WHICH CANOE IS RIGHT FOR YOU ?

Originally published in our Fall 1999 edition

So often the first thing a customer will ask about a particular model of canoe is "How much does it weigh?" Well, if one is going to spend the majority of his trip lifting the canoe, then we guess weight should be the most important consideration. On the other hand, if that person wants to spend the majority of his trip paddling into new lakes or fishing, or if he hasn’t done a lot of paddling, then stability, speed, paddling efficiency, and load capacity should be on an equal (or higher) plane as weight.

CANOE  DESIGN: The Basics
Every canoe is a product of compromises. When we purchase canoes, we balance elements like hull shape, length, width, and rocker to provide a canoe that’s ideal for a particular type of paddling. By understanding how those elements affect performance, you can be more confident of choosing a canoe that’s right for your style of paddling.

LENGTH
Length affects the speed and maneuverability of a canoe. All other things being equal, a longer canoe is faster and easier to paddle, while a shorter canoe is easier to turn. Tripping canoes tend to be long, for speed, while sporting and whitewater canoes - which rely on maneuverability - are short.

WIDTH
Wider hulls are generally more stable. Anglers, bird watchers, and photographers who need a stable, secure platform prefer wider hulls. Cruisers and wilderness trippers like the efficiency and speed of narrow hulls.

LOAD  CAPACITY
Length and width, combined with depth, determine the load capacity of a canoe. Unlike many canoe trip outfitters we don’t recommend an absolute load capacity for our canoes. Too many variables - including the stability and handling characteristics of a canoe, paddler experience and judgment, and water and weather conditions - make such a number meaningless.

HULL  MATERIALS:  The Other Half Of The Equation
Kevlar has almost become a word meaning "lightest possible canoe". And that’s too bad. "Kleenex" isn’t the only brand of tissue; "Jell-O" isn’t the only brand of gelatin. Yes, Kevlar is a lightweight material. But within just one brand of canoes (looking only at models of essentially 16’ in length), Kevlar weights vary from 54 pounds down to 29 pounds.

A.B.S.
This plastic laminate is very low in cost, which, in turn, can keep rental rates low. It is one of the most durable of canoe materials which results in longer service life and lower operating costs. Unfortunately, models using this material weigh-in between 70 and 105 pounds. It is relatively thick which limits how streamlined the leading edge can be formed. North Country doesn’t own any A.B.S. canoes.

ALUMINUM
A durable material which handles normal wear in good fashion. It is subject to puncture with careless use or while running rapids. Over time, the rivets joining the sheets and ribs together can elongate and allow for some leakage. Though more costly than ABS, it is still an excellent buy when comparing service life to cost. Weights for ultralight aluminum run from 59 to 72 pounds. Standard weight canoes add about 20 pounds. Care must be taken or they can be noisy for fishing. All of North Country’s aluminum canoes are in the ultra-light category. These canoes are perfect for the first timer who is willing to trade some quiet for more stability.

ROYALEX
This plastic/foam laminate offers qualities that make it ideal for tough conditions. It is durable, quiet, and insulates well in cold water. While canoes of this material weigh-in about the same as ultra-lightweight aluminum, purchase costs are about 30% higher. Hull designs are similar to A.B.S. but are much lighter. This makes them an excellent choice for a canoe trip centered on fishing. North Country’s Old Town Penobscot models are made of Royalex.

FIBERGLASS
Lighter than Royalex, glass can be formed to much sharper entry lines. Because the material is brittle, it is very susceptible to impact damage from being dropped or hitting rocks while running rapids. Weights vary in proportion to its thickness: generally from the low 50’s to the upper 60’s. Costs are on the upper side of the pricing scale, with only Kevlar being more expensive.

KEVLAR
The lightest of the canoe hull materials, it is also the most expensive. Like its’ close cousin, fiberglass, designs can be very exotic due Kevlar’s trait of taking-on a sharp, narrow line without much loss in strength. It is very abrasion prone (dragging the canoe onto shore, or sliding it fully loaded over a shallow bottom). North Country’s upper end Old Towns and Mad Rivers and We-no-nahs are constructed with Kevlar. What seems to be happening with Kevlar canoes is a race to reduce weight at any cost. Kevlar canoes are now down to weights in the high 30’s. To do this, some manufactures are thinning the material making it far more susceptible to impact damage. Also, freeboard, the distance from gunnels to water line is getting shorter. This means canoes will ship water when hit by bigger waves. Taken to the next step, paddling on rough water can be dangerous in comparison to other designs.

WHERE  IS  NORTH  COUNTRY  GOING?

Our new Mad River canoes for this season are made of Expedition Kevlar: 40-pound class, but rugged to handle the BWCA and Quetico Park. From Canada’s Swift Canoe Company we are buying some of their newer design Royalite canoes. Both models will help keep weight & rental cost down, while giving our customers a safe, easy to paddle canoe.

Subsequent to this article, North Country has introduced We-No-Nah canoes to our inventory.  At present, we do not own any Swift canoes; nor do we plan to purchase any in the foreseeable future.