Probably going to pull the trigger on getting a canoe before Spring is up. If I do I want to be able to attach a trolling motor for some outings. Anyone ever do so with a double-ended canoe and a Square stern canoe and have any comparison comments? I assume the square stern has a bigger advantage in navigation of course. I could see a side mounted motor having some advantage possibly if it makes motor handle more reachable. Common sense tells me a square stern has more advantage however I wanted to ping the WCF crew to see if anyone had any comments in this area. Not to concerned about making a bracket for using on a double-ended canoe....
Canoes and trolling motors
Skifish1
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Probably going to pull the trigger on getting a canoe before Spring is up. If I do I want to be able to attach a trolling motor for some outings. Anyone ever do so with a double-ended canoe and a Square stern canoe and have any comparison comments? I assume the square stern has a bigger advantage in navigation of course. I could see a side mounted motor having some advantage possibly if it makes motor handle more reachable. Common sense tells me a square stern has more advantage however I wanted to ping the WCF crew to see if anyone had any comments in this area. Not to concerned about making a bracket for using on a double-ended canoe....
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I really like the look and amenities of the Mad River Canoe Adventure 16. They are built like a kayak and have nice seats and other amenities built in. however i think they are probably heavier than your standard fiberglass canoe since they are made of plastic. They are made by the same company as Wilderness Systems, Perception and Dagger
http://www.madrivercanoe.com/product/in ... enture_16/
http://www.madrivercanoe.com/product/in ... enture_16/
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Like anything lot of choices and hard to decide. I think I have settled on short canoes and light as possible. Will be hanging it out the back of our minivan.
My short list is;
Radisson canoes; Thin aluminum super light boats made in Canada...double ended, square stern, or wide transom (more like a row boat). Anywhere from 34lbs to 50lbs.
SportsPal Canoe; USA knockoff of Radisson Canoes...but use thicker aluminum so little heavier and more durable.
Both these makers above are wider canoes for sportsmen usage and more stable.
Also considering Old Town Pack canoe (33#)..
Also considering a Mallard Esquif 12' wide transom canoe. Really like this but most expensive choice and heavier than I want at 55#.
Dont want anything over 12' since will be having it hanging out back of my minivan. I would probably go with a square stern Radisson or Sportspal canoe, however its easier to get the OT Pack canoe since can get in Chicagoland area but was concerned about doing a bracket and control of double ended canoe with trolling motor and stabilityas compared to square stern canoes that are wider.
My short list is;
Radisson canoes; Thin aluminum super light boats made in Canada...double ended, square stern, or wide transom (more like a row boat). Anywhere from 34lbs to 50lbs.
SportsPal Canoe; USA knockoff of Radisson Canoes...but use thicker aluminum so little heavier and more durable.
Both these makers above are wider canoes for sportsmen usage and more stable.
Also considering Old Town Pack canoe (33#)..
Also considering a Mallard Esquif 12' wide transom canoe. Really like this but most expensive choice and heavier than I want at 55#.
Dont want anything over 12' since will be having it hanging out back of my minivan. I would probably go with a square stern Radisson or Sportspal canoe, however its easier to get the OT Pack canoe since can get in Chicagoland area but was concerned about doing a bracket and control of double ended canoe with trolling motor and stabilityas compared to square stern canoes that are wider.
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I have the Old Town Pack canoe and it can handle my 230# fairly well but since there's not much Freeboard it's not a canoe for rough conditions (e.g. Class 1+ or lakes 50+ acres a very windy day). I've had a trolling motor on it but it's just asking for touble and I don't do it anymore. The light weight is a god send with the remote lakes I hit up North especially as I'm climbing over boulders and down trees. If you want to take mine out for a spin let me know.
If you plan on going down some skinny rivers where you're going to be dragging on some gravel often I hear square sterns are not the way to go as the aft will hang a lot more then a double end.
If you plan on going down some skinny rivers where you're going to be dragging on some gravel often I hear square sterns are not the way to go as the aft will hang a lot more then a double end.
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Thanks for insight CatchaLot ....yea nice thing about Pack is the weight for carry, portages, and where no launches. I actually like the idea of little freeboard....I would only use such a canoe in correct conditions...
Did you mod yours such as others have done and drop seat down...curious if that would help w/stability if trolling motor used. My main interest in trolling motor would be getting up current on rivers not trolling per se. Basically covering more ground where putin/takeout is same place.
Did you mod yours such as others have done and drop seat down...curious if that would help w/stability if trolling motor used. My main interest in trolling motor would be getting up current on rivers not trolling per se. Basically covering more ground where putin/takeout is same place.
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Yeah I 'red necked' it up (registrered of course) and hung a 30# thrust trolling motor on the side and used a 50# battery (way too much battery) inside and it would get up and go pretty good, 3 mph+, though it cants a little and you have have to hold the motor slightly off center, not a biggie. I have the stock wicker seat which sits highter but you can lower it but I'm only good for about 3 hours before I have to get out of the thing as it fries my lower back, perhaps the plastic back seat OT makes would help. Its a little tippy but I've never dumped the canoe and I'm far from agile. I've taken it out on Whalon, Beck, Mazonia and a bunch of 'carry-in' only some as large as 500 acres lakes up North, but always head back or for sheltered areas when the wind picks up. I'm far from being in shape but I've portaged this canoe on my shoulders as far as 500 yards over rough ground with two rods/paddle tucked under the seat and twarts tackle/water in my vest with not much of a problem.
If you're going to get the Royalax version of either canoe and you're going to going over gravel bars and pumping into rocks get 'skid plate' kit. Royalax is nice and light but scapes easier then heavier pure plastic hulls. Plastic version of the Pack is about 33% heavier.
Even if it's a awesome deal don't get an aluminum, kevelar, carbon, fiber glass canoe for any type or river where you'll often encounter gravel, rocks or boulders.
PM me if you want to borrow it sometime.
If you're going to get the Royalax version of either canoe and you're going to going over gravel bars and pumping into rocks get 'skid plate' kit. Royalax is nice and light but scapes easier then heavier pure plastic hulls. Plastic version of the Pack is about 33% heavier.
Even if it's a awesome deal don't get an aluminum, kevelar, carbon, fiber glass canoe for any type or river where you'll often encounter gravel, rocks or boulders.
PM me if you want to borrow it sometime.
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I was the first to post a reply, but every post I posted on wcf late last night was missing this morning. :-? :evil:
It was long reply..sorry an abbreviated response the 2nd time. I built a mount for my "double-ended" canoe and it worked great. I used it a lot on a reservoir in the UP and even did some upstream travel on the Fox against strong current.
Because of my weight, plus the motor's weight in the back, plus the nose rising from from the thrust, I decided to lengthen my battery cable and put the battery up front to balance the weight. Some guys will take those square 5 gallon restaurant fryer oil containers and fill those with water and put those up front, but I found it simpler to just move the battery up front and not haul around water.
Bottom line, you can do fine without the extra expense of a square stern canoe if it's going to cost you more to do so. 8) A standard canoe would be a better boat too for the times you are not using a motor.
It was long reply..sorry an abbreviated response the 2nd time. I built a mount for my "double-ended" canoe and it worked great. I used it a lot on a reservoir in the UP and even did some upstream travel on the Fox against strong current.
Because of my weight, plus the motor's weight in the back, plus the nose rising from from the thrust, I decided to lengthen my battery cable and put the battery up front to balance the weight. Some guys will take those square 5 gallon restaurant fryer oil containers and fill those with water and put those up front, but I found it simpler to just move the battery up front and not haul around water.
Bottom line, you can do fine without the extra expense of a square stern canoe if it's going to cost you more to do so. 8) A standard canoe would be a better boat too for the times you are not using a motor.
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Thanks for the replies guys..thanks for the offer to loan CatchaLot I would PM you if interested when weather gets nicer ...or better yet you could always join me on a fishing outing but I would have to warn you there may be alligators involved.
Yea Ron I definitely though of putting battery in the bow no problem for me getting some large gauge cables to get the length. I would imagine square stern canoe might lose some tracking to. Still leaning towards square stern though but I still need to sell another yak before I do the canoe and trolling motor purchase.
Yea Ron I definitely though of putting battery in the bow no problem for me getting some large gauge cables to get the length. I would imagine square stern canoe might lose some tracking to. Still leaning towards square stern though but I still need to sell another yak before I do the canoe and trolling motor purchase.
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