Let's talk canoes

[DarrinG]

You can see from the photos above how the oak board for the New seat was configured, and if you look at photos of a stock 119, you'll notice the wider width and flatter bottom the modifications make. I got other pic a of the anchor system as well if anyone is interested.

[bswear]

That's a cool mod

[tomsm44]

That's a cool mod Darrin.  Where did you get the brackets for the seat attachment?  If it stabilizes the canoe as much as you say, that may put that one back on my list of options.  I definitely like the price.

[DarrinG]

Matt, the brackets are the stock ones that came with the original seat. If you look closely, you'll see that I placed 1" PVC "spacers" between the board and the brackets. I cut a couple different length spacers and took the boat to the pond to see just how low or high I wanted the seat. Lower is usually better (stable), but with the hull mods, I was able to remove the spacers all together and bring the seat up higher and still have good stability. And that helps ALOT on your lower back and knees when youre fishing out of the boat all day!

[Brock]

I just sold a Bell Northwind which was great for tripping, camping, hunting on both rivers and lakes.  Held lot of weight but I could also paddle it solo.  I bought it from a local paddle sport rental shop in Upstate...they typically have a sale every year on rentals.  This was one someobody bought and then brought back 3 months later and traded for a different model.  I got it for right about $1000 if I remember right...  You can find some good deals if you call the white water and rental shops in state or region...makes it worthwhile to make the drive many times.
Also, check out Holy Cow Canoe....they follow the tried and true trapper style that is very versatile...and also have factory blems at a much reduced price too.

[Tradesmen4]

Darrin thanks for mods on the 119. I changed mine in about an hour. 73.00 dollar improve. Now I can get rid of the stabilizer. My spread was close to 3" in the middle. I used one 1x12x 48 oak stair tread and two oak hand rails from home depo.  Thanks again Greg

[Mark Normand]

Boats and tradbows, they just go together!

Built a bunch of these 12-14ft pirogues over some years. Great for knocking around backwaters and such.

 

One day I want to build a small stripper canoe, done these two yaks some years ago too.

     

Right now my go-to is a Native Watercraft Ultimate 12... pretty easy all around. Paddles much faster than my pirogues too. Best seat in the biz too.

   

[tomsm44]

Ok, I see the brackets on the unmodified pictures now.  

Thanks again to everybody for the input.  Lots of good information has been shared, even if there are some differences of opinions.

[tecum-tha]

Probably out of your price range...
 

[Steve H.]

Several Alaskan black bears got hauled downstream with this canoe one week a couple years back.  That is the Great Xerxes AKA Matt Schuster up front.

This is no place for a flat bottom canoe.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqvSOtgg6no&list=RDYqvSOtgg6no#t=40