I’m new here, and recently joined so I could better navigate the forums in search of canoe knowledge.
I am out of steam on my data gathering stage. I am a crazy person and go very hard into researching stuff. I am pretty book smart on specs and history spending weeks reading reviews and forum posts, etc. However, I have very little real paddling experience to go off of.
Now I’ve narrowed down some options and would like community input from experienced paddlers. Please, and thank you.
Part 1
I am recently married we set up a canoe fund in our gift registry and amassed about $4000 to put toward a 1st canoe/paddles/gear. However, spending less is A-OK.
We live in rural eastern California, south of Reno, NV. The nearest places to buy new canoes are Portland, OR (13hrs), and Denver CO (16hrs). We have a trip to Portland planned and the available options I like there are:
Esquif Prospecteur 16 T-Formex ($2000)
Esquif Avalon T-Formex ($2070)
Mad RIver Explorer 16 T-Formex ($1900)
Northwind B16 IXP ($3165)!!!
In Denver they have the Esquif Prospecteur 17 and the Nova Craft Prospector 16 or 17 in Tuff Stuff or Tuff Stuff Exped…but Denver is…far.
Now, on craigslist, I’ve found a Dagger Reflection 16 (in R84?) for $600. Owner says it’s in very good condition, but he hasn’t returned any further texts.
Also found a Mad River Explorer, Vermont made, 1994, royalex, wood gunwales, never been in the water, stored indoors. Lots of pictures. Mint condition. Its a beauty. Only 4.5 hours from my house and selling for $1400.
I’ve found some Old Town Royalex Penobscot 16s as well here and there, in various states of repair.
Any advice on these options? There are pros to the new canoes, but also to the used (see part 2).
Here is our paddling style:
This will be our 1st personally owned canoe and as such will start out on local lakes and the Owens River to practice strokes and such, however we have 2 river trips already planned for 2022 on mild wide rivers (like the Green River, UT) that take about 5 days each. Will be progressing to more interesting rivers for 1-5 day trips as the years move on, while loaded. I also intend to solo the boat on occasion, mostly in lakes or shallow meandering creeks nearby, especially to practice strokes or set up for duck hunting. So, an all-around canoe is preferred, however we will ask the most out of it while carrying a week of supplies for 2 people on rivers, of increasing difficulty. So, That would be it’s MAIN purpose, even though it will only do that 1-2 times a year, with many hours paddling on lakes and creeks in between. We are in our 30’s and very athletic and adventurous.
I only intend to buy ONE canoe for the foreseeable future. We have kids planned and both have other expensive hobbies and jobs. I’d rather grow into the canoe, than grow out of it so having a bit more performance than we need is probably ok. That said, I don’t want it to be TOO maneuverable, if that makes sense.
Part 2
If I choose the Explorer, I have to choose between a new one 13hrs away in T-Formex for $1900, or a 1994 one 4.5 hours away with wood gunwales for $1400…
Wood gunwales! Kinda turns me off even though they look great. I’ve read everything everywhere about cold cracking and it seems random. Where I live is Desert and very dry. Average temps for winter are in the 20-30’s at night and 40-60F in the day depending. Storage of the canoe will be outside, under an eve, on the north side of a building. Still, wood gunwales seems like a risk no matter what. Also a bit of a pain. Backing screws out wont work because we will use it year round. Not to mention wood is just more work in general.
My wife is from Vermont, and skiied Mad River Glen growing up. Its cool to find a Vermont made boat from the same region. However it’s 30 years old. Any longevity issues if we start using it hard? Any real differences between the old soulful Explorers vs the current corporate ones?
Hard use. We don’t want a canoe to baby. We want to be fine with scraping or dragging it. Vinyl gunwales seem better in this regard. Also, this is why we are looking at t-formex and royalex.
Speaking of T-Formex, MRC lists the TFormex Explorer at 77lbs! I believe the VT made Royalex boats are 70#? The Esquif t-formex options say 65lbs, but I read they weigh more in reality? The 77lbs of a new Explorer is a real turn-off…but, will I even notice the difference?
In short,
New Explorer has Vinyl gunwales, is red, may be stiffer and less prone to oil can, and it’s new, but disadvantages are the weight and overall price and quality.
Old Explorer has soul, is cheaper, lighter and less expensive. But I’m worried about the wood and age of materials.
And what if the Esquif Prospectur or Avalon fits the bill better? Howabout that Dagger Reflection? The asymmetry bugs me, but again, I have little experience.
And what about the NORTHSTAR B16 IXP?
Help?
If you’ve made it this far, you’re already my hero. Any and all advice or thoughts would be appreciated. On anything. Ha.