"Getting Started" - Review - May 2000
Finding a First Canoe These "first" canoes are great for paddlers seeking versatility, low price, easy maintenance, and a stable ride on short cruising trips and in moderate current.
By Steve Salins
Looking for your first canoe? I remember shopping for my first one; I knew I wanted to play the canoeing game but was not sure how extensively I would participate. I wanted a canoe suitable for a beginner but did not want to unnecessarily limit my growth. I didn't know if I would paddle on rivers or not, nor if I'd need capacity for tripping. In those days, choices were limited. A 17-foot, 80-pound, shoe-keel Grumman seemed to offer some versatility, it was easily available to me, and that's what I got.
Today a first-canoe decision must be more precise because many more suitable canoes are available. However, the questions remain the same. How do I plan to use it? Do I plan to paddle on flatwater, rivers, or a mix of both? Will I paddle mostly with a partner, solo, or a mix of both? How important is cost? How important is weight? Is durability a critical concern?
For this review we requested canoes that are versatile, relatively inexpensive, easy to maintain, stable, and able to handle short cruising trips on lakes or in moderate current. Now that's a lot to ask of any product (does a little bit of everything), and naturally we got a variety of canoes in return, reflecting canoe-makers' views of versatility, performance, and low price. All of these canoes are easy maintenance, however.
When looking for a product that is versatile, one does not expect to find exceptional performance in one specific aspect. For example, you would not expect a family car to perform well on a race track. These canoes are similarly built; they're middle-of-the-road designs. And yet, as I paddled them in a variety of conditions, each model showed qualities that would make it a candidate for a permanent spot on anyone's canoe rack. You wouldn't grow out of these boats with an increase in paddling competence and experience.
When you're a first-time buyer, you naturally evaluate a particular canoe for the benefits it immediately brings you. Consider also how well the model fits your planned future growth as a paddler, because you will undoubtedly improve your skills. What is your potential for paddling growth, and what is the ability of the canoe to perform to your growth? Buy a canoe that works for activities you like to do most and what you are most likely to do.
DISCOVERY 158
Old Town Canoe Co.
58 Middle St.
Old Town, ME 04468
(207) 827-5513
www.otccanoe.com
Length: 15' 8"
Center depth: 13.5"
Hull shape: symmetrical, shallow arch, straight keel line with rise
Width: 35.5"
Material of test model: polyethylene
Weight of test model: 79 pounds
Retail price of test model: $739
Old Town Discoverys were a benchmark in the canoe world when introduced in the late 1980s. At the time another manufacturer was touting the benefits of polyethylene, but Old Town pioneered a way to produce a polyethylene hull with a foam core-no pipes or fittings to stiffen the hull-and the revolution was on! The 158 is one of the first of these Discovery models, so it's been around for a long time. When introduced, it served entry-level canoeists well as a durable, well-designed, comfortable canoe, and that is still true today.
I had last paddled a Discovery 158 seven years ago, using it on the Isar River in Germany as well as on the extended canals of Hamburg. This time, launching out on a local waterway with a novice paddling friend, I was reminded that the 158 moves along with grace and glide. We were using bent-shaft paddles (yes, I admit to some degree of lazy efficiency when testing these canoes!) and the "Disco" slid right along. While I focused on stability, tracking, and glide, my friend noticed the comfort of the molded plastic seats. She was right; the seats hold the lower anatomy in place with a high degree of comfort. Later, on a long river trip, I noticed that the molded seats do not allow as much sitting adjustment as a bench-style seat. Still, I'd rate them more comfortable than average for sitting, and less versatile than average for kneeling. Old Town can outfit this canoe with cane seats, which I'd recommend if you will use it primarily for river play or if kneeling may be the position of choice.
Seats aside, the Discovery 158 rates well in stability, tracking, and glide. We'd made certain the canoe was evenly trimmed bow to stern (which is critical for best handling in any canoe). Paddling with an unfamiliar partner felt comfortable and secure. There were no sudden surprises, and the boat maintained course easily. This canoe is also easy to control for turns or course corrections; new paddlers will find a friendly ally here. Although this hull is not designed to win races, you won't have to apologize for its forward movement, either. As a family recreational canoe, it fits nicely within expectations for stability and paddling ease.
Old Town outfits this boat with an adequate yoke and a thwart mounted fairly close to the center-which is a perfect perch for solo paddling. A canoe of this size can be a handful for a small or highly inexperienced solo paddler, but I think the Discovery has plenty of adequate solo properties, considering that it is primarily designed to carry two. When I paddled solo in strong winds and whitecaps, it stayed dry, maintained course, and rolled well with the waves for a secure ride. On another trip we ran 22 miles of an easy river in high water, and the Discovery 158 was dry, felt secure, and handled river hydraulics well. Overall performance is neither spectacular nor lacking; this is a good working-class canoe.
If there is a downside to this canoe, it is that it's heavy. At 79 pounds, it's a handful to carry if you're used to lighter materials. But for a "first canoe," that may be its only drawback. The material is tough and durable, and slips off rocks in river use. No maintenance is necessary. The hull tracks well enough to run true on lakes and, if you know how to ride it, turns well enough to whip off a fine Class II eddy turn on a river. If you want to outfit a Discovery for rivers, you should know that the polyethylene material does not bond well to adhesives. That would be a barrier to effectively outfitting a whitewater setup or even pads for flatwater comfort. However, Old Town has instructions on how to "polarize" the skin with heat so that adhesives will bond. We did this on the Discovery 158 in Germany, and our foam pads, whitewater straps, and skid plates bonded perfectly. Absolutely consider this canoe if your paddling desires may evolve to easy rivers or mild whitewater.
When I think back on the concerns I had about my first canoe, I realize that the Discovery would have met all my desires at that time: capacity for two and some gear, works well on lakes, able to handle rivers, and looks pretty nice as well. As for the weight, well, it's lighter than that 80-pound Grumman of mine, and if you can handle those pounds, you have a fine multi-use recreational canoe.
YUKON
Western Canoeing Manufacturing/Clipper
1717 Salton Rd.
Abbotsford, BC V2S 4N8 Canada
(604) 853-9320
www.clippercanoes.com
Length: 16' 8"
Center depth: 14"
Hull shape: symmetrical, shallow arch, straight keel line with rise
Width: 34" waterline/36" max.
Material of test model: fiberglass
Weight of test model: 71 pounds
Retail price of test model: $630
Initially there is nothing spectacular about the Yukon; it's plain and utilitarian, with its white hull and extruded aluminum gunwale system. For a canoe of its length, it is deep, so it doesn't look particularly sleek. Thwarts are simple aluminum tubing, firmly attached to the underside of the gunwale. A third thwart of aluminum tubing takes the place of a yoke, which makes an already-heavy canoe a bit more difficult to carry. But check the price-this canoe is $100 less than any other in the review; and if you want low price, you give up some amenities. But don't let this "plain Jane" fool you; it packs a heck of a wallop in performance!
Although simple, Clipper canoes are carefully crafted. Stiff fiberglass end caps fit snugly and align with gunwale ends. Construction lay-up on end chambers is carefully finished, and the flotation tanks are filled with pieces of Styrofoam rather than a single block (repairs, if needed, are much easier). Handles (tubular aluminum), seat frames (tubular aluminum set on aluminum angle), and seats are firmly attached; this is a very stiff, rigid, and firm hull.
Like most other Clipper Canoes, the Yukon has one significant asset: the seats. At the risk of having to hear jokes about a big seat handling a large backside, it should be noted that Clipper tractor-style seats are the most comfortable of any I've used. They're large, they're plastic, they're firmly attached, they're (in my opinion) set lower than they should be, but are they ever comfortable.
Western Canoeing's Marlin Bayes knows how to outfit a canoe for comfort and stability, and he supplied our test boat with optional thick structural-foam knee pads at both bow and stern. Knee pads provide a secure grip, contributing to comfort, control, and stability. I'd recommend them for seated canoeists in any type of paddling. An adjustable stern foot brace (standard equipment) completes the outfitting. The foot brace uses holes in the support angle coupled with a "diaper pin" keeper to adjust and hold the foot brace in place. I've had extensive experience with such a system, and it is simple, secure, and quick to adjust.
My friend Jon Almquist, from Pacific Water Sports, initially helped test the Yukon. At 6 foot 1 inch and 190 pounds, Jon is a very strong and experienced paddler. Lake Washington was settling into an evening calm as we launched. There wasn't much to do, so we leaned the Yukon to the side, and could not get the gunwale to touch the water. This is one stable canoe; families will love it! We poked along the Kirkland waterfront, just looking around, when we spotted a sea kayaker cruising away from us in the evening shadows. Being competitive, we decided to see if this Clipper canoe could catch the guy. We cranked up the bent-shaft cadence and got the Yukon hull slicing through the water pretty well. This is a smooth-riding hull; it doesn't have blinding speed, but as we got the bow wave curling, the canoe felt solid and dependable even in the heat of cranked-up paddling. (Yes, we finally caught the guy!)
With newfound appreciation, I chose the Yukon for a relaxing New Year's Eve trip. Paddling up the Sammamish Slough in a dusky mist, the Yukon ran absolutely silent, absolutely stable, and absolutely comfortable. In the quiet evening I could hear no sound from the stern wake when we revved the Yukon to cruising speed. Sometimes we drifted, sometimes we talked, sometimes we focused on paddling, but mostly we just enjoyed the quiet of the cool, damp darkness.
We still needed a windy test. This large and comfortable boat tracks well and turns on command, but I wanted to know how it handled driven waves and wind. When an opportunity came, wouldn't you know that Heather and I were following another sea kayak out into a wind-chopped Lake Washington. Deja vu all over again. We cranked it up, chased down the sea kayak, and enjoyed a secure ride in the chop. Quartering waves won't hurt you in this canoe; it holds a course quite well. Even in waves, the only water in the Yukon was in our water bottles; this canoe runs dry.
Do I like this boat too much? Is there anything wrong with it? One thing: we noticed that the foot-brace crossbar was installed not quite parallel with the rear thwart. Awful, aren't we, concentrating on non-parallel supports when paddling an ideal family canoe? Well, we endured! At 71 pounds, the Yukon falls at the heavy end of the acceptable weight spectrum, but you get a lot of canoe here, and at an unbeatably low price. If you're looking for a family tandem canoe, I'd rate Clipper's Yukon as a Best Buy.
SPIRIT II
We-no-nah Canoe
PO Box 247
Winona, Minnesota 55987
(507) 454-5430
www.wenonah.com
Length: 17'
Center depth: 14"
Hull shape: asymmetrical, shallow arch, moderate rocker
Width: 34.25" waterline/36" max.
Material of test model: Royalex
Weight of test model: 69 pounds
Retail price of test model: $1,095
If you're familiar with my past reviews, you know that I like We-no-nah canoes. Now that we're clear about my prejudices, let's talk about a reincarnation of the highly successful Spirit II, which We-no-nah has been producing for years in composite lay-ups. There are many canoes that fall in the middle of the performance spectrum, but very few within that segment do everything pretty well. That's a very difficult order to fill, a tough blend of competing design criteria, but the Royalex Spirit II fills the bill.
Why would they build the same model in a different material? Primarily it's about where this canoe is designed to be used. Either version of the Spirit II is highly stable, runs through the water easily, has a high capacity for load and dryness, maneuvers well enough to handle rivers, and is sized just within the solo paddling range. If this sounds like the Spirit II is a perfect candidate for a "first-time" recreational canoe, I'd say so.
A choice of Royalex material reflects a propensity toward river use. If your potential paddling résumé will include plenty of fun on rocky streams, easy rivers, or even moderate whitewater, then a Royalex Spirit II will give you more impact durability than would a composite lay-up. Does that mean that a Royalex canoe won't perform on a lake? Not at all; no more than a mountain bike won't perform on a paved road. It simply means that this version is oriented toward "rock-bashing" use on rivers. Royalex Spirit II is slightly shorter, a bit more blunt, and a bit deeper than its composite cousin, all features that support better handling and performance on a river.
The first paddling test of this model was with my friend Peter, who loves to paddle as long as the canoe feels secure, stable, and safe. Peter loves the Spirit II. It is a deep canoe, and he feels enclosed in the canoe instead of perched on a high seat. The nylon web seats in our boat were mounted about right to accommodate seated paddlers, with plenty of room to brace knees under the gunwales. In the past, We-no-nah installed tractor-style seats in most of their models. For those who prefer the option of kneeling or sitting, the standard bench-style seats in the Spirit II are a welcome addition. These seats safely accommodate paddlers who prefer kneeling, a better choice when confronting the maneuvers and challenges posed by river paddling.
When Peter and I paddled the Spirit II, we had just finished paddling a low-profile canoe with plenty of speed, which means not much initial stability. Once we switched to the Spirit II, all I heard were purrs of contentment from Peter's end as we paddled through waves generated by mildly stormy weather on Lake Washington. The boat is stable and forgiving in waves, and I found no problem keeping it on course or turning when needed. I frequently use this boat in classes, and basic canoeing students feel comfortable in a Spirit II. I see them learn quickly and easily because it's stable and easy to control.
This canoe is a "large" 17 feet, meaning it has lots of carrying capacity. I would rate it at the upper end of a canoe that could be effectively handled alone. For solo use, the Spirit II works well enough for a big guy like me (6 feet 1 inch, 230 pounds), as it maintains its tracking and easy handling even in wind and waves. Smaller paddlers may not find it so solo-friendly in crunchy conditions because they simply don't fit as well, and don't have as much leverage to reach for control. On calm, quiet waters, however, the Spirit II is versatile enough for anyone to paddle solo.
Structurally, the Spirit II comes fitted with a functional wood yoke, two thwarts, and wood handles. The canoe is stiff and rigid; under way, the bottom flexes somewhat, typical of the Royalex material but not distracting. The test canoe came with internally reinforced black vinyl gunwales that have a very small curved lip on the outside, and no sharp edges to inflict pain on less-than-precise paddlers! We-no-nah offers an optional aluminum gunwale system for those who wish to save a couple of pounds, but vinyl makes more sense if the canoe is to be used in a river environment. Plastic end caps are tough and well fitted.
Overall, this canoe is simple, clean-lined, and functional. If you could have only one canoe to serve all your paddling needs for the rest of your paddling life, the Spirit II would be one of very few candidates I'd recommend. First-time canoe? Without a doubt.
BOB SPECIAL
Nova Craft Canoe
183 Exeter Rd.
London, ON N6L 1A4
Canada
(519) 652-3649
www.novacraft.com
Length: 15'
Center depth: 13"
Hull shape: symmetrical, shallow V, straight keel line with rise
Width: 35"
Material of test model: Royalite
Weight of test model: 53 pounds
Retail price of test model: $950
The 1950 Chestnut Canoe Company catalog describes their "Chestnut 50-lb. Special" as "designed to meet a certain demand for an extremely light weight canoe of good carrying capacity. It is very steady and the ends are low, making it easy to portage through the brush." Half a century later, Nova Craft reproduces a version of the Chestnut Bob Special model in varied materials. They sent us a 53-pound Royalite version that aligns with the weight of the Chestnut original. This modern Bob Special is still a "light weight canoe of good carrying capacity"; however, we chose not to test the "portage through the brush" part.
At 15 feet, the Bob Special is a small canoe by many tandem standards. Usually that means it would be best suited for day trips, poking around, and small paddlers. Yet on our first water test, the Bob Special carried Jon, me, and some added weight (a total of 470 pounds) without a problem. We found that it moved right along and is, in fact, surprisingly quick for a 15-foot model. Even though it's small, there's adequate room in the bow for a six-foot paddler with size 10 boots.
Subsequent paddling with other tandem partners and a load reaffirmed the initial impression. At one point, the Bob Special was paired with a fine 17-foot canoe, and we had little difficulty in keeping up and tracking straight. (Again I emphasize that we carefully trimmed the canoe to insure best possible performance.) I rather enjoyed paddling this little guy, easily keeping up with the bigger fella, while able to maneuver around with a lot more ease. On one occasion we took the Bob Special out into two-foot confused crisscrossing waves ("clapotis," if you prefer the formal term). Though uneasy at first, we kept this canoe dry, which was something of a surprise. The short length seemed to "fit" between the waves and didn't fight them. Equally important, the soft, rounded chines of the canoe saw waves sliding under the boat without significant rocking back and forth. The net effect is wonderful secondary stability, which is always a joy to an experienced paddler. The same soft, rounded chines that adapt to waves and make for efficient paddling also bring a bit of a wiggly feeling when the canoe is at rest. Novice paddlers don't like the feeling, but unless you need a stable resting platform, you'll adjust over time, come to appreciate the secondary stability, and be glad you made the choice.
The Bob Special makes a fine initial impression. Stems are slightly recurved, and the hull carries a nicely rockered sheer line. Wood seat frames with nylon lacing evoke images of a classic canoe. All test paddlers remarked on the comfort of the seats, and they are mounted high enough to accommodate kneelers. Nova Craft's aluminum gunwales are attractive to the eye and gentle on the hands. The outwale is softly rounded, and the square-ish inwale is not sharp. A sculpted wood yoke marks the center of this small canoe. The yoke seems oversized for a small boat; although it's quite comfortable on the shoulder, it is unnecessarily wide at the pick point. I could find no flex in the seat-gunwale system; this is a very stiff canoe. Nova Craft installs a carrying cord through the stems, marring the clean lines a bit, but it's very nice for carrying or tying down the canoe. Wood handles are also provided.
The Bob Special hull has slight rocker, a slightly concave entry line, and a very slight V in the shallow-arch hull. If you'd expect this Royalite hull to flex less than that of a larger canoe, you'd be right, and if you'd expect the Special to gently settle in oncoming waves, you'd also be right. Despite the short length, this boat is one comfortable ride. And on top of all that, the gentle rocker makes for wonderful maneuvering and handling.
The Bob Special is such a petite and light tandem that at first look I thought it must be a fine solo boat as well. It is delightful, light, and responsive, able to carry a load without much loss of maneuverability, and very dry in waves. In wind, whipped waves, and a driving rain, it ran true and efficient, and turned beautifully. I could easily imagine using the Bob Special on an extended solo outing, on either a lake or a river.
It's easy to underestimate the capabilities of this canoe. It would very well suit the needs of smaller paddlers, particularly those who like some glide in a small canoe and who can adjust to a little roll in stability. It provides solo and tandem versatility, and would make a wonderful canoe for a cottage. It's a little canoe that paddles big, and it reminds me of a sports car. Sometimes we get so serious about design and performance that we need to be reminded that canoeing is just joyful fun! The Bob Special is that sort of reminder. As a first canoe? Sure, as long as you know what you're getting.
NOVA 16
Mohawk Canoes
963 North C.R. 427
Longwood, Florida
(407) 834-3233
www.mohawkcanoes.com
Length: 16'
Center depth: 14.3"
Hull shape: 34"
Width: 34" waterline/35" gunwale
Material of test model: R-84 Royalite
Weight of test model: 62 pounds
Retail price of test model: $899
This is a canoe that grew on me. My first impression was shaky because the Nova 16 "flopped" a bit along the gunwale line when I first pulled it off the rack at the Canoe & Kayak storage garage. That always bothers me because I like a canoe to be firm and rigid in structure. Since all of Mohawk's canoes can be ordered factory direct, with many different custom features, I'd add two thwarts to this boat in order to stiffen the gunwale line, and to provide a balanced solo paddling position.
We first paddled Mohawk's Nova 16 in Seattle's Montlake Cut, a concrete-lined "canyon" that connects Lake Washington to Lake Union, and a wonderful site for testing canoes because yachts moving through it generate angled, intersecting, confused waves. Paddled by a novice partner and with a sandbag to keep it in perfect trim, the canoe handled quartering waves from the stern without broaching or sliding off the waves-just a smooth corkscrew action, returning to course with a predictably stable ride. It kept us dry, too, and we had about 450 pounds in the canoe. The bottom flexed while we were under way, but that's characteristic of a Royalex canoe. On the water, I really didn't notice that the gunwales weren't as stiff as I like.
Later, four paddlers of differing skills took the Nova 16 down a stretch of the Cowlitz River, which was running high and fast. That's where it won my heart. Heather and I used bent-shaft paddles, but we paddled the river to play. Frequent boils, eddy lines, and junction lines proved to be no problem; this canoe absorbs current changes well and slips across smoothly and confidently with a soft ride. Although it's not a particularly large-volume canoe, paddling conservatively, we stayed plenty dry in easy rapids and wave trains. Although I see the Nova 16 as an all-around recreational canoe, I couldn't help musing on its river performance; it reminds me of the "whitewater" canoes used when I was first learning rivers in the late 1970s. Which is to say that although the Nova 16 doesn't snap eddy turns and spin quickly, it handles Class II maneuvers with aplomb and security. The bottom line is that at the end of the day, we were thrilled with the fun on the river, and that's the best measure of any canoe!
The hull of the Nova 16 incorporates accent lines molded into either end, which dresses up what otherwise could be a rather ordinary look. The central portion of the hull has an accent shoulder line with a mildly tucked gunwale. A practical result is a little narrower canoe in the event of solo use. End caps are designed for a careful fit, and it shows in the finish. Gunwales are plastic, with a mild lip on the outwale to help deflect waves and keep the canoe dry. The gunwale shape is squared, but I didn't find that I hit it while paddling. Mohawk installs a wood yoke with detachable shoulder cups, which are wonderful for portages, but we took them off for simplicity while testing the canoe. Mohawk also sent a foam solo pedestal-knee pad combination that fits under the yoke. It's a clever design that locates the solo paddler just behind the center of the canoe for best trim.
The underside of the end cap has been molded to be a carrying handle. It's simple, clean, and comfortable enough when carrying the canoe. There's also a drip hole in the end cap, and I can certify that the Nova 16 drips less in the morning than other canoes when stored upside down on the car through an overnight rainstorm.
Mohawk has a way of incorporating clever design features into its products in order to solve vexing problems. Mohawk seats are hung from the gunwales using an aluminum plate, which is bent at the lower edge to provide a shelf for the wooden seat frame. The seat itself is webbed nylon (which I found plenty comfortable, although a slender paddling buddy did not, so go figure). This hung seat design generally is not easily adapted to a different height without significant work, but Mohawk mounts its seats using long bolts and a round plastic spacer, giving four configurations to yield four different seat heights. Seats are adjustable with a Phillips screwdriver, an open-end wrench, and 20 minutes of time. Other companies are mounting seats using similar systems, and I'd like to see other manufacturers pick up on the Mohawk concept.
After spending more time in the Nova 16, reflecting on its performance, I would highly recommend it as a first canoe, with good potential as an only canoe. This boat sits in the center of the performance spectrum and it does well. It's stable, handles well, goes on rivers or lakes, carries a load, and yet is small enough for solo use. It weighs a reasonable 62 pounds and is available at a reasonable cost. If your first canoe needs to handle rivers as well as flatwater, it will serve you well, supporting you early on and responding well when you have good skills.
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