Ok its crunch time - having had a moment of insanity - or she just wasn't listening swmbo said "get a different canoe - its ok!"
So remembering this poor little boat is going to have to shift something about the size and weight of half a mountain (see the Bala trip report and you'll see what I mean) and that I need to sit because my knees suffered major damage when a chainsaw went wild, it leaves me wanting something I can feel that I'm sitting in - reather than on and with a bit of freeboard and rocker as suggested by Graeme.
So having looked at some of the options there seem to be :
the Venture prospector 15 or 16
various other prospectors
the old town Camper or charles river
The price range seems to go from £650 for the venture prospector 15 up to anything you want to pay!
Realising that swmbo will eventually come to her senses and want to see the bill I don't want to be extravegant - but on the other hand I want to get it right this time (I enjoy my old town guide - it gets me out and about - but it was aquired just to see how I felt in a canoe after 15 years without one - I'm hooked again - so!)
I'm prepared to pay a bit more to get it right, but what realistically do I get for paying £600 to whatever for a canoe that I don't get with say the venture P15 (which has excellent write ups) - apart from the weight difference?
Would the P15 be big enough for the mountain or do I really need to look at 16 foot or bigger (hole now knocked through the end of the garage just in case!)
I know I need to go and visit Graeme and try them before deciding but I don't want a ferrari to show off in - I'm not built for speed but I intend enjoying both flat water and g1 or 2 and who knows what later as experience builds? but that might need another moment of madness from swmbo and another purchase!
honest oppinions please - I can take it!
Ric
Personally I would go with a 15, and all the Prossies will more than do the job in terms of the "mountain"...
I paddled a Venture Prossie last year and found it far less manouvarable than the Nova Prospector that I have, so you may find it a little lacking on moving water compared to the other brands..., having said that they're bomb proof and will do the job you're looking for.
Couldn't comment on the Old Town's, I've not paddled them...
I will repeat though, that you should definately try out a Bob before making your decision, it's carrying capacity is only 25kg less than the Prossies....
(If Graeme's not got one in, then I'm more than happy to meet up with you to give one a go...)
Cheers
Red.
thanks Red
I'll certainly keep the Bob on the list - I'm not ruling anything out - just recognise my own lack of knowledge and fear of the other half. So having the right resons for spending the money becomes important!
Really enjoyed the weekend and meeting up with folk - I seem to be getting on the water a lot and the thought of paddling something a bit more ......
I just don't want to wait until she changes her mind!
Ric
Ric, with you also thinking of paddling tandem with the SWMBO I would still stick to the Venture P16 as there is 3" more freeboard than the Bob Special and the Old Town Camper and Charles River especially if you are wanting to run rivers.
Just my sixpenth
That's helpful Graeme - I've been trying to find out about the depth of the ventures but it doesn't say on their info!
How does the 15 compare? your write up on it sounded excellent but I wasn't sure if it was going to be big enough and I haven't seen any comparison between the two?
thanks
Ric
The depth of the Venture P15 is about 13.5" from memory so about the same as your Guide 147, the P15 does have a tumblehome which helps to keep it a dry ride.
Hi Ric, as most on here know I lurrrvvee my We'no'nah Prospector 15, it ticks all the boxes for me, however it is not for every one, I would suggest you try as many boats as you can. Think about what kind of water you will be paddling now and in the future, do you really need a boat that will spin on a penny? Maybe a 16ft Prospector may fit the bill, as for weight the lighter the more expensive but as you say your knees are an issue would it be beneficial to spend that bit more to get a lighter boat that you can load/unload of your car easier by yourself, furthermore a lighter boat will be easier to turn than boat of the same shape but a heavier material as there will be less mass to shift. Read lots of reviews and research on tinterweb. I requested a Brookbank catalogue for reference only and it lives in the library with the porcelain seat for passing the time. Research time is time spent well...enjoy the search and keep us posted.
Hope this helps
Cheers
Tim
Hi Tim
Been doing lots of reading. I thought at first about the weight being the biggest consideration because of the lifting issue but then I thought about it again and as much as I want to say its not the age its the mileage, the bottom line is that for whatever the reason, list of injuries, or excuses - I'm getting to the stage where I need to accept that some things are more difficult now that they were twenty years ago. So having thought it through I've decided to limit the number of times I try to lift the canoe onto the car roof or carry it unaided. construction of a foldable trolley is underway and investment in a trailer to save the lifting aspect will solve most of the problem - so weight is only going to be an issue getting it in and out of the water which I don't think will be anything to worry about.
The weight of any canoe in the water is going to be negligable in comparison to the boat with me in it - think boat 33KGs me about 4 times that - the canoe isn't going to make that much difference even if its 10Kg lighter.
So what I recon is having a boat of the right volume and shape becomes more important. As it needs to occasionally carry the other half, her wine, picknic etc - that adds to things too.
Having the spin on a penny boat - no - but having something I can control easily through some gentle river stuff is as I really enjoy getting places.
yes I can get places in the guide but it feels a bit low to the water especialy when I try to edge it a little bit - it doesn't have far to go - so something deeper would feel better I think.
getting info is important as you said - thats why I asked the question but evaluating the information is best done by people with the experience - so this is my perfect opportunity to get different peoples views and arguments - I'm thinking of a trip to Doncaster next weekend - (before swmbo changes her mind) to do a bit of eveluating and hopefully choosing but its good to get advice before hand - then I know what questions I really need to answer for myself.
Seeing people at Becky mason's event in Yorkshire made me realise that some of the people there seemed to have a huge amount of space in their boats and a lot of freeboard - it looked much more comfortable all round. I know that my weight and size would make a difference but It would still be more comfortable I think. I was offered a go in another canoe there but thought swmbo would do her nut if I thought I needed a different canoe so declined thinking I need to do with what I've got but when I got home
- see there is a god!
Ric
oops - gone into excited possible new canoe waffle al lot mode!
This is worrying - 69 views and no one has given me a good reason why an expensive boat would be better than the venture - what am I going to tell swmbo!
Not that I'm against the venture - it might be perfect for the job but if its something else then she won't wear "I've got to have the expensive one becuse next door has one" or is it just a case of - mine cost more than X's so it must be better?
Ric
Can always up the price of the Venture for you Ric if it will make the SWMBO happy
Seriously, the main difference is the weight issue, the more you spend the lighter the boat, a Wenonah P16 which is probably the lightest boat of that style will set you back circa £1295.00 for a Royalex one.
Will it do the same as the Venture, well yes it will but it will be lighter to portage
I think she'd be happier to learn about the 20% sale happening the day I'm visiting plus the 10% CWAV discount and the extra 10%SOTP discount and the 50% off for me being just a really nice guy!
Well there's no harm in trying is there!
Actually we've just had a long discussion about a replacement car and she was the one who brought up that it needed to be the right one for canoeing trips etc.
- I think she might be just as keen as me - even if she doesn't want to paddle!
Ric