Pack

This is an update. I have had the pack about 8 years. Today I did some mods and then took the pack out on a local lake for a few hours. I thought I would try lowering the seat as many others have done. Just for fun. I had some spare riser dowels so for about $3 at Home Depot I bought 6 inch bolts. No, they aren’t stainless and this is just an experiment. Since the gunwales are 1 inch thick, my 4 inch dowels were too long for the bolts. I cut them down to 3 inches, so it lowered the seat 1 1/2 inches from stock. The seat is now a bit under 7 inches clearance to the deck. When removing the seat, I realized that the web area of the seat was only 13 inches from outside of frame to frame in length, so only 10 inches of webbing. I had a spare seat that was 18 inches, so I cut it to fit the pack. As far as stability, I can’t tell the difference in the new lowered seat. With the longer web area it is more comfortable.

I brought along some paddles to test the pack. I started with a carbon fiber BB double in 260 cm length. I used this paddle sitting on the seat. Next I tried a BB beavertail, 57 inches. Last, I tried a 63 inch ash ottertail that I made. I used the solo paddles from the seat and also kneeling on a foam pad. I am far from being an expert paddler, so I can only report what worked for me. Using the solo paddles in the pack did not work for me. My tracking was poor and I felt like I wasted my energy in correction strokes. I have no doubt an expert kneeler could make this work, but my 70 year old knees don’t like it. The solo paddles from the seat were not any better. For me, the double paddle keeps the pack tracking decently straight with about 6-8 inches of bow wiggle.

i want to be honest about the Pack. It does not track as straight as my 16’6” Wenonah. How could it, it is only 12 ft long. It is not as fast either. Again, how could it be? As a total package, the Pack is terrific. It is so easy to handle out of the water. In the water it is impervious to bumps and bruises. It turns very quickly. It was comparatively inexpensive, as I paid $990 new. My Wenonah is up to $3400! The Pack is fairly tippy when getting in, but once seated I find it plenty stable. Another plus is that I can throw it in the back of the pickup truck, tie it to the bed with four ropes, tie a red flag on the back and away I go. The Wenonah has to go up on the rack, with lots of ropes and pads. Much more work. I understand that Esquif in Canada is making a Pack replacement from T Formex. It is a bit heavier at 39 lbs, but may be the closest yet to the Royalex Pack, which is 33. In conclusion, the Pack is utilitarian, fun, and easy. Great for us older folks and people who don’t want to lift heavy boats.

Believe it or not I bought a Pack new as a leftover about 6-7 yrs ago. Kept it for a couple of years and then sold it to a very happy buyer. Went on to a 14' Blackhawk which is a great canoe. As time marched on I realized the selling of the Pack was a BIG MISTAKE!

A primary advantage of the 12' Pack is that it fits within a full size van so the regiment involving rack mounting is eliminated. Just load and go.

I recently found a used one (not as nice as the one I sold) and the seller was astonished to see me load it within the van.

Also, I am another that paddles the Pack backwards. I am a canoe paddle kneeler and brace against the thwart. My preferred paddle is a Grey Owl Ottertail which seems to be a perfect match for me and the Pack. I also use the seat as a work surface.

At 64 yrs young; lesson learned.

I know this canoe has a great following, and being a solo canoer I felt I had to have one (not so much I would pay the gouging prices some folks are charging since they discontinued it). I kept it one season, and feel it has a place, but not for me. The awful plastic gunnels and trim puts it one step above a Coleman (the constant creaking would scare away the fish!). The width was just a little to much for a short guy to clear with either a single or a kayak paddle (255 cm). Yes, it was both light-weight and stable (it would have to be with a flat bottom and 34 inch width) but I could not keep with the rest of my group. If you can get one cheap enough, it might work for you, but at the prices they are asking these days for used ones, I would opt for a quality composite canoe.

I bought a 2001 Pack about three months ago and have used it about six times. I use the seat in what I think is the factory position, which is with 1.5" drop-downs from the gunnel. The original 1.5" drop-downs were cracking, so I made some from a 3/4" diameter birch dowel. Like others, I found that it likes to be packed full of camping gear--tracks better, sits lower in the water for better handling with wind, and is more stable. This canoe is multi-purpose for sure, but I think the ultimate use is for packing gear for camping. The high seat position allows you to store more under it, and the high position also gives you better leverage for paddling. I'm not a super experienced paddler, but I've found that with that seat position, a 54" wide-bladed Bending Branches paddle gives more power and speed than a kayak paddle. That position and the short, 12 ft. length are insurance against high winds, which are pretty standard in the Oregon Cascades. A Crazy Creek canoe seat helps keep you centered and balanced.

I have two canoes, a Wenonah Escapade and the Old Town Pack. The Pack is a terrific canoe for when I go solo. I am 66 years old, 6'1" and weigh 175 lb. I just got back from a week long trip in the NY Adirondacks with the Pack. It easily carried my camping, fishing, and photography gear. It paddles easily with my 260 cm kayak paddle. It is very stable and I don't understand those who think it should feel like a raft. I have also used this canoe with a grandkid on the deck in front of me, no problems. It is, however, not a tandem canoe and people should not expect it to be one. I have not lowered the seat and find it just fine as it came. You can get lighter solo canoes but they are usually kevlar and very expensive and fragile. The Pack does not require the careful treatment that I have to give the Escapade, which I use when I want to go tandem. Of course longer canoes are faster, it's physics. But the Pack does perfectly what it was designed to do, be a solo, easily transported and paddled canoe at a great price. I think I bought one of the last ones made since Royalex is no longer available. I wouldn't sell it for any price!

Packing was simple, toss my gear into two waterproof duffles, toss one in the bow and the other in the stern. A half-size ice chest fits behind the seat and a 3-gallon water can under the seat. With the capacity of that boat, I was able to haul enough gear to camp in comfort while all the kayakers were struggling with space for their gear. I fit 5 interlocking foam (dance) pads on the bottom to keep my dog and my knees happy and used those pads between my tent and the rocky ground so was very comfortable. It is amazing what you can pack in a canoe over a kayak.

We did hit weather after a few days so I spent those days kneeling to keep my center low. Still, even with a bean wind, the Pack tracked well and I had no problems keeping on course. It feels tippy but never gave me any real concern.
Again, the more I use this boat, the more I love it!

While it does not track the best due to its short length, it's great for calm lakes or downriver floats. I had been looking at the Old Town NEXT recently but was glad to find a used Pack. So I was able to save a little money in the process and got a great boat out of it!

The Pack dropped maybe an inch with all that extra weight but once we got it trimmed, all went well and we got the stranded fisherman to the marina safely.

Yes, the Pack has exceeded all my expectations, the only thing left is to do a week down the Colorado River living out of the boat

Tracking is a little off probably because of it's short length but it's still easy to paddle along. Can take it up swift creeks until it's too shallow without feeling uneasy the whole time and across a windy reservoir without wanting to give up.

Now I've used and abused this boat and have used it to it's limit. I've had 3 adults in it (combined weight around 450#) and we even went up a creek a ways exploring with the water line safely above the gunwhales but it was cramped and it took a bit of work movin. It also scared the heck out of my crew when they would shift their weight around but we never came close to taking in water.

I've also used it canoeing with myself and pops (under 400 pounds for the two of us combined) and about 100 pounds of gear for a week of portage wilderness camping and the boat preformed well except that we were CRAMPED. We both had to sit on float pads on the floor of the canoe with my feet into the stern and he kept his back into the bow and feet under a pack balanced on the crossbeam but we just managed to fit ourselves and gear with the boat paddles backwards. It was only 2-3 inches from the waterline to the gunnel but we made it. We found that while you can do it it's really not what the boat is designed for. We moved slow and steady and navigated with little trouble in the wind and rain. The two of us were able to do some lively fishing the whole time but had to stretch our legs every few hours.

Overall I am happy with this boat. Get along well with it and can even occasionally be stressed with a partner in the bow but I would put it's weight capacity for realistic canoeing at 500 pounds as your max.

Would recommend to anyone but try it out first to see if you like it. Also don't expect it to handle any serious type II rapids unless you like being swamped!!

The Pack canoe can be used for just about any use by an experienced paddler who knows how to overcome its limitations (with the exception of rapids above class 2 - it's possible to run a class 2 rapid in the Pack canoe, but I don't recommend it). Its best use is for fishing, paddling streams and small ponds/lakes. It requires skill to handle safely on larger lakes under windy conditions and also requires a good working knowledge of canoe strokes to appreciate, and enjoy, how it moves through the water.

Despite what has been written by other reviewers, this is NOT a straight tracking canoe. Every stroke usually ends as a J stoke and precious forward momentum is lost. If you want a straight tracking canoe, look at the Wenonah solo canoes. After 28 years with the Pack canoe I finally gave in to peer pressure and used a 2 bladed paddle. I found it to be a much better match for this canoe. As a result, during my last canoe trip, I was able to make an average speed of 3mph, fully loaded, against a headwind on a 13 mile long lake. But still, it requires care to stay upright in larger waves. I still take along a single blade paddle to navigate twisting streams.

On streams, the Pack canoe can usually out-perform, in speed and turns, most other, if not all, comparable solo canoes, and is a real joy to use. I prefer the Pack canoe to a Hornbeck boat on all streams and smaller bodies of water, especially while canoe tripping. And, the price is 1/3 the cost of a Hornbeck boat.

This boat is most stable with a pack placed under the front thwart and with knees placed on the bottom of the canoe. My preferred position in unstable water conditions is to kneel so that the hull does not bend and flex upward. Otherwise I am most comfortable with my legs crossed in front of me. Despite the load range recommendations, I would never exceed 350 pounds in this canoe. To exceed that weight places more of the bow and stern in the water, as opposed to the wide flat bottom, and makes the boat much more tippy. A 350 pound weight limit is more than enough capacity for any back-country canoe trip lasting 7-10 days. You cannot find a Royalex canoe on the market today that will carry this much weight and still weigh so little.

Despite its low weight, I do not enjoy portaging this canoe while canoe tripping. I much prefer my larger 42 or 58 lb. tandem canoes. It is very difficult to place a yoke- and in the case of the Pack canoe it must be a clamp on yoke- on center and still find enough room to fit ones pack and head on either side of it up in the canoe. Whether carried bow, or stern first, the seat or thwart obstruct vision and can bang against ones head and face. For portages lasting less than 1/4 mile it is often easier to carry on the shoulder and to use the painter line lashed back to the seat for extra support.

Unlike other reviewers, I actually raised the seat from its original position in order to better fit my legs underneath it for kneeling. I found that it put less strain on the back of my knees and was easier to get my feet under the seat. Additionally it was much easier and safer to get out of the canoe. Raising the seat did not raise the center of gravity because it helped me to kneel and actually lowered the center of gravity.

After 28 years of use I am having to do my first patch job on an interior crack, obtained while shooting over one of the 30+ beaver dams on the Oswegatchie river. This canoe is tough, and it is fun. It fits into so many places that a larger canoe wouldn't, and with an experienced hand, will go most places that a larger tandem canoe can. And it is a keepsake that I hope to pass on to my son.

I found an ad for a OT Pack for $200 so rushed out, looked it over and handed over the cash. It needed minor work. the forward thwart needed to be replaced, some hull scratches to patch but nothing I could not easily do.

I cut a new thwart, added eye-bolts to keep my gear IN the boat, made a deck-pad for my dog and took it on the local lake for a test-paddle. I forgot to bring the GPS so could not check hull speed but I easily kept up and passed Odile in my WS Mallard kayak.

Paddling was easy! Initially rocky, I soon adjusted to that and tested secondary stability to be excellent.

The Pack easily accepts my mods, foam pads on the bottom to protect the hull and keep the dog happy. pad-eyes around the gunnels for tie-downs, I'm making some waterproof boxes to put between the cane-seats and hull.

But the canoe paddles well, tracks well and at 12' turns well. Plus, at 33#, is easy to haul to and from trailer-to-lake and much easier to enter-and-exit than a kayak.

Later when I do a test-camp, I'll add to this review but for now, I am very happy with the craft.

My canoe has seen many years of loving use and will certainly see many more before I replace her. My thanks to those who provide such quality products at a price point the average enthusiast can endure to enjoy the outdoors from the water.

The Royalex material on the Pack is really tough. I took the seat out and use a plastic fishermans seat purchased at Walmart on the floor of the canoe and a double bladed high quality paddle - The same set up works well in the 119 but better in the pack. Extremely stable.

I found out that recently they quit making Royalex so I purchased a new Pack canoe from the local REI store - it was the last one in stock.
The Pack canoe is truly the best and most enjoyable purchase I have ever made.

Old Town states the canoe can handle up to 550lbs so just don't go over. It's light to portage and get on and off the roof of a sedan with foam blocks at a light weight of about 35lbs. I've encountered a fair amount of fallen trunks and rocks hidden just under the water and the RX materiel seems to bounce right back if you don't mind a few scratches. I've done over 40 day trips in it on rivers and maybe only 3 on lakes and really have to say I've more than got my money's use of it.

I love kayaking and had never really canoed before this boat but the ability to include my big dogs with me was the main reason I went with the canoe. Everything is more fun with them...even when they jump off or tip the canoe to chase cows that are bathing in the River.

Great canoe esp for women as you can portage it on your own and a nice small size of only 12ft. Snap a dry bag to the seat and put your dogs in the middle/front. I use a canoe paddle. Despite what the Old Town and REI sales people say...I bgt & tried a few times to use the canoe with a long kayak paddle..It was awful with the kayak paddle...you're just too high from the waterline to use it comfortably even if you kneeling the boat is too wide. The boat is great with the right paddle a very comfortable ride down a moderate river. It takes on dings from rocks and trees just fine with no need for repairs and the RX material bounces back into shape. Amazing strength and durability for such a light canoe. Whenever I exit the river at a park people come over to check it out & pick it up and after talking to me tell me they are making it their next purchase. Store it inside and you'll have many years of enjoyment.

I use a sit-backer seat I got from LL Bean and a double bladed paddle 95% of the time. If it's just me and no camping gear, I usually load some weight in the front of the boat - water, etc...and it doesn't windcock.

I've had and sold off some of the best ideas the SOT world has come up with...I kept coming back to the OT PACK - now I don't even bother...me and my Pack canoe are a perfect match. I was SHOCKED at the 'end of Royalex' - I need to get another OT Pack as a backup for the next 30 years...the Guide is only 10 pounds heavier...but it doesn't paddle exactly like the Pack.

When my kids were younger, we sawed the legs off a plastic lawn chair and put them in the bow. Now it's just Lab's spot - she hangs out on a rubber suction cup shower mat, so she can get traction to pace and jump. It's just like a mini-van this canoe...it can be whatever you want it to be that day.
I rigged up an anchor trolley I can add, plastic crate for fishing stuff if that's the days activity, and when my wife just wants to go for a paddle, she sits up in the bow area on a short legged folding chair I bought for turkey hunting.

Hooking up a trolling motor to this boat seems terrible...but man!, is it ever fast and even with a 20 year old 30lb thrust motor...it runs all day with so much speed. Great for large bodies of water if I am trying to cross for fishing or hunting...or running miles up the river to get to a spot.

I also can't believe how FAST this canoe paddles (with a double blade) compared to the SOT kayaks...I can paddle all day with my buddies in the SOT's and usually have to slow for them.

In short - and to me - this is THE BEST value in all of the boat world!

At 33 lbs I can carry it to the lake with one hand. After one dumping in a cold lake trying to stand up, I lowered the seats with some wood spacers from Old Town and the stability was improved greatly. I also use a double bladed kayak paddle. Since I only paddle alone I have not had the St. Croix out again.

The 12 ft. royalex Pack is a unique boat that fills a niche. I need to get rid of a couple of boats but the Pack will not be one of them.

Bottom line:
The size and weight makes transporting/portaging easy.
Stability is a lot more sensitive to your center of gravity than any of the other canoes that I have used.
Tracking on calm water is good with proper paddling technique. If you try to put too much power into your stroke the tracking is poor, but using a double bladed paddle allows alternating power from side to side to keep you pointing where you want to go.

What a dream it is to lift onto the roof of my vehicle and portage to the launch. Has not taken me long to develop confidence while handling this boat. Is it tippy? Well, it is a canoe and not a John boat, but I have to say for a canoe of its dimensions it ain't too bad. I've tried kneeling and sitting on the seat. So far sitting on the seat with my legs out before me balances me best and doesn't make my ankles go to sleep.

I plan to use this canoe for fishing, duck hunting and perhaps deer hunting in the Boundary Waters this Fall. If you are in the market for a solo canoe that's darn near bomb proof, and doesn't make you feel for a third nut every time you portage it, then the Old Town Pack is for you.

I bought the Old Town skirt and flotation bags and installed the snaps and tie-downs. I take it down Class II and III and have never rolled it, and take it across Burntside Lake and the other big lakes in the Boundary Waters when the wind is up and whitecaps racing, and have never had a problem. I installed the Old Town oarlocks and on big lakes or coastal waters often I'll turn and row it for greater power against the wind or waves. Occasionally we do use the Old Town sailing kit and on Burntside Lake, Pamlico Sound, Chespeake Bay or Kentucky Lake we can really fly.

As did most of you, I lowered the seat and paddle kneeling most of the time. I cemented in the kneeling pads and straps which help a lot in whitewater. I added the Old Town padded yoke, which makes portaging in the Boundary Waters a piece of cake. Without the flotation bags I can carry enough for a seven day trip with no problem. I never bought a kayaking paddle or double ended canoe paddle; I just use my Bending Branches canoe paddle with a J or C stroke. I do disagree with some who indict its stability. I can roll the Pack over to the gunwale and paddle it all the way across a lake on windless days. We have a lot of tight creeks and small rivers in our area and the Pack out manuevers a lot of supposed whitewater canoes and kayaks. Being designed for whitewater, they have obvious advantages, but the Pack is so quick I can thread around a lot of the problems they need their advantages to deal with.

I did add the folding back padded canoe seat I bought in Ely and during those long river pools or quiet lake days when I get tired of kneeling it sure makes life nice. I added the Old Town skid plates, we take care of the hull, we store the Pack out of the sun, and after 30 years the Royalex is still in great shape. It's not really even faded much, despite the annual saltwater trips.

All considered, I think this is one of the great canoes ever made, and one that gets a lot less publicity than it deserves.

I have found this boat to be a pure joy. I paddle it with a single blade in tight situations and a 9' double blade paddle from Spring Creek Outfitters in the open. With the double blade it is easy to keep tracking straight and at a good pace. For me, it is a little slow and tedious with a single blade. The longer double blade helps to keep your ride dry and much faster.

Having read the reviews from this site before the purchase, I was anticipating an unstable canoe that would require lowering the seat. I was completely surprised by the initial stability of this craft. I have paddled this craft solo, as well as with my 50# daughter and her 5# puppy in a bow seat mounted on the floor. I have not severely tested the secondary stability of the boat, but I have felt that this boat is very stable with the factory seat height.

At this time I am unable to paddle the Pack, as my 13 year old son grabs it and the double blade paddle and leaves my wife, daughter, and I far behind in our tandem.

This canoe is not sexy or impressive to look at, it is just fun to paddle and lightweight. Not perfect for everything or everyone, but it is still a 10.

Most of my activities are on bigger waters and I have found the Pack quite capable. I was in 1-2' waves yesterday and though busy maintaining control all went well.

I use my adjustable kayak paddle (BB Glide) set at 240cm. This works fine for kneeling but for sitting a 260 might be better. One of the reasons I went from a kayak back to a canoe was so I would have a choice in either sitting or kneeling.

I paddle my Pack backwards so to speak, bracing against the thwart and using the seat as a surface for my compass, camera, and other things. I contacted customer service to confirm the Pack was symmetrical, it is.
I really love the weight, or lack of it.

The Indian or North Woods Stroke allows one to paddle infinitely on one side or the other and works just fine for the Pack. Others have been critical of the Pack's tracking. I've found with a bit of heel to the side of the paddle the turning pressures are balanced out and the result is a nice, straight and surprisingly quiet glide. Very pleasant.

I'm 6'3" and 250# so to lower the center of mass I kneel to the turn of the bilge with my butt against the leading edge of a thwart which replaced the seat. I had a problem with lowering the seat. Size 13 feet make it hard to tuck my legs under so my solution was to replace the seat with second thwart mounted at the rear of the two seat attachments. For cushioning I use a foam gunwale support for cartopping and it is just enough to take the pressure off. A split, hollow core swimming noodle or neoprene pipe insulation would also work. In combination with the front thwart, the second thwart allows for two different paddling positions. If more weight is wanted forward, use the front thwart and paddle facing aft.

For double paddling, I have one of those camp chairs or stadium seats with a seat and attached back and sit on the bottom propped against the rear thwart which puts the center of weight in the same fore and aft position as the seat only much lower. I've been using an 8' double paddle and I agree a bit more length may be better. Initially I was concerned about elbows hitting on the gunwales, but this is not a problem - nice surprise.

I believe the designer chose dynamic over static stability. This will never be a boat where one stands up and admires the view, but once under way the tipsiness experienced while sitting still smooths out for a stable, smooth ride. It takes a while to learn the dressage of moving about or changing positions, but with a bit of perseverance this is accomplished.

Overall the Pack is a first rate boat. Low weight for portability, rugged/low maintenance materials and reasonable performance for a relatively short hull make this a winning design.

I bought the Pack for it's low weight, but agree that the seat could be more comfortable..... but I keep having the same thought: if comfort is your main goal, a recliner is your answer...

I took it for a spin this afternoon. (in spite of the rain) It is all that everyone says it is. It's super light, tracks a lil crazy and is "spirited" in stability. I love it and I can't wait to fish it in dozens or places, take it camping, you get the idea. It's a breeze to load onto my 4dr jeep by myself, I walked it into the woods about a 12 minute trip, stopping in between to switch shoulders. (pool noodle or some kind of foam is very nice to have for this)

I think it would be nice to lower the seat at least 2 inches for slightly better stability, though it's not really necessary. The minimalist seat gets a lil hard on the rump after a couple hours so I may do some tweaking here. Above all I want to keep her as light as possible.

I can clearly see where a double bladed paddle would be handy for covering a lot of water but for now I am going to buy a nice wooden 54" paddle and enjoy it for what it is. I used a heavy aluminum one today in the same size.
For reference, I am 6' tall and weigh about 210 pounds.

It's a great little canoe as long as you don't push it with a single blade. With a double blade, it easily handles wind and gets up to a good cruising speed very quickly. For the value and what it can do, it scores high. For finesse... not so much, but for what I use it for, the ease of handling, the gear hauling capability, the stability of the platform for various activities, this little gem can not be beat.

I'm thinking about adding some adjustable foot pegs to mine to lock myself in a little better when river running or digging in against the wind.

This a fabulous boat. No reason to duplicate all the kudos - maneuverable, light... it's a joy. Yes it's a bit tippy but you get used to it quickly. And yes tracking is a challenge. But thanks to reviews here I bought a long kayak paddle (I have a Wave from Cannon) and it makes paddling the Pack a joy. No more tracking troubles, light and easy paddling - I highly recommend trying a kayak paddle.

My first attempt to enter it found me sitting in the water beside my swamped canoe, but then again I am used to rafts. The other day I took it on a day float on the Platte river and although it seemed a bit wobbly (also I am a novice) I was very impressed with its maneuverability. Also with 2 bad knees and a frozen shoulder I still had no difficulties getting the Pack up a steep rocky river bank at the takeout.

Before my float today on the Missouri river I read the reviews here and found them extremely helpful. I fashioned a kayak paddle by joining 2 spare raft oars with a coupler, and was very impressed with the improved speed and tracking. However it just didn't feel right so I practiced my J-stroke with the beavertail paddle and that also improved the tracking.

I am sure that stability and trim will be improved when I pack it with a weeks worth of gear for an extended float trip, which I cannot wait to do in this gem of a canoe.

I have loaded my Pack with five days worth of provisions, including a reclining lawn chair, for a summer trip down the John Day River in Oregon. I alternated days in my Old Town Cayuga 14 kayak, and the Pack canoe is so much more fun and much easier on my legs than the Cayuga (also one of the best values on the market.)

The bottom line is this: for the price, you get a bomb-proof Royalex hull, an incredibly light 33 pound lift and a fun, responsive canoe that'll carry all you need for a week of calm water or class 11 to 111 touring, depending on your talent/experience. Beginners need to practice a bit. You should take the Pack out on your favorite pond or lake and learn it's limits. Tip it over, get wet, have some fun. Experiment with 240cm or longer kayak paddles. Quicker strokes equal better tracking on this short canoe.

If you can afford only one boat, this is worth considering. If you want another boat to add to your fleet, the Pack is a great value. You'll be using it more than you realize.

It is a great canoe to fish out of, and get you in and out of thin water, and tight spots. I am a big guy 6'2" and never felt crowded. Properly loaded and trimmed out the Pack is very maneuverable. One of the worst days of my life was the day I sold my Pack. But I can tell you the guy I sold it to was all smiles as he paddled up river.

I notice a few of the reviewers concerns about the boat not being stiff enough, as an old wood and canvas canoe owner and restorer, all I can say is that's the way a canoe should feel. A canoe should flex and glide through the water, not slam into it like the harder fiberglass, or aluminum boats.

I love this canoe. I've only had it out 5 times now for a couple of hours at a time, ...and only in fairly calm water, but I love it. It's easy to maneuver and I don't find it very tippy. I did lower the seat and got a sit backer chair though. The only thing I struggled with was when the wind would make it hard to go straight, but I learned to use the wind and zig zag to where I want to go. I'm really looking forward to a great summer learning to paddle and exploring new places in my Pack.