Have had 35 canoes in my life. From 12 years old to 84 years old. Grummans are all around best. Store them outside year around. Try that with any other non aluminum canoe and see what happens. Wide flat bottom. Pole it in 4" of water, no problem. Repair holes with duck tape. My 13’ Grumman lightweight weighs 44 pounds. Not bad for portaging. I put Lightweight ethafoam pontoons on it. Makes canoe inpossible to turn over. Put 4 hp outbroad motor on it and can go faster then anyone paddling a fancy dancy weak kneed, slack jawed, namby pamby, sweet smiling, panty wasted Kevlar with cherry trim in phony belony make believe Boundary Waters canoe area. Deep River Bob has spoken.