there is a few of us in town using the freighter canoe and none of us ever think about portage .... i should ask Ted next time we re in for a crazy stuff to do ... he hauled grizzly on a tarp ....
Canoe advice
- Thread starter savagelh
- Start date
there is a few of us in town using the freighter canoe and none of us ever think about portage .... i should ask Ted next time we re in for a crazy stuff to do ... he hauled grizzly on a tarp ....
I had a Clipper Expedition which was the predecessor of the Mackenzie.
The EXP had a square bow and would take a small electric motor.
It was rated at 900 lb. and was very maneuverable and stable.
With the center seat it was comfortable for 4 adults.
Never tipped it.
Weighed 86 pounds.
Downsized and now have a 15'10" that weighs 48 lb.
25 years ago Western Canoe/Clipper published an account where hunters lashed two Expeditions together in tandem and one person crossed a lake powered by a gas kicker with two moose in the two canoes.
The EXP had a square bow and would take a small electric motor.
It was rated at 900 lb. and was very maneuverable and stable.
With the center seat it was comfortable for 4 adults.
Never tipped it.
Weighed 86 pounds.
Downsized and now have a 15'10" that weighs 48 lb.
25 years ago Western Canoe/Clipper published an account where hunters lashed two Expeditions together in tandem and one person crossed a lake powered by a gas kicker with two moose in the two canoes.
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Not sure if you're still looking, but I have an Old Town 174. This canoe has done the Stikine twice and Bowron Lakes once plus a plethora of lakes and rivers all over BC. I've had it for about 25 years now. It is about 86 lbs, but can take a load and it's sturdy.
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
I agree fully. IMHO, you should also have a summer to "get your feet wet" as it were, if you're brand new to boats in general, and canoes in particular. Late season cold water is a harsh teacher.
Wish I was still young and tough enough to plan trip like this, listen to what Trevj says here, it is the way it is.
Lengthy? 10Km's? Or, can't park the truck right next to the water? Rivers, or lakes? Rocks, or mud?
As far as I am concerned, if I cannot pretty much pee into the water from where I can park, I don't take a canoe there. You may still be young and dumb, but I went through that stuff years back and learned there are easier ways!
2, 200 pound dudes, and 200 more worth of gear, then a carcass on top of that, is a REALLY long slog, on the way out, while tired and sore.
Find a way to get closer to the water!
Hunt down a 17 foot Coleman. Not a fast, or light weight boat, but wide and stable, and tough as old boots.
I have a 2hp Mariner two stroke, mounted on the gunwale of mine (ie: it is NOT a square back canoe), which is positioned so I can sit on the rear seat and the tiller falls directly to hand comfortably beside me as I sit facing forward. 1/2 throttle gets me about 8kmh by my GPS, with a pretty decent load in. Full throttle gets me more noise, poorer gas mileage, and not an appreciable addition of speed.
If you have to ask.... You probably don't want to be learning about Canoes, while on your hunting trip. Rent a few canoes, borrow them, whatever you must do, and start making some trips this year, to work out some of the kinks. Like, learn to pack lighter than you were planning. 200 pounds of gear, is a LOT of stuff. And I can assure you, you will hate your life, a few stumbles and falls in to a long portage, in crappy weather esp.
You, and your potential hunting/boating partner, really need to spend some time shaking things out, before you end up hating each other for the rest of your lives.
- Location
- Saskatoon Saskatchewan
I wanted to update this thread. I just ordered a 16' nova craft prospector in fibreglass. Can't wait for spring now. Already planning a ssr trip. Might even try a float hunt for spring bears if I can find the time.
A canoe thread! I have a 16' Prospector being built for me right now by Swift Canoes. It's mostly a composite boat but will have cherry trim. Total weight should be about 45 pounds when it's done. Expected delivery is the end of February. Can't wait!
That's my plan for 2021, found some sweet elk spots and will be doing a recce this spring and bear hunt at the same time. Going alone so my 15ft should be fine. Good luck!
freddyfour
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Brant County, Ontario
Novacraft makes an amazing canoe. I toured their factory years ago. Great bunch of guys there willing to take the time to show me all the options. I used to use one of their Royalex lite 15'ers and it was a tough unit.
Frick'in canoes...............and the memories.
Never ever lean out the same side as yer partner.
Keep yer tackle box closed so it'll flowt.
Hip waders...............
Pool noodle yer ker-pows.
Some good advice ...
Talking from experience
Rob
- Location
- Saskatoon Saskatchewan
Right on! Good luck to you too. I found a small lake near nut mountain I might paddle around.
- Location
- Saskatoon Saskatchewan
Some good advice ...
Talking from experience
Rob
Any advice on a good floating gun case?
badgreenbird
Regular
- Location
- Dawson Creek, BC
Not a bad choice by the OP... though the used market may have plenty of examples in coming months. Lots of pros & cons to almost every model. I laughed when I saw the sportspal - but it really does have its place! I had a 14' version many years ago and it was a workhorse. Used it for duck hunting in marshes. Occasional portage measuring several kilometres. I bought a 12' version for solo hunting maybe 20 years ago. Ridiculously light, held lots of gear... paddled like a barge, but stable when I did need to add a second person. I 'upgraded' to a much better paddling Abitibi 12' and sold the sportspal. But should have kept it as a backup. The Abitibi is way less stable with a second person (though that is a rare event). Years ago I witnessed how the shape of a canoe really makes a difference.. was duck hunting with two other guys, a dog and many decoys. I paddled my streamlined 'no-name' 16' fibreglass low clearance canoe with a bunch of gear. Other two guys were in a Coleman 17' with the dog. That thing really was like a barge. Could carry lots but plowed through the water. I was gliding and could easily keep up with them despite the solo paddler. Been in many different shapes & sizes and materials over the years... something to be said for all of them... shining in some circumstances and bloody scary in others!
I hunt mainly from canoes, and that is the gun case I use! Really well made, easy to get the gun in and out, and plenty of “D” rings to secure the gun in the boat! That said I’ve never thrown my gun in the drink to see if they float!!
https://nomaralaska.com/products/waterproof-rifle-scabbard
blasted_saber
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- A blue part of Ontario
Im partial to Scott canoes. Made in Canada. Very durable, very stable. I have a 17ft Adventurer and its an easy canoe to portage of you're in anything resemble good shape. Weigh 62 pounds, capacity is over 1000lbs.
TheCoachZed
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Hahaha, the thread that won't die!
I had an Old Town Guide 147 and it was, sadly, a bit of a bust. Tough, but not enough freeboard. I gave it to my brother-in-law, and even he never uses it anymore.
Now I have one of those weirdo plastic made-in-Quebec boats (I think they're two-layer, fiberglass inside and plastic outside). It's about 11 feet I think? Easily handled by one man for deer hunting purposes, although I've been caught in the tide in the coastal estuaries sometimes and had a real devil of a time paddling it against the current. It's a great floater, not a good paddler, too short and wide.
I also have the class Coleman square-stern 16-footer. Now. I know these boats are *not* graceful, or light, or easily paddled, or any of those things.
However, it's solid boat with a lot of weight capacity, and it can handle a proper small outboard with no jury-rig modifications. If you have two fit guys, it's a very solid boat for duck hunting and other expeditions, and you don't need a trailer or anything--you can put it on the roof of a car, if you need to. I've taken my whole family camping for the weekend in it, with a 2hp Honda on board. I'd prefer the Old Town equivalent, but I bought the Coleman for $450 and you can't find the Old Town version for less than $900.
To me, this is the best solution, to have a cheap, light, smaller boat, and a more solid, heavier canoe that can easily take an outboard and handle a bit of chop. I worked on the water for 5 or 6 winters, so I'm fairly confident running it through swells and chop, as long as I have a way to safely get to land in a hurry.
If I could only have one boat, I'd probably try to get an Old Town Discovery 169, or a Royalex-built Old Town around that length. I realize those aren't widely available across Canada, and that the OP bought his boat months back anyway .....
I had an Old Town Guide 147 and it was, sadly, a bit of a bust. Tough, but not enough freeboard. I gave it to my brother-in-law, and even he never uses it anymore.
Now I have one of those weirdo plastic made-in-Quebec boats (I think they're two-layer, fiberglass inside and plastic outside). It's about 11 feet I think? Easily handled by one man for deer hunting purposes, although I've been caught in the tide in the coastal estuaries sometimes and had a real devil of a time paddling it against the current. It's a great floater, not a good paddler, too short and wide.
I also have the class Coleman square-stern 16-footer. Now. I know these boats are *not* graceful, or light, or easily paddled, or any of those things.
However, it's solid boat with a lot of weight capacity, and it can handle a proper small outboard with no jury-rig modifications. If you have two fit guys, it's a very solid boat for duck hunting and other expeditions, and you don't need a trailer or anything--you can put it on the roof of a car, if you need to. I've taken my whole family camping for the weekend in it, with a 2hp Honda on board. I'd prefer the Old Town equivalent, but I bought the Coleman for $450 and you can't find the Old Town version for less than $900.
To me, this is the best solution, to have a cheap, light, smaller boat, and a more solid, heavier canoe that can easily take an outboard and handle a bit of chop. I worked on the water for 5 or 6 winters, so I'm fairly confident running it through swells and chop, as long as I have a way to safely get to land in a hurry.
If I could only have one boat, I'd probably try to get an Old Town Discovery 169, or a Royalex-built Old Town around that length. I realize those aren't widely available across Canada, and that the OP bought his boat months back anyway .....
