RAM-X 17

34 years and still going strong. No fading, warping or cracks. It has some surface scratches on the bottom from dragging it up on shore but that's of no concern as the hull is quite thick. The seats were repaired at the attachment points as they cracked due to age and use a few years ago but that was an easy repair. Other than that this canoe is maintenance free. Always stored outside in New England. It's been through hurricanes and record breaking winter snow. I used to do 3 day trips in it on the Saco River in the spring when it was running at full capacity. Navigated some rough water with no issues, glides over rocks with ease. Paddled it alone and never thought I needed anything else. It held coolers, tent, lantern, stove, boom box, camera, food, water, clothes, trolley, axe, rain gear, rope, sleeping bags and about anything else needed with no problem. It is a bit heavy so a trolley comes in handy. It is stable when properly secured on a vehicle but it is a bit bulky to hoist up on top by yourself. If you are in shape it's not an issue but it is easier with another set of hands. I think I paid around $250 for it back in '83 at Caldor department store (long since gone) and I could sell it for that now. Great investment. As the saying goes, paddling an inexpensive (never would say cheap about the Coleman 17' Ram-X) canoe is better than paddling no canoe. I'm still using it this weekend on the Blackstone River and it will carry me safely as it always has. It is very stable. We had our two sons in it when they were young boys and they would stand up and fish off of it. Do I care if it's not fast or doesn't turn on a dime? Not one bit. I'm usually just going across a lake or down a river so what's the rush? Kayak's have their place but the Coleman 17' Ram-X is a pack mule. Love it. Owners of the Coleman Ram-X know what I'm talking about. I'm glad I didn't pay for a more expensive canoe back then as I don't think it would have done anything my Coleman Ram-X hasn't done. Price doesn't always equal performance. For my needs the Coleman was and is a perfect canoe.

The reason I bought it was based on price. It was what I could afford. But after using it for years and 'competing' with the aluminum canoes, I've learned that the only people that 'smack' the Coleman are those that don't own one. That's not to say it as fast and maneuverable as more expensive canoes, because it's not. But it is way quieter than the aluminum canoes and just as tough. It gleans over rocks quietly and will not bottom out on the rocks like the aluminum canoes will.

Whatever Ram-X is made of, it's durable. I store mine inside so it still is not faded. The keel is straight and the skin is still flat.

I'd rate this boat a 9 based on all we've put it through. It's heavy, but a great buy for anyone who can't pay the price of the lighter brands.

I wished I had more time to go in the water with it, however I was able to do some nice river exploration with it. Didn't try whitewater, though - however, the previous owner (a recreational club) did a lot of mountain river descents, and the bottom of the canoe is all scraped up - of course, given that this is RAM-X, I'm not worried with the dents, which are at most 1 mm deep. They used the canoes (there were 4 for sale, now I believe they still have 2 left!) extensively, and that is noticeable - both buoyancy compartment covers are missing (I'll probably stick some wood panels there, once I get the measurements right), seats are a little cracked, but nothing serious!

With me and my younger brother paddling, it moved fairly fast, and when stopped one notices it is extremely stable.

I still plan on doing larger outings with the canoe (especially some which involve camping, given the large cargo compartment it has...), but first I need to get some proper vehicle mounts! :)

Works as expected, and it is doable for two men to carry for *short* distances - portaging it for more than 500 m is out of the question!

My boys were quite young, read small, then and were not heavy enough to keep the bow down if I was on the back seat. I nearly always had to paddle backwards on the front seat. It was symmetrical so that was no trouble. I did that till my Bow man weighed 100 lbs or so.

The flat bottom meant that we could hardly get away from side waves and leaning was out of the question. I have seen the newer versions. I am not impressed with their interior set ups. My boat is now with Boy Scouts in Iowa. I don't know how it held up but that plastic is very sensitive to UV deterioration.

I got my money's worth from that boat and it instilled a love for paddling in my 4 Children. I car topped it to Colorado several times and it liked mountain lakes, but not mountain streams. It was a good "learning experience" boat which trained the kids and me so that when we moved up to Old Town Discovery 12 years ago we didn't even know that they were supposed to feel tippy. We now have canoed from Illinois to Colorado, and into Canada and Minnesota. The Colman was an excellent starter boat and I am glad that we had it.

Well after it's maiden voyage (without the wife and son) I was a little impressed, or better yet comforted. I've since taken her out several times with the family, and aside from being heavy and awkward portaging & loading(the aluminum thwarts sit higher than the gunnels - so when cartopping or truck topping, kiss your paint goodbye! GET FOAM TUBING to cover the gunnels and thwarts... oh yeah, and watch the handles too - they'll drop down & take a good chunk out of your paint if you're not watching).. aside from that, the canoe is actually pretty great.

It really does track well thanks to the keel. It isn't the fastest canoe by far - but it's not a bear to paddle either. Won't turn on a dime, but considering it's size and the keel, it turns a heck of a lot better than I was expecting.

I thought it felt a little unstable the first couple minutes I was in it, but after giving it the shake-and-rock-and-wiggle, it wasn't flipping over. My son walks around in the boat while we're out and you barely notice it (then again he's only 50 pounds).

The previous owners beat this old canoe on lots of rivers - there's more miles on this beast than I could imagine. (I wouldn't dare take it out an anything that looks like more than a I.) But I gotta say, if you're looking for a canoe to just get on the water, if you find one of these at a yard sale or what not - you can't go wrong.

It's not the canoe I want, but all considered - this canoe does a fine job as a "family wagon" so to speak. Don't know what they cost new, or even how the new models perform (saw a new one & it didn't look anything like my dinosaur), but 100 bucks used - I give this an 8 simply for its performance and value....

..and someday when I have money, I'll treat myself to a nice light solo canoe ;)

I owned a Grumman 17 (aluminum) that weighed 80# (=RAMX) 30 years ago. I like my Coleman better!!! The Grumman cost big $$$ and had no better performance features. I've made my cheap used beat-up RAM-X into a "Escalade" lake, slow stream, river or moderate bay primo explorer, fish hunter and cruiser. I am very :-) with this craft.

P.S. My wife thinks I'm a little "over the edge" on this boat ... but it's far more fun to add lil' neat junk to it than to catch up on all those "honey do's". luv it

The only thing I’ve later altered is reinforcing the side with some hang glider alu so it’s more stable when I’m roving with my homemade paddlers, also made of hang glider alu. If it has been some inches wider and a little bit higher in the stern (front), it would be a perfect rowing boat for fisherman’s (trolling?).

John is asking for a permanent repair kit that fits this boat. When I bought this boat I also bought a repair kit (but hasn’t had use for it, in spite of numerous stones that has ripped against the bottom) from Sweden (can’t get this boat in Norway). The repair kit has some plates with the same ram X material that the boat is made of and 2 component Scotch-Weld (3M) with the number 3532 B/A urethane adhesive tube (118,2 ml). I’m not sure where the instruction are, but I remember that one has to use a heat gun to nearly melt the surface before applying the adhesive and joining the surfaces.

When I need a new boat I surely would by the new scanoe that looks even nicer.