Canoe choice for the NSR?

[Alberta Bigbore]

I have been thinking alot lately about getting myself a canoe for fishing and joyriding on the NSR.

I have no experience owning one. But looking for something I can use myself, maybe with another paddler, a cooler of refreshments, and a tacklebag or two.

Being able to use it in a trout pond would be a bonus, but it's more for a river.

I would like to not unload alot of money for one. Can anyone recommend where to start?

Thx.

[ÜberFly]

Probably look at a "recreational" type canoe at about 16' or 17' (beam at least 35" or more) if you are a big guy or want to load it up, if not a 15' wold be ok if you are not planning on "tripping". Aluminum is slightly heavier (~75 lbs) then fiberglass (~65 - 70 lbs) or Royalex (plastic @ 65 - 70 lbs or so) or Kevlar (~50 lbs) and will last a life time... Royalex is pretty cost effective and very strong (but not indestructible). Lots of them on Kijiji for a couple of hundred dollars up to about $500. If you are interested in using a trolling motor then look for one with a square stern. For what you are looking for, no need to buy new. Entry level brands are Coleman and Old Town (Canadian Tire, Basspro, Wholesale, etc). New canoes in Royalex or Fiberglass will run about $1500+. Grumman 17' Aluminium $900ish used, and Kevlar new about $2500! Entry level Coleman or Oldtown about $500 new... If they have a keel they are meant for more lakes, no keel more for rivers (but not that big of a deal). Capacity of a 16' - 17' is anywhere from 600 - 800 lbs.

Careful of people that are selling used that have been painted, most always hiding damage or repairs (no big deal if repairs are done professionally or by someone who knows what they are doing)...

Any other specific questions, please ask via PM...

I have a buddy that has a very decent canoe on Kijiji (Calgary) that I know the history and I know it is a very good deal - can forward you info if you would like...

Peter

[Alberta Bigbore]

thanks for the helpful post! And yes please pm me the info on your buds canoe.

[BBJTKLE&FISHINGADVENTURES]

one that floats http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii122/JOHN_CONROY/14d6d633.jpg

[Alberta Bigbore]

lol! u just wait boy! Haha

[canoes]

Try as many as you can before you buy. Used or not you should be able to paddle to make sure it feels comfy.

Good luck with your canoe purchase!!

Larry

[BBJTKLE&FISHINGADVENTURES]

lol! u just wait boy! Haha

:sHa_shakeshout: :sHa_shakeshout: :sHa_shakeshout: :sHa_shakeshout: :sHa_shakeshout: :love0025:
Row Row Row your Boat down the NSR , Mairly Mairly Lifes about a dream . LOL

[YeeHaw]

I have one you can try out to find out if its your thing, pm me. Could be for sale.

[ÜberFly]

Yes great advice!!

Try as many as you can before you buy. Used or not you should be able to paddle to make sure it feels comfy.
Larry

[Cal]

I've said it before and I'll continue to say it. The Mad River Explorer is the 30-06 of canoes, its virtualy impossible to go wrong with one. Solo, fishing with your inexperienced friends, play in the fast stuff, two week river trips, maby bring back a moose... IMO nothing does it all quite so well. Need to take more canoe pictures so I dont need to keep posting the same ones everytime I reccomend the Explorer.

http://i668.photobucket.com/albums/vv45/exophysical/NWT%20Road%20trip/territories039.jpg

http://i668.photobucket.com/albums/vv45/exophysical/09%20Hunt/Wabasca_Hunt026.jpg

[Alberta Bigbore]

How much are those Cal?

[Cal]

Its about 1500, you used to be able to get a poly link one that was only 800 but it weighed alot more. Not sure if they still make them in polly link, I may be a cheap bugger but I pay the extra money and go with royalex every time. Tough as hell and the weight is reasonable.

[bb356]

Great pic's Cal ............... and BBJ's was priceless ............. Maybe if they do a remake of the movie ... ABB could play Ned Beatty's role ??? :)

[Alberta Bigbore]

Great pic's Cal ............... and BBJ's was priceless ............. Maybe if they do a remake of the movie ... ABB could play Ned Beatty's role ??? :)

his words of choice in the pic was an inside joke lol. I think bbj and I are the only ones who know what it means .

[bb356]

his words of choice in the pic was an inside joke lol. I think bbj and I are the only ones who know what it means .

Tell us the story :scared0018:

[densa44]

There are a Canadian company and have a web site you can check out. They make an excellent canoe.

[Geezle]

Tell us the story :scared0018:

If Bigbore doesn't fess up I'm sure I can get the story from BBJ next time I see him and post the results :evilgrin:

[Alberta Bigbore]

Its a video.... not a story... On YouTube...... And it is grounds for banning if posted due to language content and other frowned on stuff. But it's hilarious. Lol

[bb356]

Its a video.... not a story... On YouTube...... And it is grounds for banning if posted due to language content and other frowned on stuff. But it's hilarious. Lol

Thank's !!! :)

[canoes]

The mad river explorer would be the 243 of canoes. The 30-06 of canoes is the Prospector.

Wow canoes are just like rifles, everyone has there favorite :)

Larry

[just_dave]

I'm sensing terrible things to come on this possible adventure... yes.. the vision is quite clear.

You must watch this...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKQa9davydY

Then this...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIoguIo1iDw

Be wary brave men.

[Cal]

The mad river explorer would be the 243 of canoes. The 30-06 of canoes is the Prospector.

Wow canoes are just like rifles, everyone has there favorite :)

Larry

No, I would say that the Prospector is more the .270 of canoes. Very good versitile design but not as good all around as the Explorer. The high ends on a Prospector catch more wind and they usualy have more rocker, making them harder to handle on flat water. The rounded bottom and narrower beam make it a tougher canoe to fish or hunt ducks from, especily when going with people who arent used to canoes. The sharper ends leave less leg room for the bow man. The Explorer can be loaded a fair bit heavyer. Although the Prospecter is a very beautifull canoe every one I've seen in royalex was hideous, the more complex hull is somthing that is tough to re-creat with a flexible material.

That being said its pretty hard to go wrong with a .270 too.

[canoes]

Cal,, I was just poking at your post, all in fun,, to each his own. Its like all debates about which rifle or truck? Ford, Gmc, or dodge, not sure why I typed GMC or Dodge. Do people actually still buy GMC or dodges :sHa_shakeshout:

As I have said before this forum is loaded with huge amounts of great info and help for everyone.

What ever canoe you get bigbore,, have fun and paddle safe.

Larry

[FishingFrenzy]

Cal,, I was just poking at your post, all in fun,, to each his own. Its like all debates about which rifle or truck? Ford, Gmc, or dodge, not sure why I typed GMC or Dodge. Do people actually still buy GMC or dodges :sHa_shakeshout:

As I have said before this forum is loaded with huge amounts of great info and help for everyone.

What ever canoe you get bigbore,, have fun and paddle safe.

Larry

Your right...everybody buy's Chevy... :sHa_shakeshout:

As far as canoe's, personally I would buy one with a flat transom and you can slap a 5hp outboard on some of them. That would be a sweet fishing machine, pretty versatile as well...

[YeeHaw]

52218

[Alberta Bigbore]

Thats awesome. Looks like it would be fun on the river

[Alberta Bigbore]

Not having ever owned a canoe before.... What is the best way to fasten it to your vehicle?

I got rid of the 2008 dodge van with roof racks, and got a new car....so the choices are ....




2011 Chevy Impala with no roof racks

1992 GMC Seirra

[bukwild]

Big bore I've got a rack you can have for your truck. One end mounts in your hitch receiver and the other mounts in a small receiver you bolt into your bed then you just cinch it down works like a charm on my 17' coleman.

[Alberta Bigbore]

Big bore I've got a rack you can have for your truck. One end mounts in your hitch receiver and the other mounts in a small receiver you bolt into your bed then you just cinch it down works like a charm on my 17' coleman.

pm incoming

[chubbdarter]

build one from empty beer cans

[Bigwoodsman]

build one from empty beer cans

And if you were to use Kokanee Beer Can, you'd either have hottt girls or Samsquatch with you! If you're lucky.

BW

[big river]

Lots of advise here, so heres what you can do an expect on the NSR. We used to run the river from a variety of launch spots west of Buck lake and spend a few days drifting the river down to edmonton, camping over night on many of the islands in the River( watch for sudden rises in the river when the dam releases water at night an camp well above the water line. Late season when the run off was down an the river clear. The upper river had dollies, Pickeral , Gold eye and even the odd Brown..yes..Brown and we saw some biggies believe me. Later in the season, we packed our shotguns an ate pan fried Pickeral and roast Grouse over the fire, bagging a few deer as well well late in the season..cold work. Your canoe needs to be tuff..many places there are swift shallow rapids that eats the bottom of your canoe out, sometimes you need to line it thru the shallows to by pass sweepers and rapids and you will bump off enough rocks to sorely test your hull. Its
not going to be pretty when your done, but you are going to be saying "why didn't I do this before".