- Home
- Gear & Reviews
- Mansfield
Mansfield
Mansfield Description
The Mansfield is a canoe brought to you by Stowe Canoe Co.. Read Mansfield 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!
Stowe Canoe Co.
Mansfield Reviews
Read reviews for the Mansfield by Stowe Canoe Co. 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!
I picked up a used and very…
I picked up a used and very tired 13 foot Mansfield canoe about 30 years ago. I replaced the oak gunnel rails,
added new deck pieces for and aft and was able to salvage the bow deck piece with original Stow Canoe Co, logo.
Added a new coat of green paint and varnished the interior floor and visible ribs. Added new custom printed: The Mansfield
decals. She is a head turner when out in public! The 39" width makes it a very stable and smooth tracking canoe for solo or dual paddlers.
I have been using a 13 ft…
I have owned a 13' Mansfied…
I'm a serious fly fisherman and the Mansfield is light enough to hump into backwoods ponds and lakes, stable enough to stand up while casting, and very easy to paddle reasonable distances. I rigged a drag line off the stern to drag a chain, so it behaves like a river boat on trout rivers (the built-in keel acts like a hard chine against the current) when poled. Then, I rigged a small electric motor to an outrigger mount, and it STEPS OUT for traveling longer distances on lakes. With PVC rod holders under the thwart & seats -- and a cooler of cold beer, you couldn't ask for anything better.
My only complaint is that the gel coat has flaked off in several places on the hull, which I patch every few years with epoxy glue. It looks tacky, but only shows when the canoe is upside down.
13' osprey model. Restored all the wood but the ribs. Great for…
Restored all the wood but the ribs. Great for fly fishing and getting back to where the larger canoes have trouble. I think this canoe is magic! I have only been skunked a couple of times out of plenty of fishing trips. If you want to catch fish get one of these.
After seeing my first…
I've owned 9 canoes ( and still own 5 including a 14' cedar stripper) but the Mansfield fits my needs/wants/likes perfectly. Under 60# for car topping, stable as a jon boat, yet paddles smoother and faster than a boat this wide (39") has a right to. Flat water tracking is great due to the keel and low/wind bucking stems, yet manuverability is fine for even tight creeks. As for appearence, I can't take it out without it drawing comments and attention.( Even when it's just on the truck!) My ONLY (minor) grip about this boat is that the hull is thin enough so that the flat bottom does "oil can" inward when loaded. Still , it's not a whitewater boat and it doesn't seem to rob any noticable hull speed. The fact that I now routinely find unpatched 20 yr old + Mansfields around , tells me that hull durability is not a big issue.
FWIW, I've been so impressed with the beauty and function of My 15' Mansfield , that I now have a another 78' vinage (17', 37' beam, green) sitting in the yard waiting for replacement wales and coat of paint this winter. All , I need now is to find one of the 13' models and even my cedar stripper may become lonesome.
I rate it a 9 only becasue I have owned enough boats to know that no single one is perfect for all tasks. This one however is an 11 for my casual stillwater flyfishing trips where stability, room for 2 men with gear and a view of a georgous/classic hull from the stern seat is 'needed". If you have similar needs, hunt up a used mansfield and enjoy! Life is too short for ugly canoes!
I've had the 15' Mansfield…
My Mansfield is an 11 foot…
I've had the Mansfield for at…
13' Mansfield purchased in…
I still have a Mansfield by…
I have had to replace some of the wood over the years because it remained outside for some long periods. Don't know if you can still buy them but I would highly recommend this canoe for the fisherman.