Are you looking to buy a new canoe this spring? If so, you may want to check out my picks for the best five brands of canoes on the market. Here they are:
1. Old Town Canoe
In my opinion, Old Town Canoes are the best brand of canoes on the market. I grew up using Old Town Canoes and once worked for a canoe livery that swore by them. I’ve seen them take a beating and still work well. Therefore, I think that they are well worth the cash outlay. The canoes come in a variety of materials including fiberglass, thermoformed plastic and wood. Prices vary, but tend to start at $700.
2. Mad River Canoe
Mad River Canoes also tend to hold up well over time. The materials used in the canoe’s construction also vary. You may opt for an aluminum, Royalex or wood canoe. The aluminum canoes are fine for use on lakes and calm waters, but I wouldn’t necessarily recommend them for white water areas. The company does make an excellent series of canoes for white water use out of Royalex. You can typically purchase one for anywhere from $1,300 to $3,000.
3. Clipper Canoe
Clipper Canoe is another brand worth considering if you want a canoe that is sturdy and has some weight to it. The company tends to use Kevlar in the canoe’s construction along with fiberglass and a foam core. Together, those things tend to help the canoe stand up to the rigors of white water rapids and accidental bangs against rocky outcroppings. The canoes generally retail for $1,500 to $3,000.
4. Blue Water Canoe
Blue Water Canoe is also a well respected brand. Some of the company’s canoes are fiberglass and others are infused with Kevlar. They tend to be resilient and maintain stability in calm to mildly choppy waters. Prices tend to start at $1,050 and cap out around $3,200, depending on the retailer. The company also offers a great, limited, lifetime warranty on their products.
5. Mohawk Canoe
Prefer a lightweight canoe? You might want to consider going with a Mohawk Canoe. The company is known to use fiberglass in their canoes’ construction, which tend to make the canoes light enough to carry but durable enough for use on calm waters. Some of the canoes even come with a camouflage design in case you want to use them for hunting. The canoes also tend to be less expensive than the other brands. You can pick one up for as low as $750 to $800, depending on the retailer.
Killeen Gonzalez enjoys boating with her family and has traveled extensively. She once worked for a canoe livery many years ago.
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