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My Royalex 14'10" Pathfinder has been part of our family for about 25 years. Bought used from a livery during an end-of-season clearance. Over the decades I have added one coat of paint, filled some scratches and reinforced the stems with Old Town's Kevlar skid plates, painted green to match. I've replaced old cane seats with new, sanded and varnished thwarts and trim, and attached a foam carrying yoke. 1-2 times a year it gets a good scrubbing and coat of protectant.

What a workhorse it has been! Not great secondary stability for much whitewater, but it has suited our family fine as long as we pay attention to inherent limitations. It's been dragged over beaver dams, paddled on high mountain ponds and lakes while deer hunting and fishing, in tidal canals and coastal rivers, class 1-2 whitewater and held mountains of gear paddling solo and checking trap lines and waterfowl during most of my game warden career.

At 64 I can still hoist it overhead and enjoy paddling with grandkids and my wife. More than one of our 43 anniversary dates has included at least a few hours of relaxation in this canoe. As with any piece of equipment, take care of it and there's no reason it won't be a hand-me-down to the next generation of paddlers!