Why am I the only one in a Canoe?

[canoekevin]

I paddled out to Midnight Pass and across the Intracoastal on Saturday, too windy to go out into the Gulf. As usual, I was the only canoe.
SUP’s outnumbered kayaks this week. Many if not most were inflatable SUP’s. I have been talking to their owners and they all like the ease of transportation and storage and don’t seem to mind the time it takes to inflate them before launching. A few weeks ago I was talking to a guy waiting to rinse off his inflatable and it suddenly went “bang” and all the air blew out. I noticed was that there is no inherent bouncy after the blow out.
The water around here has the potential for gators, snakes, or sharks. I am not sure I would feel comfortable paddling something that could so quickly lose its ability to keep me out of the water.

 

[Alan Gage]

I am not sure I would feel comfortable paddling something that could so quickly lose its ability to keep me out of the water.

Have you ever tried to get back into a canoe after a capsize?

Alan

 

[Glenn MacGrady]

The water around here has the potential for gators, snakes, or sharks. I am not sure I would feel comfortable paddling something that could so quickly lose its ability to keep me out of the water.

Gators and kids

"Earlier this year, A-Z Animals, a website that aims to 'educate, amuse, and inform readers' about animals and plants, among other things, released a list showing the 30 most alligator-infested waters in the Sunshine State."...

www.canoetripping.net

 

[canoekevin]

Have you ever tried to get back into a canoe after a capsize?

Alan

HA, exactly. That is the primary concern in my other post looking for a lightweight canoe as stable as my Old Town Camper. This is not the place to be paddling an unstable canoe.

 

[Steve in Idaho]

Hence an alternative name for a tandem canoe is a "divorce boat".

Tandem anything, actually...

....the point is, that like any subject you have to get them interested and display what you can really do in a canoe, just telling them isn't enough...

I keep hoping that someday I will happen into such an audience that will actually notice something special going on, pay attention, and show some interest. So far, I can only think of one individual that actually even paid any attention.

HA, exactly. That is the primary concern in my other post looking for a lightweight canoe as stable as my Old Town Camper. This is not the place to be paddling an unstable canoe.

"There are no unstable canoes, just unstable paddlers".

Yeah, I know that's an exaggeration. But it's generally true.

 

[tketcham]

I think availability of entry level canoes is a barrier, particularly solo canoes, though that may vary by your location I suppose. I also think there is a general expectation of using a single blade paddle with a canoe, and that can be a turn-off for an entry level paddler. I started off in a pack canoe with a double blade, and I think that's what I needed to help ease the transition.

I think @Neophyte makes a good point about a lack of entry level canoes. I give Old Town some credit for making a good effort with the Next, and I think it would be smart for the other big makers to get into that game. I don't count Coleman or Pelican as entry level in a way that would inspire new canoeists.

The price of new quality canoes can seem ridiculous to many people, mainly because they don't understand what goes into building a canoe and aren't taking into account the reality of inflation. And I think the fact that a quality canoe can last for many decades is lost in the initial price shock. But if you factor in the amortization principle, even a lightweight high-end canoe might cost you no more than $300 or even $200 per year if you keep it for 10 to 20 years and sell it as used. That's very reasonable rent for a fine canoe.

But the lure of an inexpensive, but ultimately disposal boat is tough to overcome. There are opportunities, though, for people to buy more affordable used canoes through dealers such as Noel Canoe and from brick and mortar dealers that maintain an inventory of used canoes. For about the same or a bit more cost than a new plastic kayak or plastic canoe you can get a nice used composite canoe. Maybe it's on us to get those unused canoes sitting in storage back out into the marketplace.

 

[Steve in Idaho]

Maybe it's on us to get those unused canoes sitting in storage back out into the marketplace

None of my canoes are unused. Some just get a lot of rest.

I find myself wondering if part of the problem is all of us thinking that an entry level canoe should be a tandem. I don't think that's a given, but it seems to be the common assumption. I think it would be interesting to know how many Nexts OT has sold. They sure don't show up on the used market often (here, anyway).

 

[tketcham]

I find myself wondering if part of the problem is all of us thinking that an entry level canoe should be a tandem. I don't think that's a given, but it seems to be the common assumption.

I think the idea of promoting solo canoes to new canoeists is a good one. Solo canoeing is more intuitive, and I think easier than tandem and a double-blade can make it easier as well as faster to learn to paddle single-blade, as Neophyte said. And I've seen kids get into a lively solo canoe with a single-blade paddle and take right to it.