Rowing a canoe ..

[T i m]

Hi All,

Not sure if this is fully OT but here goes ..

I am looking for a rowable open canoe that might also take a small
outboard to carry (typically) the three of us (Daughter, Missus and I)
on flat / slow rivers and lakes here in England. We aren't into
hunting / fishing so there won't be much in the way of extra gear but
like the shape of a canoe for exploring some of the smaller creeks and
ease of storage when it's back at home.

My Dad has a very nice 14' rowing skiff I could use which would be
perfect, other than it's just too big and heavy to carry on the car
roof (and we often tow a folding caravan (trailer to you guys?) so
can't tow a boat as well).

I found the Old Town Predator SS150 ...

http://www.oldtowncanoe.com/canoes/huntingFishing/predator_ss150.html

http://tinyurl.com/2j3a32

.. which seems to have a good pedigree (if not coloring <g>), looks
like it would tick all my boxes in that it can be rowed, paddled (I
have a 16' plastic open canoe atm) and outboarded whilst also being
just about ok for the car roof.

Now I understand it isn't going to be as nice a canoe as something
with a point at both ends but for our purposes I think the compromise
will work (I want the rowing part for exercise so don't mind if it
isn't the best rower in the world).

My main question though is how *well* can you actually row a canoe
without a full drop-in rowing rig or outriggers?

When I say row I don't mean gently trickle it along but actually be
able to put a bit of effort into it, possibly via 'proper' wooden oars
(rather than the more typical ally oar/paddles) but not quite sliding
seat stuff.

All the best and thanks for your time in any case ..

T i m (London)

[Dan Lingman]

Tim,

I've got a 14' sportspal. I can load it by myself - think it weighs around
40 pounds.

It has oarlocks on it standard, an outboard mount for a motor, and you can
get attachments for the paddles that convert them into oars.

http://www.bwmarineproducts.com/pointed_canoes.htm

Hard to see in that picture, but the bump just below and to the left of the
word "Nylon" is where the oars mount.

When we go out, it's myself, my wife, my 4 year old, and my 1 year old in
it. I sit at the stern, my wife and 1 year old at the bow, and my 4 year
old in the middle.

Nice light, stable canoe.

Cheers,
Dan.