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I'm the sort of bloke that goes through phases on mad things and love the potential for gadgetery - that's why I love this camping thing so much.

I also enjoy spending time outdoors and with my kids.

Anyway - my latest phase is wanting to buy a canoe (one big enough for me, 3 kids (all under 5) and possibly the wife if she fancies it) and possibly combine this with my love of camping.

Trouble is I know bugger all about them (other than what I've read up on this afternoon on the Internet and seen on Ebay).

Is there anyone out there with any knowledge / tips / advice on this subject before I go out and spend a lot of money on something I know nothing about or any good websites anyone can recommend?  What about transportation and storage - I'd be limited to roof bars and a back garden?  Any particularly good brands - I like the look of the Coleman ones and would like to think their quality is similar to that of their camping gear?  I'm also on a budget (phew!).

Cheers in advance,

Dazzle

PS:  Ever get the feeling you may be posting on the wrong site?!! LOL - this is UKCampsite - not UKCanoeSchemes!

sure you don't want a narrow boat with all those people??

You could always get in touch with your friendly neighbourhood scout leader.  He would probably know more than enough about the subject!

I would highly recommend seeing if you can try a boating/canoeing club with kids in first. I found when i had my children in also at the time 3 under 5 that i was so worried with them being in boat and the fact they didnt keep still i didnt find the experience at all enjoyable.

julesrush

The Coleman open Canoes are pretty well universal in outdoor centres, they are resonable quality, fairly durable etc. The only problem I am aware of is that if you drag them around a lot on the ground/bank, you eventually wear a hole in the bottom, which being plastic is difficult to repair.

However open canoe camp touring is not to every ones taste, and it is a lot of money to spend if someone in the family turns out to hate it. Its not just the canoe that you need either, its all the other gear too.

Dont know about your side of the water but around by me I know of several places that you can hire them for a day and there is a company that do organised tours on the River Wye.

I would hire one for a day, just to see if your family like it. 

And for the record, since someone mentioned it, I am the local friendly  ScoutLeader who also happens to be a qualified Kayak (not canoe) Coach. I have done some kayak and canoe touring in the past, although my main interest was always the really wild whitewater.

Also have a think about inflatable and folding canoes - we use inflatalbes and have had great fun in sea river and loch and you can fit several in the boot no problem! have a look at http://www.theboatpeople.com/ - Innova are Gumotex in Europe

Have a search - there was  a previous thread re inflatable kayaks/canoes

Folding canoes see http://www.pakboats.com/

Absolutely excellent - thanks a bunch - great suggestions.

Is there any question that wouldn't get answered on this site!!?

Well - I took all the advice, including ordering the Wenonah and Old Town brochures and I am now much more informed than I was a year ago!

I think I've settled on an Old Town Allagash 174 for my purposes (new at £700).  It's 17' 4" and will carry 3 adults and a couple of kids or less adults and more kids and would seem to have plenty of room for my camping gear as well.

I've heard that Old Town have a good reputation and are better made / have better qualities than Coleman.

Does anyone have any experience of this make or this particular model?  I noticed when I was at the Share Centre (see my review) camping earlier this year they had a few for teaching in which leads me to believe that the Allagash must be pretty sturdy to handle the level of abuse that beginners and children must dish out.

As always, any thoughts / views would be greatly appreciated.

I have was camping up in scotland about a month ago and a family had a one of those inflatable canoes out in the bay, there were some solid ones as well and they seamed easier to handle than the inflatable one.

I would love a canoe or kayak as well ,but the missus threw the anchor overboard on that one as she wasnt fond of kayak when we had a go at rosneath camp site in Scotland, where you can hire them. I thought it was great paddling away  out on the lock but she wouldnt let me get very far from the shore "in case we run in to  a submarine from faslane". 

Quote: Originally posted by guy-rope on 23/09/2005

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There were some solid ones as well and they seamed easier to handle than the inflatable one.

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That in general will be true.

A solid canoe can be molded to produce the exact hull shape that is needed to give a particular performance criteria, be that stability, speed, turnability or whatever.

Whilst inflatible kayaks are useful for those that want to be able to pack a canoe in their car boot, beyond that requirement solid kayaks (and these days that mostly means plastic) are superior in most respects.