Canoe for remote spots

[RyanDR]

So I’m in the market for a used canoe. I’ll mainly be carrying it in to a few hard to reach spots. Up to a 2-3 mile round trip. Been using an older kayak 10 feet about 45 lbs with no problem carrying, but I don’t like kayak as much. 

 

Anything to look out for? Length? Style? I was thinking a 12-16 footer but not sure on length. I want something fairly stable but don’t want to be paddling around a brick. I have my eye on a 16foot Old Town Penobscot but worried it will be a little long carrying through the woods between rocks and trees. Also I’ll be solo 75% of the time. Thought about a Radisson Canoe, but worried about the thin metal. I’m prone to banging my kayak into trees and rocks when carrying and will be fishing in a few rocky spots.

[Brad Reid]

I'd recommend a Meyers Sportspal of any length if you want to maximize stability and fishing pleasure. My S-15 would be too heavy for a long carry. So, I'd personally downsize to an S-12 that weighs around 48 lbs. if I were portaging, making treks to get to launch sites.

 

With a Meyers in this size, you'd have something that you could walk with on a shoulder, or overhead, and could stand in to fish from.

 

Brad

 

 

Oh! I should have added that the Meyers are thicker skinned aluminum than the gauge used on Radisson canoes. I have had mine for years, nary a crease or a dent on it. And, I should have also noted that Old Town has a new canoe out that is very light, looks like a decent fishing platform. Not certain of its price, nor are any likely available on the used market yet. Brad

[Subaqua Adinterim]

Look at a Hornbeck. Extremely popular in the ADKs since they are light weight, stable, durable and easily packed in to remote lakes

I have a 12' classic model that is 18#s. The 10' is a few #s lighter.  They also make a lighter model that is a little narrower.

Another company, Slipstream makes a similar model that is slightly less $.

You can see pictures of me fishing in the ADKs, on the local NY forum section of this site.

Best $ I ever spent to get out and enjoy fishing and the outdoors.

One thing to know; although durable, you don't want to drag or run through rocks a Kevlar or carbon fiber boat.

Good luck with your search.

 

Edit

Should have read your post closer.  Since you are looking for used and may be banging into rocks, something like the Hornbeck may not fit your needs.  

 

[Kayak_Fish_Camp]

I just picked up a Meyer's Sportspal S14 for $300 used.  What I like most about it is the length and open feel.  It's so wide that I feel very stable even when moving around or standing.  Of all the canoes and kayaks I was able to look at the Sportspal seemed to be the best for an all around hunting and fishing canoe.  It floats in hardly any water and is fairly light but awkward to carry when trying to load it on top a truck etc.  Once off the truck I can easily carry it on a shoulder or balance it on my head while walking.  

 

It paddles very nicely but will require an anchor in heavy winds if you want to stay put.  So far I have been very pleased in my purchase.

Since you are limited in file size, here is a photo album for it I started.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/7TpUSim19YZX6WZR8

[greentrout]

 

 

consider a sea eagle pacfish 7 ... can stand up ... food for thought ...

[Paul Roberts]

If it's a small water, float tubes are hard to beat.

[Dogface]

I have used small canoes, a 12' and a 10'. I would not recommend them. The ones I used were unstable and you want a stable canoe for fishing. 

 

I have a 14' Sports Pal and a 16' Mad River now. The Sports Pal is fragile compared to the Mad River but it is a stable canoe and easy to drag around.

 

The Mad River is a wider model and it is also stable. I had a Kevlar Old Town. It was a little heavy for me to get on the car roof and drag around but it was stable and a pleasure to fish out of and darn near indestructible. 

 

I'd recommend stability be the first thing you consider. You don't want to have to worry about flipping a canoe while fighting a fish especially a big fish or a fish in current. 

 

 

[A-Jay]

I use an Old Town Predator canoe and a cart.

I can & do wheel this rig into all kinds of remote deals.

Mostly 'paddle only' lakes.

One of my favorite ways to fish. 

A-Jay

Here's a link to the cart ~ 

https://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/1102?originalProduct=117939&productId=1626825&pla1=0&mr%3AtrackingCode=71F90403-21FE-E611-80F3-00505694403D&mr%3AreferralID=NA&mr%3Adevice=c&mr%3AadType=pa&qs=3121872&msclkid=2775dbf8e23e17e7a06e87112b095b27&gclid=CMfzxdzkt-ICFRS0ZQod5ywJxQ&gclsrc=ds&SN=R83Test01&SS=B

[FishinBuck07]

I was also going to suggest a float tube also!  I fish from one and enjoy it a lot.  The one area I fish is old strip ponds that were stocked with bass many years ago, a lot of them we hike way back to them.  The float tube, I carry on my back like a back pack and all my tackle goes in the storage pockets, so don't have to carry it separately except my rods.

[IgotWood]

You said you don’t like kayaks, but I have to recommend the NuCanoe Flint. It’s super lightweight, and paddles very fast. Coming in at 11.5’ it would be easy to carry in and out. It is very comfortable to sit and stand it and boasts the flat open deck your are looking for. 

[Ksam1234]

I would also recommend a nucanoe kayak, I own a nucanoe frontier 12 and have been in the pursuit model, both are amazing ! Super stable and light