Looking For A Light Weight Canoe That I Can Stand In

[MoeC]

No I know the rule... never stand in a canoe.

 

Anyway, I'm in the market for a stable, light weight canoe that I can fish standing in, during calm days.

 

I will be fishing alone most times and getting onto my truck's roof rack is my concern.  I'm looking for a 3 seater for when my son is old enough.

 

Any suggestions?

 

 

[Goose52]

On loading the canoe onto your roof rack - check out this loader that attaches to a trailer hitch:  Canoe Loader   There are a number of these devices on the market.  Some of the three-seat canoes can be heavy so this rack would really help the loading process. On getting a lightweight canoe that seats three, that's possible...but it would come at a price since you would be looking at higher-end boats with hulls made of various lightweight materials.

 

On standing in the canoe - some of the canoes that will accommodate three people may be stable enough to stand in without too much trouble. If in doubt, consider adding stabilizers. These can be a PITA if you are paddling...but if you are motoring they're not a problem.  Google "canoe stabilizers"

 

I stand in my canoe all day - the only time I sit down is to boat a fish, change baits, and eat lunch.  The stabilizers (outriggers) make it possible - mine are by Spring Creek Outfitters.  My canoe is a Radisson and only weighs 34 pounds - it's made of REALLY thin-gauge aluminum.  Radisson makes boats up to 16ft and seat three - but keep in mind that the thin aluminum hull limits the boat to mostly still water - can't be banging into rocks and such in these boats.

 

[Darren.]

No I know the rule... never stand in a canoe.

 

Anyway, I'm in the market for a stable, light weight canoe that I can fish standing in, during calm days.

 

I will be fishing alone most times and getting onto my truck's roof rack is my concern.  I'm looking for a 3 seater for when my son is old enough.

 

Any suggestions?

 

I, too, was in that market. I ended up building stabilizers out of lobster pot buoys that worked great and allowed me to stand. My trolling motor was an awesome addition to that.

 

But since that time, I migrated over to a hybrid kayak which is exceedingly stable, powered by me (paddle) or motor.

 

It is both canoe and kayak, but gunnels are lower to water (kayak) than a canoe. Anyhow, just FWIW.

[ClackerBuzz]

like goose I have 2 Radisson, 12' and 14'. i absolutely love them.  they have oar locks so you can use it as a row boat. I don't have stabilizers and I have no problem standing up all day. although i wouldn't try it with ur son in the canoe.  i do stand up with an experienced canoe buddy.  we take turns. like he said they are for still/open water only. no white water rafting down shallow streams. got mine off CL for under $250 each.  also they weight less than 60lbs so they are light as a feather to car top.

[Jay Ell Gee]

I would also like to recommend looking into a Native Ultimate 14.5 or 16 tandem, though it really only accommodates two.

It's still an excellent choice, though.

[A-Jay]

 

This works for me.

 

A-Jay

 

[mikeg]

I've got a wide transom Raddison canoe that I added the lobster pot stabilizers to and I've taken out my 15 year old daughter and my 21 year old son out in and we've both stood at the same time. Being a 12' canoe, I can only take one out at a time with me. It works very well with one of them or even by myself. I have no trouble tossing it into the truck by myself.

mikeg

[MoeC]

Thanks to all. I will be going to pick-up an aluminum 15' Grumman Eagle tomorrow. Its a lightweight model that isn't made any longer. 

It only weights 63 pounds so I figured I better go for it. It has a square stern. I will probably only be paddling, but its nice to know I can put an electric motor on it very easily.

 

On the down side... its 110 miles away. So we will make a family trip out of it. NW NJ and NE PA here we come.