Rockport

I bought my Old Town "Rockport" 14' canoe used from Craigslist for $300. It was very wide so it was well suited for fishing and hauling camping gear. We mainly used it in slow flowing rivers and sloughs where there were no rapids and the wind wasn't much of a factor. The ride was stable and I stood to fish much of the time. For the most part, I fish solo from a kayak, but my girlfriend always liked to take the canoe because we could sit together or facing each other, or have me paddle so she could fish. The seats are plastic and there's a small compartment and drink holders in the center seat. They're not the most comfortable but not as bad as an aluminum bench in the sun. The plastic of the hull seemed a bit thin. It would warp in the sun if I tightened it too tight on my truck. The main complaint I had with this boat was that it seemed to be made entirely of plastic. I felt apprehensive about strapping the canoe to the top of my SUV because the points were all just thin plastic. It would buckle if I pulled the straps too tight and I knew it would break under any real strain. However, it did hold up as long as I had it. Sadly, earlier this spring, it was stolen from my house, so I never really got to put it through it's paces. What kind of jerk steals a canoe, really!? I would recommend for a starter canoe if you're mainly doing slow moving water and the price is right for a used one. If your going to get serious, shell out the bigger bucks for a better canoe.