Hi all,

I asked this question in a reply I just made but thought I'd start a separate thread in case people pass on the other thread.

Among other small boats, I'm thinking about a canoe. I was thinking about a scanoe but a question occured to me. Don't you have to twist or reach behind you to run the motor? In the new scanoes, it doesn't look like you could sit sideways to run it. At least with a traditional canoe, the motor is usually offset so the handle could be beside you.

Is a scanoe more efficient since the motor is mounted directly behind the canoe instead of offset to the side?

Thanks,

mikeg

I don't know if it would be more efficient, but yes, you have to twist and reach behind you to control the motor. If you have a Dick's Sporting Goods near you, they should have the Scanoe on display. The one by me does anyway.

Yes, I'm going to swing by our local one to see what they have instock. I'm also keeping an eye on craigslist.

mikeg

Just a couple of days ago I saw a newscast where a guy who bought the Scanoe, took it out and it sank with him and his buddy, first time out.  Seems they put the 3 HP Coleman ouboard that the Scanoe stated it was rated for.

 

     Didn't get all the details, but he was suing Coleman as the Scanoe should really only be rated for a trolling motor.....not the outboard.

 Something about truth in advertising.

 

      I don't know anyone who has a Scanoe so I cannot say how reliable they are.

The Coleman/Pelican canoes are heavy barges made of cheap Ram-X plastic. Its almost impossible to repair one if you hole it. You'd be better off with an Old Town Predator made of Polylink, or even an old Grumman Aluminum. Grumman aluminums are easy to find on Craigslist.

The Coleman/Pelican canoes are heavy barges made of cheap Ram-X plastic. Its almost impossible to repair one if you hole it. You'd be better off with an Old Town Predator made of Polylink, or even an old Grumman Aluminum. Grumman aluminums are easy to find on Craigslist.

 

That is true but it takes a lot ot put a hole in one, my buddy has one for 14 years that gets used hard and it has no signs of wearing. I use a square back canoe in the summer for a shallow rocky river I fish, when the water gets low it is the only way of covering water as even the jetboat has places I just can't run to and the plastic canoes out last the aluminum ones since they don't take the damage from the rocks as much as the aluminum. You do have to turn a bit for a trolling motor but if you're look at the newer square backs, they are wide and stable plus the square back is an extension so you have room as the seats are wide. I'm 280lbs and 6'2" with a broken vertebre in my back and I can work the motor with out much fuss. I do prefer the big boat but the river is really good fishing and I can't walk very well anymore so wading is out and the plastic square back canoe has made it possible for me to enjoy the water in summer.