Discovery Sport 13

Discovery Sport 13 Description

The Discovery Sport 13 is a canoe brought to you by Old Town Canoe and Kayak. Read Discovery Sport 13 reviews or submit your own review to share with the paddling community. Check out a few other canoe recommendations below or explore all canoes to find the perfect one for you!

Old Town Canoe and Kayak
Discovery Sport 13 Reviews

Read reviews for the Discovery Sport 13 by Old Town Canoe and Kayak as submitted by your fellow paddlers. All of the reviews are created and written by paddlers like you, so be sure to submit your own review and be part of the community!

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5

Great Little Canoe

Submitted by: bdr129 on 8/3/2017

Purchased a Discovery Sport 13 off craigslist. Needed a little TLC, after sanding and varnishing the wood and treating the plastic/vinyl with 303 it looks as good as new. Had it out on one of the Rim Lakes this past weekend and handled great with the kids and the fishing gear. It is a bit heavy to handle on the ground and getting it on and off the roof rack, but it is manageable with two adults. Can't wait to get a small trolling motor mounted on it and hit the lakes even more. Wish Old Town still made this model as I would buy a second one.

5

My Old Town Discovery Canoe…

Submitted by: Raven on 7/1/2015
My Old Town Discovery Canoe is about 15 years old. It is BLUE, and we all call it "the blue canoe"! It weighs 80lbs., which is too heavy for us, however, we have experienced many great river and lake trips with piles of kids and gear, and it never dumped in wind or whitecaps or Rapids. It is Perfect for big trips! It tracks well and moves quickly through the water, despite it's weight. Bottom line, we love it, but are limited in our usage due to weight. Would love to win a new, lighter canoe!
5

I have owned my Old Town…

Submitted by: paddler235318 on 8/30/2013
I have owned my Old Town Discovery Sport 13 since 1995 and it is still serving me, my friends and my family very well.
It's a bit heavy at about 88 lbs. It has gone down many rivers, lakes and ponds as well as the Atlantic Ocean, sometimes via paddling and many times via a 37 lb thrust trolling motor. I can't recommend this canoe high enough. I added some cushioned seats with backs and the comfort is achieved for longer trips. It is very stable. Get it or regret it!!!
5

Tracks well with molded keel,…

Submitted by: paddler234782 on 9/20/2012
Tracks well with molded keel, I like the material it is made of because it is quieter, extra buoyancy with the Old Town 3 ply... tough as nails... I have mine set up with a Minn Kota Endura 30 lb thrust with telescoping handle for comfort and ease. Moves this boat beautifully.

I bought some lightweight seats with backrests, great for long outings. I also recommend getting a solar charger, dirt cheap, works terrific and can be left out in all kinds of weather. I use paddles in small lakes, in wildlife refuge where no electric motors are allowed. I recommend the lightest and strongest paddle. Bending branches makes a carbon Touring paddle and other lightweight paddles.

And now with the square stern Old Town Discovery canoe, I can now hit all those narrow waterways and open lakes. I sold my Jon boat when I realized how versatile this 13 footer is. I can stand and fish, carry all kinds of photographic gear, and camping equipment for that Adirondack island getaway. Best investment I ever made!

4

I took my Discovery Sport 13…

Submitted by: guest-paddler on 3/11/2010
I took my Discovery Sport 13 down the Verde River, AZ during flood stage. The boat is not designed for white water, but it can be done. It is a good idea to strap in a couple of air mattresses under the seats and in the back to give the craft extra buoyancy. This comes in handy when the boat capsizes, keeping the pilot-less vessel high in the water as it tumbles down river. It is a tough 'ol barge. I hit a huge boulder square in a class III and only caved in the nose a bit. I cannot say whether it can withstand a open-ended-wrap-around, of the taco shell variety, but it sure helps to fill the open spaces of the canoe with the float mattresses. The boat likes to take on water with the slightest wave or ripple, so expect to get wet and drain the boat often.

Overall, this boat is very versatile and fits the bill for many uses.

5

I purchased my 13' square…

Submitted by: guest-paddler on 3/27/2009
I purchased my 13' square stern Discovery new in 1999. It has seen considerable use over the years! Though it is a bit heavy (92lbs.), it is very stable. It has been a great fishing boat for the high mountain lakes of S.W. Colorado.

I can load this canoe on the car top of my '07 Pathfinder without help. An outrigger on the front load rail helps! The 15' model weighs about 20lbs. more and would make loading difficult by myself. It is slow to paddle, not bad to row! I have the old town power paddle that gets a lot of use!

This canoe is ideal to fish from with a small outboard! I had a 2hp Honda for years - it moved the boat well. I also have a sweet '58 Evinrude 3hp Ducktwin and the extra thrust over the Honda is noticeable. With the 15' Discovery you can use a 5hp outboard were the 13' has a max rating of 3hp. I am very happy with the performance of the smaller canoe and the ease of transporting it over the larger unit is a big plus. My boat cart makes it possible to launch in difficult to reach remote lakes. It is very well made and has held up great. If I had to replace it, I likely would make the same choice.

5

This is the 5th canoe I've…

Submitted by: paddler232150 on 7/5/2007
This is the 5th canoe I've owned, and it hands-down the greatest canoe ever made. I'm only writing because I disagree with the people who say it isn't good in lakes, I use mine in several local lakes all the time, and if you use the oars and oarlocks, it's wicked fast. I love this boat. You can also stand up in it while you fish, how often can you say that about a canoe?
4

I owned this boat for 5…

Submitted by: guest-paddler on 2/5/2007
I owned this boat for 5 years. Great alternative to a john boat for river floats or lake adventures. Extremely stable. I set mine up like a john boat by adding lightweight fold down seats and used a 3hp gas motor or a 50# trolling motor. I fished out of it and you can consider doing overnight trips as it will carry lots of gear. It is not that lightweight but extremely durable. Tracks well with molded keel. A bear to paddle and manuver due to weight and keel. The 13' version is a little tight for two peole when fishing-the 15 or 17 foot boat would be better.
5

I've owned my sport for 6…

Submitted by: guest-paddler on 1/29/2007
I've owned my sport for 6 years. It has seen many small mountain lakes in northern New Mexico and southern Colorado. Great platform for fly fishing, and loads easily on my van. The Cadillac of canoes!
4

This is a great river canoe,…

Submitted by: saraholson on 8/30/2006
This is a great river canoe, works well in shallow water and is very stable for casting. It's also short enough to fit nicely in the back of a pickup. The shallow depth makes it a little uncomfortable for legs, though, and it is definitely not a canoe for lakes--way too slow and heavy. It will take a lot of abuse and has been a good river canoe for me.
4

The 13' sport is light enough…

Submitted by: paddler228980 on 10/28/2000
The 13' sport is light enough to car top and stable for 2 people up to about 400 lbs. total. I know this from personal experience. A trolling motor is all that is needed to push it along, even upstream, up to 4-5 mph, and it will take rough use. I added a piece of wood under the center thwart(seat) so that the hull shape would remain, especially after many groundings. It is merely a 10" by 7"-8" (approx) piece weged between the seat and the hull, with 2 screws holding it in place. I like the material it is made of because it is quieter, and warmer in cool weather. Overall, the boat is versatile and practical.
4

I think the sport boat is an…

Submitted by: guest-paddler on 4/24/2000
I think the sport boat is an exellent boat I've taken it out on the ocean as a tender in about 5 foot rolling seas with no water coming in and when you row it its fast and stable.
4

I have only had my Discovery…

Submitted by: guest-paddler on 6/6/1999
I have only had my Discovery Sport 13 (Crosslink 3) for a couple of months, but it is a great canoe. It paddles smoothly and handles nicely with my small outboard. Even with two guys casting, etc., it was plenty stable. I highly recommend it as an all around canoe, good for paddling, motoring, fishing.
4

I have owned the Discovery…

Submitted by: paddler228002 on 2/14/1999
I have owned the Discovery 13' for two years. Have paddled many northeast rivers and even paddled the entire length of the Suwannee River, FL. (ran the "Big Shoals"). GREAT for rocky rivers and fishing, but I would not recommend for open lakes; much too slow. It has taken a LOT of abuse, and I would never sell it. If you fish/paddle rocky rivers, solo or with a (small) friend this is one great canoe.