RR14

I live in Central Florida and load it half on my truck roof and over the tailgate by myself. Glides effortlessly. It's not to heavy at all, can't understand the other comments about a weight issue. Deep V is a little wobbly but I'm getting used to it. Great product!

I had bought two of these canoes , I have to admit they are very durable, but a slow canoe, it's like paddling a bath tub. So I ended up selling them.. It is very stable thou..

I recently purchased this canoe to introduce my 4 year old son to canoeing. He's very restless and curious so I needed something stable. The first time out on the water he hung over the sides and occasionally stood up. We never came close to dumping. For its size, it is very maneuverable and not too slow.

A couple of things to keep in mind: It is very wide (it doesn't fit snugly onto my standard roof rack--Jeep Grand Cherokee) and the weight can be a challenge. Unless you are fairly strong or have experience lifting canoes it will be difficult for one person to lift on top of a vehicle. If you're looking for a good canoe that is very stable, this is a good choice for the money (under $400 new). If stability is less of an issue go for something thinner and lighter.

Love this canoe. I have had it for close to four years. Best $400 I have spent on recreation. I like to canoe in creeks, where maneuvering is important, and the water is often shallow. While other beginners are dumping, I just keep going. If I am with a group and alone in my canoe, I almost always get a "rider" who is tired of falling out of their own canoe. I have children, and they can swing their fishing poles left and right, lean and look over the sides, without tipping the canoe. The weight capacity is great, I often carry gear for others (who tend to go in the drink). Now, for the negatives. After the hard seasons of hitting rocks and scraping bottom, the hull is thin where the front and rear seat bears against the hull at centerline. This has left a thin quarter size area that needs to be patched. If the seat had more bearing surface for the weight of the paddler, this would not be a problem. The seats are bolted in with stainless steel hardware with lockwashers and regular nuts. You will have to carry a screw driver and pliers with you, or do as I did, replace the nuts with the nylon locking style and be done with it. The cooler isn't insulated too well, so I use the space for storage and haul my own cooler. Don't trust the dry storage compartment to keep perfectly dry, put your valuables in a zip lock bag inside of it. Yes, it's heavy, but very durable. On open water in a cross or a head wind, you will be wishing for a canoe with more straight line stability. I would recommend this canoe to my friends, and would buy it again.

My review is based on the model that does not have a third seat and cooler, but a wood yoke and stability bar on the bottom. I had previously seen the three seat model and thought that this canoe would be comparable, but for a budget $350 brand new, I was mistaken. The polyethylene plastic is very thin and the boat is put together with wood screws. It creeks when you lift it. The stability bar results in a keel on the bottom that will hit every rock on the river and wear out quickly. Don't buy this boat unless you only intend to take it on a small pond or lake, and you don't mind buying another one in 5 years or less.

My wife and I have had ours for more than 6 years and use it almost exclusively on whitewater (up to low class III). We have made at least 25 whitewater trips with it. While it is slow and not tremendously maneuverable, it makes up for it in stability and durability. We have scraped and even directly hit literally thousands of rocks and have no gashes deeper than 1/16th of an inch. It is heavy and hauling it up a hill can be very hard, but we love it. The price is great and, if our first 6 years experience continues, we will have it for many years to come not matter how many rocks we hit.

Outstanding little canoe!

This boat is short and portly making it very stable & maneaverable in tight backwater creeks. It is well equipt with center seat cooler, dry storage chamber, cup & paddle holders and bow and stearn lanyard rings. I have added quick release fishing rod holders and a small anchor to complete the package. I've been out in it with three pre-teen girls (my daughter and two neices) and even with their hopping around the boat and hanging arms & legs over the sides they could not capsize or sink it. The biggest down side to this craft is it's weight. At about 90# it is not easy for me to portage or get onto the roof of a car. An older person or small woman may find the task impossible to accomplish alone. I use a canoe dolly if I need to portage mine any distance. Don't be in any hurry with this boat either. The wide beam which makes this baby so stable also makes it plow threw the water like a bardge.

Summary: Not the best solo or tripper canoe but if you are looking for a family recreation boat or backwater fishing/birding platform it would be dificult to find a better deal.

It looks like I am the only person to post here that uses these in a commercial setting. I run a canoe based guide service in TX and use 2 of these quite often on very rocky and shallow rivers. The upside is that they are very stable and can hold 3 people on flat water. I do alot of standing, while looking for fish in clear water and they are perfect for it.They will hold an amzing amount of gear, but when loaded down it is a barge to paddle. I use a double bladed kayak paddle to push mine with and it helps alot over the singles. Downside is the obvious weight issue that could be solved with rattan seats and removal of the center console. The seats are a detriment to the entire rig; in that the peg leg that supports the seat creates a rub point on the bottom of the hull. It will be the first place a hole will develop, but I must admit it took a long time to rub all the way through. The front seat is too far forward and it restricts footroom for the front passenger. These are good, cheap canoes that can really take a beating, but if you need a sleak boat for one person keep looking.

Have had mine for a few months now. First canoe for me, but I sure do like it. I've mounted a trolling motor on it and that is really nice when it comes to fishing. Very stable, love the middle console for dry storage and drinks. Yes, it is heavy and that would be its ONLY down fall. My son and I really enjoy going out on it. I give it a thumbs up!

I also "shopped" around a lot and bought the RR 14. It's GREAT!. It's my first (and hopefully last) canoe. I car top it easily using a hitch mounted swivel rack to hold one end while I load it on top of my car. I also am 59 years old but can handle it ok alone. I use mine for fishing,etc and just love it. The paddle holders are really fishing rod holders!

Received this as a Fathers Day gift in 2002. Great canoe - heavy but not as heavy as others. Not for whitewater but excellent in rivers, even with rocks. Material holds up well and seems impervious. Good buy.