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 the goldie |
12' Aluminum Sportspal Canoe |
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Posts: 24 06/17/08 20:28:20 |
hey guys its goldie hear (max)
i am currently interested in buying a canoe that i can mange alone and can thrown on the top of a car. i found this 12' Aluminum Sportspal Canoe. what do you guys think is it manageable. MK |
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caddis4 |
#1 | ||||
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Posts: 44 06/18/08 04:15:02 |
Depends where you're gonna use it. You may find a 15 footer more stable and not difficult to handle alone. I used to own a 17' Grumman that was almost
impossible to capsize. Was able to car-top it alone - it's all about the "technique".
Lou |
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Flytackle |
#2 | ||||
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Posts: 1759 06/18/08 04:45:32
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I've known several sportsman that have used Sportspal canoes with great success. I like 'em. They are very light and perfect for stillwater
flyfishing. I wouldn't reccomend them for whitewater rivers, but for pond and small lake paddling and fishing they are great - very light, (the 12'
model weighs less than 40 lbs.) and very quiet; they are lined with a foam that keeps the clanging that is the bane of aluminum canoes at bay.
These canoes have been around since I was a boy, so you can occasionally find a good deal on a used one. Owners do tend to hold on to them though! The aluminum skin on these is much thinner than traditional aluminum canoes that rely on the hull for rigidity; (the Sportspal uses more aluminum ribs), so check any potentional used hulls for damage. They do not stand up to rocks like a Grumman, but the benefit in lightness, flotation and safety is great. Also note that the 12' model is NOT equipped with seats - you sit on a cushion on the floor or on a foam seat that Sportspal sells - you can just see the top of one in the pic above. If you want a canoe with seats I would reccomend the Old Town Stillwater at the same length, but 12 or 15 lbs. heavier. The Sportspal also does not have a carrying yoke, though it's light enough to carry by a gunnel for short distances. For longer portages I would equip it with a yoke. Alec
Last Edited By: Flytackle 06/18/08 04:50:07.
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JeffSod |
#3 | ||||
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Posts: 650 06/18/08 04:57:42 Registered Member |
I think Alec covered it all very well but I would like to stress the thinness of the aluminim on these. Most of the used ones I saw had repairs or leaked. The foam lining does make for a stealthy approach. |
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Flytackle |
#4 | ||||
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Posts: 1759 06/18/08 06:57:22
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Grumman also makes a nice 13'er for about the same money. Tough as nails and will last a lifetime. Alec
Grumman 13' Canoe
Last Edited By: Flytackle 06/19/08 05:05:56.
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JeffSod |
#5 | ||||
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Posts: 650 06/18/08 08:43:48 Registered Member |
This looks like a good deal if you could afford it- http://boston.craigslist.org/nos/boa/720819885.html |
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the goldie |
#6 | ||||
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Posts: 24 06/18/08 09:51:00 |
thanks a lot guy. i found a 11' sears on criagslist for about 200 dollars with a trolling motor paddles and seats. is that a good canoe? it is in good
condition. i also found a 12' sportspal for about 300 dollars that came with seats which i am also considering.
http://www.craigshelper.com/results.php?Region=na&statesel=23_42&citysel=23%2C-1_42%2C-1&statecodes=24_43&citycodes=-1_-1&catname=all+sale%2Fwanted&area=None+selected&majorsPrc=20&category=8&subcat1=ccc&subcat2=eee&subcat3=ggg&subcat4=hhh&subcat5=jjj&subcat6=ppp&subcat7=res&subcat8=sss&subcat9=bbb&minAsk4=min&maxAsk4=max&bedrooms=&minAsk6=min&maxAsk6=max&minAsk8=min&maxAsk8=max&addTwo8=&search_string=sportspal&keytype=all&search_string_neg=
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fllyfisher |
Sportpal | #7 | |||
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Posts: 12 06/18/08 15:35:39 Registered Member |
I own a 12' Radisson which I believe makes the Sportpal. Mine came with laced seats. They claim it is made with the same aluminum used in aircraft.
When I am alone I turn the canoe around, sitting in the bow seat facing the stern. and place my knees over the carry yoke. This way I am sitting more in the middle of the canoe. I do use an electric tolling motor on occasion. I had longer electric cables put on the motor so I could place the battery on the other end of the canoe for weight distribution. Easy vessel to car top. Glicky |
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the goldie |
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Posts: 24 06/18/08 17:02:49 |
thanks glicky. i think i am going to go with the 11' sports pal. however i am going to hold off on getting an eletric trolling motor.
max |
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Flytackle |
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Posts: 1759 06/19/08 07:42:09
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Max - What's the 11' model? I thought the smallest was 12'. Alec
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the goldie |
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Posts: 24 06/19/08 08:00:47 |
it might be the 12' i think i just wrote it wrong.
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fllyfisher |
Congrats. | #11 | |||
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Posts: 12 06/19/08 08:47:12 Registered Member |
Hi Max.
Enjoy your new ride. Glicky |
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spinzo |
#12 | ||||
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Posts: 1115 06/27/08 09:15:28
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Once you put a motor on it you've got to deal with the Commonwealth, so when you do get yourself a canoe, don't buy a motor unless you are certain you
need it. Paddling is good exercise, especially when combined with lifting weights over the gunwale!
See the Wanted to Sell/Buy page for more info on an electric... Mike |
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FlyCoach |
#13 | ||||
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Posts: 63 06/28/08 19:44:38 Registered Member |
Consider getting a double bladed paddle for covering longer distances. They are very efficient, fast, fun to paddle and good exercise. When you reach your
fishing destination, you can break it down and use half of it to propel the boat around while you are fishing. I used one with my canoe for years and loved
it.
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Wee Hooker |
#14 | ||||
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Posts: 404 08/04/08 13:11:02
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I had a Radison 12' double ender a few years back. ( near identical to the sports pal and they sued them to prove it!). I LOVED the weight, portability and
width/stability of the boat. I didn't like those cheap foam seats at all. I used to use a short legged beach chair for comfort but would get a real canoe
seat if ordering one. Tried mine with electric, paddle and rowing. Any method work OK but you need to trim the boat right with extra weight and/or
seat position or it wanders like a ping pong ball in a flushed toilet. My other dislike was the thinness /durability of the aluminum. (think beer can thick
over foam) . It wasn't a boat to be dragged down the beach or for ramming speed groundings. You should be able to find a nice used one for $350 or so. They
are fairly common in the want adds.
If your going to paddle, I also recommend the double paddle mentioned 9 a long one like 240cm is perfect) . works MUCH better to control this short, fat boat in wind and over distances. Having said all that, ( and realizing the lateness of this post) did you get one yet? If so, your thoughts? |
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Bluegiller.fiberglassflyro... |
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Posts: 1 08/06/08 13:42:59 |
I believe you should look at the Old Town "Pack" canoe before you buy any canoe in the 12-13 ft. range. I own and fish a 17ft. Grumman aluminum canoe
with what they called a 'whitewater shoe keel' in 1976 when I bought it , and a 'shallow draft' keel now. I want a 'Pack' as a solo fly
fishing canoe (still water, mostly, for Bass & Bream).
Last Edited By: Bluegiller 08/06/08 13:46:38.
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