Canoe questions

[CJ]

We have a SeaEagle inflatable kayak which is "da bomb" for floating the creek. It folds down small and fits in the basement storage of our RV with no problems... is virtually impossible to tip and can hold quite a bit of gear.

However... it can't hold our dogs. I would love to be able to take our 2 German Shepherds along with us on day trips. Is a canoe big enough for them to sit in, between the seats? I've never really been around or paid much attention to canoes. Obviously it would have to be a larger one, if so what size could accomodate 2 grownups and 2 dogs?

I was rather taken with the Old Town Predator SS150 but it's only 15', and I can't tell from the picture what those 2 inserts are between the end seats.

I like the idea of being able to add a small trolling motor as well.

[PyroDon]

If your after a reasonable price and durable maintainence free canoe its hard to beat a colman . they are wide and flat bottomed so pretty stable and hard to tip. weight range for a 15 ft is around 80 pounds. you can clamp a trolling motor mount across the gunnels think the weight cap is 750 or 950 or three people.
Do yourself a favor and add backrests to the seats you can also find square backs in the same model or at least you used to be able too. They are nearly indestructable though, my front rope broke and sent the old colman 17ft skidding down the highway at 60mph it survived with only scratches.
we bought a 15 ft a few years back new for $299 which was well below what I gave for my old town 119K solo .
for your dogs to ride you might lay a nice closed cell foam pad between the braces (softer to lay on)

[CJ]

I looked at the Coleman "Scanoe". Whatever one, we'd have to put a "floor" in the for the dogs of some type, they'd be miserable laying in water. I was just curious if 2 large dogs would FIT in a canoe, LOL

[longshot38]

try going to a canoe rental place, many have the colman or ram-x canoes and then you could find the size which fits your needs, see how things work etc.


jsut my .02
dean

[PyroDon]

Originally Posted by CJ

I looked at the Coleman "Scanoe". Whatever one, we'd have to put a "floor" in the for the dogs of some type, they'd be miserable laying in water. I was just curious if 2 large dogs would FIT in a canoe, LOL

Youd have to define large
some people consider our 80 pound shepherd as a large dog ,to us shes small
the closed cell foam was a suggestion for the floor .
In my 17 ft which is the same width as a 15ft I carried our Big shepherd 180# and our 110# half breed with no trouble . the canoe rocked good when I got a duck and the dog launched into the water

[Steve L.]

Originally Posted by CJ

I would love to be able to take our 2 German Shepherds along with us on day trips. Is a canoe big enough for them to sit in, between the seats? I've never really been around or paid much attention to canoes. Obviously it would have to be a larger one, if so what size could accomodate 2 grownups and 2 dogs?

Any general purpose canoe that is 16' or more should be able to do what you need.

I was rather taken with the Old Town Predator SS150 but it's only 15'...

All of the square stern canoes are really just longer boats that have had a couple of feet chopped off. This boat looks like it started out as a 17 footer.

... and I can't tell from the picture what those 2 inserts are between the end seats.

Looks like two different styles of optional, add-on seats, to me.

I like the idea of being able to add a small trolling motor as well.

You can pretty much use one on any canoe. I've never used one, though.

I'm not a big fan of Colemans. I've turned over (when I really shouldn't have) more in Colmans than any other boat I've paddled, and have heard the same from other people.

Your best bet (lowest cost for a good, stable boat) would be to watch out for a good used aluminum boat. I've seen a bunch on Craig's list selling in the $300 range.

[big rockpile]

CJ are you wanting to float local? I was looking at a 17 foot River Jon that is very narrow and would be just right for our rivers and creeks around the Ozarks.

big rockpile

[CJ]

Yeah mainly in the Ozarks, down here in AR while we're here, and back home in MO... but we'd also like to take it along with us.

That was the main reason we bought an inflatble kayak, was so we could have a boat wherever we go, but it's just 13' and not large enough for both dogs (they weigh about 80lbs each).

I really like the reviews on the various Old Towne Canoe's, love the Tripper but boy it's heavy.

What's a river jon Big Rockpile?

[charles burns]

Hey, if I'm not on your ignore list after the financial advice I offered I can tell you I had to stop canoeing when I got dog 2.

My #1 baby weighs 50lbs and that was my 16ft canoe maxed out. This was with overnight gear as well but two dogs in a canoe is a lot of dog. Especially when it goes over, and it will.

I like Mohawk for value for money canoes and I wouldn't go aluminum - they're red hot to the touch when the suns out and freezing when it's a little chilly. And super noisy too.

I've seen some half boat, half canoe type boats for fishing - this sounds a little more suited, they're wider and designed for a small motor. Of course then you have a wider boat to store. Can't remember where I seen them now - half the fun is googling for them though hmm?

[CoonXpress]

CJ, there's something else you have to consider.
How is the canoe going to be transported?
On a RV, the only place is on the roof.
Unless you tow a car, then a car roof rack would work.
Before you start looking any farther, you need to measure the height of the RV and keep everything below 13'6" max. If I remember right for a RV, 12' would be better height limit.

[big rockpile]

Originally Posted by CJ

What's a river jon Big Rockpile?

This one is like a regular Aluminum Jon Boat except its narrow where you can paddle it.Plus you can put a trolling Motor or Small Gas Motor on the back.Its a good Boat but I have a 12 Foot Jon that will work good for my needs.

big rockpile

[bluetick]

I have two Old Town canoes. One is a solo canoe about 12' long and weighs 34 pounds - wouldn't meet your criteria. The Pathfinder is 15' long and weighs about 54 pounds. I took a fraidy cat GSD out in it once! He didn't even like to stick a toe in the water.

The Pathfinder is quite stable, and quiet in the water. Aluminum boats/canoes can be very noisy. If you have to hoist the canoe onto the top of your RV, you might consider the weight issue. Old Town makes 17' long canoes too, or they used to. They are pretty tough, so a used one might be a good one to start with.

[CJ]

Charles, I don't ask questions expecting to agree with everyone's response, I value your input as much as anyone else's.

We'd either buy a canoe rack for our pickup truck, or suspend the canoe from the roof of our Featherlite (motorcycle garage). Either way, now that I think about it, I think that would make it need to be 16' or less, otherwise it either wouldn't fit into the Featherlite, or if on the pickup roof, the backend would bump the Featherlite.

Whatever boat, it would have to fit in one or the other. I'm guessing a boat that can both fit our traveling requirements and house the dogs is probably not going to work.

I guess we'll probably just stick with the inflatable.. dang! But look at the money ya'll saved us!

[CoonXpress]

What about aPorta-Bote



They fold to about 4-6" thick. And I believe they have a good weight capability.

[PyroDon]

well for the dogs and fair ease of paddling a 14 ft duck boat would be a good choice 4ft wide ( flat bottom ) very stable and not overly heavy

[CJ]

regular boats won't fit on top a pickup truck.

We looked at the portaboats when we bought our SeaEagle, and decided that wasn't the right boat for us. We mostly like to go floating (creeks, rivers), so a canoe/kayak is ideal. I was just hoping a larger one would enable us to take the dogs along.