How to recruit new canoe paddlers?

[bonpawtuck]

This is a little off topic, but I'm following up here because it's in the context of recruiting new paddlers. Apologies in advance if the mods think it would be better suited by its own thread:

The couple I mentioned in a previous comment on this thread is split on whether to buy a canoe ahead of our upcoming paddle camping trip in the ADKs. Wife wants a canoe, so family (couple + 2 toddlers) can make it to the island with their gear in one trip and stay together as a family. Husband wants to stick with the kayaks they already have--doesn't mind making multiple trips and values his comfort with taking out they kayaks for outings from base camp.

I mentioned to them how you can generally get your money back if you buy the right used canoe and decide to resell it, and I also mentioned that I wouldn't mind acquiring another tandem myself. So long story short, I'm shopping for a used tandem that would suit their needs--in case they want to buy it off me for whatever I paid after the trip--and that I would also like to keep if they're not interested (I don't love the idea of buying a canoe with the intentions of reselling it to a stranger). Plus, my wife and I are thinking of growing our family as well as branching out for some longer trips, so we'd like something a little bigger than our Penobscot 16.

So I guess the question is this: If you were shopping for a used tandem with the aim of helping a young family fall in love with the single blade side of the moon, what would you be looking for? I've been eyeing up a Swift Algonquin 17 in Goldenglass that's for sale not too far away. It already has a center seat installed. Looks to be in excellent condition, asking $1k. Think something like this could be on the right track?

 

[BigandSmall]

In response to the original question I try to take 2 or 3 new paddlers out each year. I put them in quality boats with a comfortable paddling pfd. I take them all to the same quiet boat launch and stretch of lake where there's rarely wind. I try to time it for a weekday morning with little boat traffic and keep the paddle under 5kms. I start them with an inexpensive paddle and once away from shore and they've had a bit of time to get a feel for it I trade paddles with them. After they get a feel for a good paddle I trade them back to the inexpensive one. When people can feel the difference like that they understand that some gear is worth spending money on. Everyone seems to understand the price difference between a department store bicycle and a high quality mountain bike but put their blinders on when it comes to paddle craft.

I've had a few successes getting people to become regular paddlers, even outfitting their families for tripping. It's a difficult sport for young people to get into. Most young people don't have a place to keep a boat even if they have the means to purchase one. If they get out and have a good experience hopefully the seed is planted in their brain that perhaps this is a sport worth investing in.