What are the best river and inland lake canoes of all time?

[dutchlennart]

In short there are a few sentences that keep comming back in this kind of questions
1 a canoe is better then no canoe

The prefered amount of canoes is for many n + 1.

Many ( english) canoeists will try to convice a prospector is the best canoe.

Next will be a debate over what is a prospector what material should it be what length what brand is best.

Next stop is a debate over solo or tandem boats where many try to proof that the boat they own is the best.

My answer is most of the times a number of questions.
Where you do paddle for what lenght of time?
Do you want to go fast and put the efford in and take the downside that then your canoe is not good in big winds/ whitewater or waves...

What can you put on your car or trailer/ carry to the put in / more important the way back.

Budget?

Where are you on this planet?
I can/do dream of a savage river harmony , but spending i think 3 k on transport and taxes. No thanks

I can rave about the great boats of Frame canoe. Getting one to the us. It will be for many / all to much hassle and who wants the added 3k for transport/takes. Not to mention when you live in Brazil/Kazachstan or....

So in general
A tandem between 15 and 18 with a not to flat or rounded bottom, a bit of rocker, will be good enough for many.

14 15 × 28 ish as a solo with samish shape will be fine.

 

[RBourg]

I think the leading post was as stated that this is a "just for fun" topic and not meant to be controversial but merely informative about what you might like in a canoe for camping, tripping or traveling.

 

[tketcham]

What are the best river and inland lake canoes of all time?​

[Assuming you're including some whitewater capability but not difficult whitewater, Class 3+ and up.]

Tandem: Clipper Prospector 17 for a combination of rivers and lakes.
Why? I've paddled this canoe in all kinds of conditions and it always did what it needed to do. Not great at anything but it can do just about anything.
Solo: Really depends on paddler weight and ability, but a Clipper Prospector 14 wouldn't be a bad choice for an all-around canoe.
Why? It's a short version of their 17 footer and I expect it'd be similarly capable; they have nearly identical length-to-width ratios. It's a tall canoe for a solo; you'd need to keep some weight in it.

If river and lake capabilities are considered separately, I'd include two more canoes for lake travel. Why? Because I've paddled them.
Tandem: Wenonah Odyssey for lake or big river travel; this canoe can take on just about anything you'd throw at it. And, it's fast.
Solo: Hemlock Kestrel or Peregrine depending on paddler size; these are great canoes but may not have enough depth for big water.