Old Town Saranac 160 / Canoe for 3

[Boomstick]

Does anybody have any experience with the Old Town Saranac 160? Looking to purchase a canoe that can hold myself and my two kids for next year, and I the Old Town Saranac 160 looks like it might be the best option out there but I am open to recommendations.

 

This is the first canoe I will ever have owned. Sadly, I will have to buy a car with a roof rack or a truck to transport it (can't get a trailer hitch on my '92 Cadillac Brougham). My goal for the following year is to buy a bass boat however.

[RPreeb]

When I was a kid, we used go 2 and 3 in our 16 foot canoe.  That one was a 50 year old Old Town mahogany canoe, originally canvas covered but later fiberglassed over the wood.  It was just about the heaviest canoe I ever saw, but we never had to transport it anywhere as it lived at the lake in Wisconsin year round. 

 

We didn't do much casting when we went out with 3.  That was usually just a crappie or blugill day.  With 2 it was no problem.  I don't see why a 16 foot Saranak wouldn't work. 

[rmass14]

(Long time lurker, first post)

 

I purchased this same canoe a couple years back and it worked great to fish 2 adults out of until I purchased my first boat.  Pretty stable canoe, but you cannot easily stand up in it.  The front and back are somewhat padded seats and the middle is a bench with a water proof compartment in it.  I can try to answer any other questions if you have any.

 

I never transported mine, but it is difficult for one adult to move by himself over long distances, not sure how old your kids are, but you may need some help to carry it to the water.  I purchased mine in the spring at DSG, normally they have some sort of rebate on all kayaks and canoes for a short period of time.  If you are ever in Michigan I will sell you mine for a decent price since I rarely ever use it anymore!

[Boomstick]

Thanks guys. My kids are 13 and 12. My 13 year old is 5'5" and maybe 135lbs. My 12 year old is quite a bit shorter, maybe 4'10", I'm not sure of his exact height but he's not even 80lbs, very skinny. Although they're getting bigger every year. But I'm not too worried about carrying it for shorter distances.

 

Maybe I should consider a longer canoe, or perhaps a rowboat? I can buy a used rowboat for much cheaper. We went camping at Emerald Lake this summer in Dorset Vt and rented a rowboat and it was probably the most fun I ever had in my life. Also caught my PB, a 20" Smallie.

[ObeeZee]

I just sold my Saranac 160 but we loved fishing out of it for prob 2 years. I have 2 kids,10 and 4 yrs old and we fit just fine. I transported in the back of my truck with tailgate down and just strapped threw the nose handle. My 10 year old would help me carry it to the water with no issues. I made a trolling motor mount for it and added some rod holders, worked excellent for fishing big lakes and the California delta. 

Sorry itvwss the Saranac 146 here's the pic of trolling motor 

[Boomstick]

7 hours ago, ObeeZee said:

I have 2 kids,10 and 4 yrs old and we fit just fine.

How was casting if you had your 10 year old in front of you?

 

Also nice job on the trolling motor mount. A large number of lakes around me don't even allow trolling motors.

[J Francho]

11 hours ago, Boomstick said:

Maybe I should consider a longer canoe, or perhaps a rowboat? I can buy a used rowboat for much cheaper. We went camping at Emerald Lake this summer in Dorset Vt and rented a rowboat and it was probably the most fun I ever had in my life.

 

I'm a kayak guy, all the way.  I would recommend a 14' jon or semi-V aluminum boat.  We had one growing up, and my dad with my sister and self fit fine.  It had three bench seats.  We would all straddle the seat, and cast out the same side.

[ObeeZee]

18 minutes ago, Boomstick said:

How was casting if you had your 10 year old in front of you?

 

Also nice job on the trolling motor mount. A large number of lakes around me don't even allow trolling motors.

Thank you. Casting was never an issue, the 146 is 14 foot so there is more than enough room for 2. 

[BrianSnat]

The Saranac is OT's cheap placstic model made with a crappy plastic hull. Those seats go all the way to the floor for a reason. To provide support for the flimsy hull. They also prevent you from kneeling, which is something you would need to do if it gets a bit windy and the waves kick up or if you go through riffles on a stream.

You can get away with paddling with yourself and two kids but once the rods come out there won't be much room for casting.  It's asking for a trip to the ER for hook removal. My girlfriend and I sometimes have close calls in our 16 ft Mad River Explorer,  and that is without a third person between us.

I would suggest a longer canoe  if you want to fish with three in a canoe. Check Craigslist or similar sites for something like a used Old Town Tripper or a Wenonah Minnesota II or III. Even an 18 ft Grumman if you can find one.  Other than the Grumman they may cost slightly more used than a new Saranac,  but you are getting a far better canoe and some extra room. 
.

[Boomstick]

On 11/9/2017 at 9:18 PM, BrianSnat said:

The Saranac is OT's cheap placstic model made with a crappy plastic hull. Those seats go all the way to the floor for a reason. To provide support for the flimsy hull. They also prevent you from kneeling, which is something you would need to do if it gets a bit windy and the waves kick up or if you go through riffles on a stream.

I thought the seats went down to support extra weight from a larger person like myself.

 

On 11/9/2017 at 9:18 PM, BrianSnat said:

I would suggest a longer canoe  if you want to fish with three in a canoe. Check Craigslist or similar sites for something like a used Old Town Tripper or a Wenonah Minnesota II or III. Even an 18 ft Grumman if you can find one.  Other than the Grumman they may cost slightly more used than a new Saranac,  but you are getting a far better canoe and some extra room. 
.

I have seen a few 17ft and occasionally a 19ft Grumman for sale before on Craigslist. Never seen a 18ft Grumman before. They do cost quite a bit more new. I would imagine they would be much harder to take out alone, but I could probably eventually grab a kayak too for that.

[BrianSnat]

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I thought the seats went down to support extra weight from a larger person like myself.

 

I'm 250 lbs and I have never had a problem with the cane seat on my MR Explorer

 

Quote

 

 

7 hours ago, Boomstick said:

I have seen a few 17ft and occasionally a 19ft Grumman for sale before on Craigslist. Never seen a 18ft Grumman before. They do cost quite a bit more new. I would imagine they would be much harder to take out alone, but I could probably eventually grab a kayak too for that.

A used 19 ft Grumman might be a good option. Not the greatest canoe, but better than a OT Saranac in many respects.  The Saranac isn't exactly light at 79 lbs.  And you can probably hand the Grumman down to your children when they are adults and they can hiand it down to their chldren. They last practically forever.  The Saranac will be warped and virtually unusable after a few seasons unless it is garage kept.  Flimsly hull.

 

[Boomstick]

10 hours ago, BrianSnat said:

I'm 250 lbs and I have never had a problem with the cane seat on my MR Explorer

 

 

A used 19 ft Grumman might be a good option. Not the greatest canoe, but better than a OT Saranac in many respects.  The Saranac isn't exactly light at 79 lbs.  And you can probably hand the Grumman down to your children when they are adults and they can hiand it down to their chldren. They last practically forever.  The Saranac will be warped and virtually unusable after a few seasons unless it is garage kept.  Flimsly hull.

 

That is especially good to know as I don't have a garage. Do you think a 17' would be decent? I see a lot of them for sale for $400-600, even some with a trailer.

[Boomstick]

I found this. 70 years old and still ticking.

 

https://albany.craigslist.org/boa/d/1947-aluminum-grumman-canoe/6375279807.html