Square stern canoes?

Dwight Harley

Dwight Harley

Well-known member
My job may be transferring me to St Cloud, MN soon. I am looking for a boat to fish for smallmouths in some of the local streams like the upper Mississippi, the Rum, the Sauk, etc. I have a 5hp OB and think a 15-16' square stern canoe might be what I need. Anyone have any thoughts? What about the Myers Sportspal? thanks for suggestions
 
I have spent countless hours over the last 18 years fishing and hunting from an older Coleman Scanoe with a 3hp motor. It works great until it is time to paddle it. I have also fished from some other square back canoes, none of which was as stable or tough as the Scanoe but all of which paddled better. I should also note that as my flexibility has decreased with age so has my inclination to fish from a Scanoe.

If I was buying a small boat or canoe for what you are doing I would probably opt instead for something like the 14' Scott Duckboat. It is actually surprisingly canoe like in design. The other option would be to build a small light skiff.
 
I love canoes, but hate the square stern models as they don't paddle worth a crap in my opinion. If you fully intend to always travel distance with outboard power, and would just paddle around where fishing, I'd go with something like the Scott Duckboat Paul linked or the 13" Sportspal

http://www.meyersboat.com/#/sportspal/models/X-13

It would be much easier to turn yourself and run the outboard, give you better stability, and still allow you into relative shallow narrow places like a canoe

Are you looking (hoping) to find something used? Unfortunately I don't think these types are near as plentiful as the standard canoe with the last foot cut off to make it square, and when they do show up for sale, they seem to hold their value well...which if you break down and buy new, this value holding property is a good thing.

Best
Chuck
 
I'm not real familiar with the Rum River, but I'm pretty sure you can fish most, if not all, of the Sauk and the Miss with a 20' bass boat if you want.

I'm partial to the Grumman Sportboat for a powered canoe-type boat.

The few occasions I've paddled a square stern canoe, it was fine, but I'm not an expert paddler either so if they paddle like crap, I probably wouldn't know the difference.
 
I'd think bigger. Small square sterns tend to be pretty unstable and also draw a lot of water when loaded with two people and gear.

Something with more beam--like the Scott duck boat suggested by several folks--or more length, like a traditional 18-20 foot "Grand Laker" canoe, will serve you better than a smaller canoe.

Scott makes an 18 and 20 foot square stern canoe, and both see a lot of use on rivers and lakes up here.
 
I will say that sports pal's with that foam on the outside do make paddling less than fun for me. too wide to effectively paddle all day.
 
I have a 14' Scott Duckboat and a 15'4" Gheenoe. Either one would be fine with a 5hp and are OK to paddle.
I also have a 16' Scott Duckboat and ran it for several years with a 5hp, worked fine, but it is heavier than the other two boats and less suited for paddling.
The Sportspal is light but I don't think as stable as the three boats I have.
 
From Billings to St. Cloud. I don't know if that is a good move Dwight. Actually went to school up near there and loved the area.

I know of a four rivers fro sale near Webster SD if you want to pick it up on the move back. How about an original Ducker with a removeable motor mount? Carstens makes good prodcuts and they are built here. They tend to be heavy in my opinion. Lot's of styles to chose from.

What are your requirements/restrictions Dwight - lightweight for car topping, throwing in the back of a pick up, trailering, etc... I think knowing how you are going to use the boat helps with recommendations.

Welcome to Minnesota.

Mark W
 
You will find all the info on freighters on the Alaska Canoe Forum. I have a Scott Albany that Lou painted for me last year. Check out my posts. I also have a 19 grumman square with a lift. The old timers at Grumman(now Marathon) canoe said to me that the 15 sportboat and the 19 freighter are the same hull + - 4 ft. Ill tell you the 19 square is one all around boat. It will carry a moose yet very light to drag over a beaver dam. bob
 
I have a 15' Preator Canoe square tail made by OLD TOWN Canoes, check their Web site, also doubles as a marsh Duck Boat. You get the best of both worlds. very stable. Dave
 
My Dad and I fished out of a 19ft. Grumman square stern with a 6hp motor for 20 plus years. Very stable seating for five people. We used to ride the wakes of larger boats on our way in from fishing. People thought we were crazy. I also paddled from Dover Ohio down the tuscarawas river to where the Tusc. and the Wahoning rivers form the Muskingum river and then on down to the mouth of the Ohio river. The scout troop I was in made this trip in 1968. It took us five days. I've done several trips in MN. and Canada in 17ft. canoes. I much prefer the 19ft. It only weighs 110lbs. Not bad for it's size.
 
My Dad and I fished out of a 19ft. Grumman square stern with a 6hp motor for 20 plus years. Very stable seating for five people. We used to ride the wakes of larger boats on our way in from fishing. People thought we were crazy. I also paddled from Dover Ohio down the tuscarawas river to where the Tusc. and the Wahoning rivers form the Muskingum river and then on down to the mouth of the Ohio river. The scout troop I was in made this trip in 1968. It took us five days. I've done several trips in MN. and Canada in 17ft. canoes. I much prefer the 19ft. It only weighs 110lbs. Not bad for it's size.
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Love the 19's . We put 3 guys 2 dogs deke's you name it and paddle in to some good spots. Stable, and in November I like stable .
 
Welcome to Minn. When you get here we should probably get together. I have a Devlin Poleboat (check it out -look left)that may well be kind of what you are looking for, not for sale but we could take it out and see how it works on the river. I live in a NW suburb only an hour from St. Cloud. When are you due here? When you get here you can get your own "college" sweatshirt
 
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Thanks everyone for your suggestions and comments. I need a boat big enough to feel safe in but that can manage shallow water and rocky riffles. I actually fish small rivers more than I duck hunt these days but would like a craft that can do double duty. In fact, I have a Carstens Canvasback that I am just about giving away on the DHBP classifieds.
I don't mind trailering a canoe so I can leave my stuff inside and the OB attached when it is in the garage. I will certainly look up you Minn guys when I get relocated.
 
This probably isn't what you're looking for--but it's a nice article with some great photos of classic square stern canoes.

http://troutunderground.com/2006/09/the-grand-lake-canoe-an-essay-with-images/
 
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