Lightweight WFV

S

Spectre

Staff Alumnus
I will be looking for a small boat for when I move next year to Alaska. The vessel must be small and light enough that I can move it by hand away from the tides, which tend to be very high. It must also be light enough for me to paddle by myself, while still carrying 900 lbs.

So...

Canoe or kayak? Are there any kayaks that will carry this type of payload, yet still run under $1000 new (and be light enough to drag away from the tide)?

If canoe, fiberglass or aluminum?

Of course, ease of handling, stability, and even a flat stern are all positives.

Suggestions?
 
I went through the same decision-making process a year ago--I mean on craft selection, not moving to Alaska.

I don't think you can find a kayak that'll hold 900lbs., but there are lots of canoes that will.

Most canoes these days are neither aluminum nor fiberglass. They are Kelvlar or some special recipe of PVC or some combination of those two. Good stuff, actually.

You'll find that you will trade off ease of paddling for stability. If you want something really stable, it won't paddle as efficiently and something you can't stand up in.

For $1k, though, you should be able to get something that meets all your requirements, except maybe standing up. But then, for an additional $100 you can get some "pontoons" for it that will give you that kind of stability and not slow you down much.

There are several models by Old Town that run $750-$1000 that hold 900 lbs. plus, and weigh 65-85 lbs. The model I have cost $500, holds 900 lbs and weighs 75lb. I can get on and off the top of the car, by myself, in about 5 minutes (includes all tie-downs). Not the easiest thing in the world, but I do it regularly so it can't be too bad. Its real easy with two people.
 
I have the feeling that whatever I get will be dragged across rocks with some regularity. Any idea how well this "other stuff" will hold up?
 
New canoe composites hold up very well to grounding. Mine has been grounded quite a bit...you can see the marks, but no real damage. The stuff is pretty hard.

One of the most-publicized demonstrations of the new canoe materials was when Old Town threw one of their upper-end models off the roof of their 3-story factory. It survived the fall and was usable.

A buddy of mine backed his pickup into his (also an Old Town). Didn't run over it, but put a nice dent in it. The brochure says to leave it in the sun and the dent will return to its original shape. It worked.

So I think the stuff is as durable as aluminum and fiberglass. Its main advantage over fiberglass is weight.

Check out these web sites. Old Town's site has a section on "Construction" that I think you'll find interesting.

http://www.oldtowncanoe.com/

http://www.madrivercanoe.com/
 
We took a couple of scrapes and hits in our Dagger canoe last year. Nothing that damaged the integrity. It held up very well despite our inexperience. http://www.dagger.com/

We are fixing these by putting on Kevlar skid plates on the front and back. I would recommend getting a patch kit to take with you as well.

Also, have you looked at magazines like Backwoods Home Magazine. Lot's of good information there about wilderness living.

http://www.backwoodshome.com/index.html

Not knowing where you're going in AK, city, country or wilderness, can make all the difference in the world about how you prepare.
 
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