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Canoe vs Kayak

Unless you are very familiar with a kayak, I would not recommend putting all your expensive hunting gear and possibly a deer in it, while paddling on cold water. I am very familiar with my kayak, hundreds of hours in it on cold and warm water. It's an 85lb 13' monster and I wouldnt be crazy about putting my bow and a deer in it on a river. A lake, I would be more comfortable, but if I was going to get into hunting out of a paddle craft, in my opinion, canoe all the way. They can handle so much more weight and stay balanced better than a kayak. A single person kayak is not designed to have another 100-200lbs in it and it could really throw your balance off, if you dump it on a river, you are in deep trouble. Cold water is no joke. Especially if you're freaking out about a bow and a deer you just lost. Wear your life jacket. I can't stress this enough if you do get into hunting out of a boat. With cold water, you won't doe of hypothermia, you will drown. After about 10 minutes you will lose the ability to move your muscles from cold, and if you dont have a life jacket on, you drown.

Not trying to be a downer, but I see a lot of guys trying to get into places using paddle craft. It's like saddle hunting, a lot can go wrong in a hurry, so please know what you're doing.
 
And handle better and carry a deer up front perfectly
Of course. However the idea of a cheap, durable 10-12 footer that weighs like 5 pounds and paddles like a dream is an awesome one, even if the reality is much different. Honestly everyone's gonna complain about what someone else's crap might do better whether it does or not.
 
The longer canoe just harder to portage by yourself....after unloading, a long paddle, hunting, long paddle, that 60 yard carry to the parking lot is not fun...

I bought 1 of those carry trolley things u strap to the bottom but haven't tried it yet....that may be the ticket if it isn't a pain in the butt
 
[QUOTE="Weldabeast, post: 453131, member: 7132"

I bought 1 of those carry trolley things u strap to the bottom but haven't tried it yet....that may be the ticket if it isn't a pain in the butt
[/QUOTE]

I too am curious about the trolley things
 
I used one once in the Adirondacks a few years back. Take a ratchet strap with you and not just a rope or a pull strap. they loosen a bit and come off easily until they "seat" themselves in the correct spot. past that if the canoe isn't loaded to the hilt it makes it easier for sure. With a deer in it or loaded with equipment that may be a different situation.
 
this debate goes on for reasons I can't understand.

It is canoe all the way.
  1. Holds more weight
  2. weight is at the waterline, not above, so they are way more stable.
  3. more space for all your other gear
  4. lighter - you can easily carry it by yourself
  5. cheaper (lots of used canoes out there, and you don't need anything fancy)
  6. you can get laid in a canoe, not possible in a kayak...

this is from yesterday. You would never get that all into a kayak - period.

1603904069596.png
 
this debate goes on for reasons I can't understand.

It is canoe all the way.
  1. Holds more weight
  2. weight is at the waterline, not above, so they are way more stable.
  3. more space for all your other gear
  4. lighter - you can easily carry it by yourself
  5. cheaper (lots of used canoes out there, and you don't need anything fancy)
  6. you can get laid in a canoe, not possible in a kayak...
6. You speaking from experience? If so, then that's impressive.
 
this debate goes on for reasons I can't understand.

It is canoe all the way.
  1. Holds more weight
  2. weight is at the waterline, not above, so they are way more stable.
  3. more space for all your other gear
  4. lighter - you can easily carry it by yourself
  5. cheaper (lots of used canoes out there, and you don't need anything fancy)
  6. you can get laid in a canoe, not possible in a kayak...

this is from yesterday. You would never get that all into a kayak - period.

View attachment 38136
The debate happens because there's been a big kayak fishing craze the last few years and people have thousands in there yak and need something to do with it in the winter.
 
I have a Old Town Guide (14 footer) canoe and love it. I take it duck hunting and can pack it full to the brim with stuff along w/ my dog. A kayak seems so limited in terms of space. I would also echo the longer canoes are better.
 
I have a few 10&1/2 ft kayaks. 350lb capacity. Let me tell you that number is very optimized. More like impossible unless you don’t mind being 2 inches from the water. I’m a small guy 130lbs and with me, gear, and eve a quartered and deboned deer I wasn’t comfortable and found a deal on a 12 ft canoe. I can’t give you any experienced account but I’m more excited about it after this thread. I love the kayaks but for putting stuff in it I’d say canoe.

The kayak is an SUV and the canoe is a truck. Sometimes you just need a truck.
 
If you can find one used....gheenoe. I love small boats and the gheenoe does everything a canoe does but more stable. Just a touch heavier, but you can stand in it without being a gymnast.
 
If you can find one used....gheenoe. I love small boats and the gheenoe does everything a canoe does but more stable. Just a touch heavier, but you can stand in it without being a gymnast.
Plus they only cost 5 times as much haha. They look cool but too expensive imo.
 
One of my hunting buddies found a 13' version for cheap. We spent an afternoon doing some fiberglass work and it's pretty nice. Shorter, but wider transom. Hard to find the 13's.
 
Canoe for sure. Light and easy to drag, holds a lot of gear and dead deer, can throw a trolling motor on if you like.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
 
Canoe for sure. Light and easy to drag, holds a lot of gear and dead deer, can throw a trolling motor on if you like.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
Agreed I have trolling motor on mine and it's great. Hauls 2 people, plus are equipment just fine. Can't wait to find out how it handles all that gear, plus 2 people and a monster buck!
 
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