RAM-X 16

I've had this boat for most of my life and it has definitely seen (and taken) a lot of abuse. It is basically an aluminum frame with a medium thick and flexible poly plastic mold. This is both good and bad. This does make it prone to oil canning and shape changing, but at the same time this boat can move over rocky rivers and such just fine. At 16' it's a beast. Heavy and awkward on land.

I would recommend this to someone with a few kids, dogs, coolers, camping stuff, and whatever else you want to bring along. It's stable and rugged.

I owned a "cooler" for 15 years found it to be an excellent starter canoe. It's red color faded to a light pink hence the nickname "The Pink Banana" It took many hits including a tree falling on it and never sprung a leak.

this canoe did well in rivers, creeks and bays. We went through shallow areas and over sticks. This canoe took a licking and kept on going. I just wish it was mine. It was green poly something. Very tough.

I (along with all my other paddling friends) used to snicker at the sight of folks paddling a Coleman canoe. We would refer to them as "coolers", as in "Look out, here come a couple necks in a cooler." However, I learned to set aside my Royalex snobbery after actually paddling a cooler on the Emory Obed in January. This was many years ago when I was still learning to boat, and really shouldn't have been paddling Class III rapids - especially in a Coleman. But the darn thing actually impressed me - not with it's handling, but with it's strength. We broached it on a rock less than a mile from the Emory's confluence with the Obed and couldn't get it freed for quite a while. I am still amazed that it did not fold under a great deal of current for about an hour. Later my partner and I ran fast and hard straight into a jagged rock that I thought would rip into the bow; but it didn't. It only left a nasty dent that miraculously nearly disappeared within a week. I love my Old Town Tripper (royalex, 17' 2") but I have respect for the Coleman "cooler" canoes. Of course, I'd never own one though.

Coleman Scanoe bought in 1982; ran a 5 hp on it for years-my poor man's bass rig. It has even feel off the truck on pavement and never hurt the tough Ram-X hull. My wife & I still use it to fish in-it's not too fast but very stable and gives a safe feeling even in rough waters. I think I'll keep it!

I have had a Coleman 17ft Ram X since 1992. I've paddled it in Lake Ontario, in all conditions including the quick fierce storms that spring up there. I bounced down various creeks in the Adirondacks. I paddled for miles on the Erie Canal. I have countless hours on VA Eastern Shore salt marshes, Cheasapeake Bay creeks, and have even surfed her on the Ocean Side on 4 ft waves. (I tried anyways). Eastern North Carolina rivers and estuary's have been a favorite. Whitewatering on the James River near Richmond and some fun 3-4 rating rapids on the Appomatox River in Petersburg VA. I have rigged sails for it for the lakes and oceans and I carry a 13 ft pole for poling up rivers and rapids.

It is not a fancy canoe but it will carry tons of gear and three 220lb'ers albeit with only a few inches to spare on the gunwale. I am ready to graduate to a "fancier model" but I'll always keep my Coleman 17. It has quite a few scratches on her bottom due to scraping up on oyster bars, river gravel, and flying off the car once. The scratches are the only damage sustained after 12 yrs of abuse and neglect. I've gone through many paddles and she keeps going. I love it for extended camping trips and often carry a 3.5 hp outboard bolted to a 2x4. I highly recommend her if you are starting out or want a tough dependable slow boat. See you on the water.

My Coleman 16' Gold Medalist has given us years of good service. I run a Tanak 1.5 H.P. Trolling motor on the side via a special mount. It's great for trolling and comes in handy during a gust of wind. For a starter caonoe we are happy with it's performance.

I got my coleman canoe in 1983 in a trade. We live in Central Texas and I enjoy fishing the Blanco and San Marcos Rivers. My two son's grew up paddling and fishing those rivers. I still own it and it is doing just fine. My only complaints are it is hard to repair and it doesn't handle well in the wind. It is well over 20 years old and still giving us great service.

I dunno folks. I have a 93 Ram-X 155 and have taken my two boys on almost all the Missouri Ozarks rivers. I gave it to them this year and it has about 400-450 rock botton miles on it and is good to go for plenty more. I figured it to be a crappy canoe when i got it but have changed my mind and am about to but two more.

When we bought the coleman it was from a friend who was upgrading to an Old Town. He warned me that is was the "Least desireable" of all water craft but that it would be a good place to start. We have had her now for 3 years and the only thing I found that was not good was that it was hard as heck to keep her on track in the wind. Other than that this has bee n a lot of fun from the local fishing hole in Napa, the Napa River and some real pretty lakes in Oregon. It is a heavy tug to get up on the truck rack and portegeing can be a muscle straining adventure. I would advise one of those wheel carts that attatches to the bow or stern. ( I use an old skateboard at the dock when I am going solo) All in all it is a really great value for someone who is interested in canoeing for the first time.

This is my first canoe. The price was so low that I had some fears that I might get a crummy boat. But I could not see spending $800 for something I might use once or twice. Two years later, I've had some many great outings. If anything, the convenience and indestructabilty of my "milk jug" canoe has been a real advantage to learning.