canoe

 >David asked:

 >I am in the market shopping for a canoe. I don't know if I should buy a
 >aluminum one or a royalex one.

Aluminum:
Advantages: can usually find a used one fairly cheaply
Keel makes them track fairly straight
Are practically indestructible

Disadvantages:
Heavy
Keel makes them somewhat harder to turn
Keel can get hung up on rocks in a shallow river
Noisy
Aluminum transfers cold from water
Did I mention heavy?

ABS
Advantages:
Somewhat lighter
Quieter
Fairly rugged
Maneuvers more easily
Surface is easier to kneel on

Disadvantages
More expensive
Doesn't wear as well as aluminum
More difficult to keep on a straight line
Hull subject to dings from rocks (although MUCH more sturdy than fiberglass)

I personally prefer ABS but If I were in the market for an aluminum boat , I
would look for a used Grummen (sp). They are fairly common and are pretty
bulletproof.

HTH

Mike<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: canoe 

Mtkkburk wrote:

 >Disadvantages:
 >Heavy
 >Keel makes them somewhat harder to turn
 >Keel can get hung up on rocks in a shallow river
 >Noisy
 >Aluminum transfers cold from water
 >Did I mention heavy?
 >
 >
 >
Add also that any portion of the aluminum hull will tend to stick like
glue to any rock, regardless of how you come into contact with it. A
trip down a bony river can become a series of body-wrenching jerking
halts, many of them difficult to free up - except the ones where you
have a sudden and unwanted turn with possible safety issues if the
current is stronger than your paddling/poling.

ABS or Royalex are my preferred materials, mostly for the reasons others
here have stated.

Did anyone mention aluminum is *very* noisy in any sort of chop? For
fishing &/or wildlife viewing, this is a heavy disadvantage.

It's been my experience that the assistance in tracking from a keel is
far outweighed by the increased difficulty in maneuvering, especially
moving water, as well as increased draft in shallower places, especially
bony places. (I've owned keels & keelless; I'll never have another keel.)

Yours in the north Maine woods,
Pete Hilton (Reg. Me. Guide) aka The Ent

--
If the assumptions are wrong, the
conclusions aren't likely to be very good.
    R. E. Machol<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: canoe 

 >I don't know if I should buy a
 >aluminum one or a royalex one.

In additon to the good advice preceding this, note:

1. Keels reduce the degree to which a canoe sideslips in a wind. They also keep
you from sideslipping on purpose in a current.

2. ABS eventually degrades if exposed too long to UV. Aluminum canoes will
thus last longer if you store them in the open sun.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: canoe