 guys cannot imagine with a dog and 2 guys . See my post above .Thanks again for your help



Dave M
 
I have a mad river explorer that is decent (for a canoe). I've been in others that were horrible. I was told it has a lot to do with the shape of the cross section of the hull - the ones with a rounded cross section like to tip, the mad river is much wider and thus more stable.
 
Mike thanks !!! I have to get one that is furlined in the bow for Andrew , he gets cold easily and if his Cafe latte is cold he is very cranky HAHAHA. I was also thinking it would be a little lighter for him to pack into the woods for me , he is getting up there in age after all . I am excited about this because this is how i started in the sport 18 years ago . infact i took my 1st ever Canadian goose which by the way was banded in Maryland from a canoe !!!! Cannot wait to try it again. Thank you for your input



Dave M
 
Dave,

for more stability in a canoe, you might try the stabilizers / outriggers that cabalas and others sell. I had a set on my older model Wenona Fisherman canoe and felt very comfortable in it with my dog. they slowed me down a bit, but i felt safer. i never hunted out of the canoe, just used it for transport to the blind. there's lots of camo material out there to hide a canoe. cabelas sells that too. enjoy.

Larry
 
Dave,
did you see Ira's post about a couple of boats he has in MD that he's wanting to sell:

"[font=Verdana,Arial,Helvetica] Guys, I sent a DP and a fatboy to the USCG testing facility in Solomons, MD. I want to sell them out there so that I do not have to ship them back. Shipping and crating are already paid, so that is a savings of $320 right off of the top. First takers get them.

PS, Eric approved this message.

Thanks and PM me for details."[/font]
 
Dave...

Suggest you get together with Mike Sw. he knows tons about this subject. Not for nuthin' but what about a kayak style system.

http://www.wplenterprises.com/CanoesMarshlander.php

I like this canoe... looks a little odd, but stable. Plus, you can put an electric motor on it in the event you are crossing say... Wardens, etc.

If I am going with you, I'd appreciate an I=pod hookup this time ok?

A.
 
Since Cabelas has been brought up. I was in the Dundee MI store the other week and they had a beast of a freighter if the racks in front of the store. It appeared to be approx. 4' wide. I don't know who made it but it had the silhouette of an indian chief on the bow. My first thought was this might be a good choice if I ever decide to duck hunt with a canoe again (bad experience years ago). Don't know how much this helps, maybe someone else knows the manufacturer.
 
Dave,

There was a time I did a lot of canoe based hunting. I own two and for a time had three canoes. The one I constantly use is a 15-ft Grand Canadian (made in MA I believe) It's keeled and super stable for a canoe. Bogs an 88-lb lab grew up in it and had no problem making open water retrieves from it. It holds lots of stuff and weighs in around 75-lbs. Two of us used to jump shoot creeks from it, before Bogs we had a Golden/setter cross on board for retrieving. Note: only the front guy had a loaded gun. Back guy had the harder job and didn't get to shoot. Once a shooting opportunity happened we'd switched places. Now I simply use it to get to my spot with as much equipment as possible and stash it. Goose hunting with floaters eats up lots of room and I have special floating shells to fit as many as possible. The dog is great help balancing out the canoe. Train her to stay forward of the front seat. This serves two purposes, trim and it is narrower up there and she can't get as far off center.

The G.C. canoe came with a lifetime warranty that I have not yet used although the boat is 25 yrs old. The only real issue I've had was the center cross bar brackets. They rotted out and I've replaced them with aluminum angle.

View attachment gooseshellfloat.jpg


That canoe is also the car top fishing boat and I've spent incredible number of hours fishing from her. The majority of them with Bogs and/or Meg aboard. Simple, inexpensive, stable and solid. That said if you want a marsh boat to layout in there are more specialized boats and I'd love to have a couple but the basic working canoe is a must have in my book.

Scott

View attachment gooseshellfloat.jpg
 
Dave, I was just about brought up in a canoe. The canoe was my preferred mode of transportation on the water. How ever hunting out of one, the canoe goes to the bottom of the list. A light weight handle by your self and more stable a dingy would be a better option. A builder like yourself could even build something first rate designed for hunting. A canoe will get you to the hunting site faster than others. The other possibility as has been mentioned is out riggers for stability.
 
look into nu canoe i got a chance too paddle one with my 65 lbs lab and it is very stable also has a blind available for it very cool little craft
 
A ,


That is a cool looking boat but i was thinking of soemthing like that but lower profile , I have to go look at one tonight it is 12 feet and 36 inches wide i think it may be what i want i just want something light so you can carry it into the spots without the whining i usually hear when you have to carry my Cackler to Hog . i will let you know how i make out . Thanks for the information



Dave
 
Scott ,

I had a 16 foot GC to but it was haevy as all hell , for one guy to move around i sold it because it was a pain to get on and off the roof of the truck , maybe mine was different form the one i had but it work well , i just want something smaller that i can trow around without worring about the scratches and what not . i have a 16 foot Adirondak canoe all prettied up with cane seats and oak/mahaoganey rails way to nice to beat it up that is a 16 foot and that is haevy also , i usually have 2 people when i use that for fishing . Thanks alot for the tips



Dave
 
Wispete ,


I was looking at those sponsons the other night at Cabelas web site , cool idea i may go that route if i cannot find the right width canoe . Thanks alot




Dave
 
You ought to be able to come up with a used canoe for short money. I'd try a free "wanted" on Craigs List. Attack the thing with flat Rustoleum paint & get in the game.

Here is a USCG (bureacraticly worded) pdf document addressing sponsons: http://www.uscgboating.org/SAFETY/Efficacy_Sponsons_Canoes_Kayaks_USCGG-OPB.pdf

I've had have 15 Michicraft for 30 years. Stable "for a 15' canoe" - but not great. The limitation of kayaks is space for decoys, but your weight is lower & no question they are more stable.
 
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