Re: [Paddlewise] Boat for family of 4?

Windwalker wrote:
 > Well this is interesting.
 > But Id go for a freight canoe, wide beam.
 > Thus giving the room for 4 plus gear.

Depending on what you meanby a freight canoe, this could be a very
awkward boat to use.  OK if you want a boat and carry a *lot* of stuff,
and can carry it from garage to car and car to water.  Forget the
portage, just stay in motorboat land.

 > A standard canoe will not handle the needed demands
 > placed upon it for 4 people.

Quoi?  Seriously...most well-designed 16-ft canoes can carry a couple of
kids and a day-trip worth of gear without any concern.  Some folks can
take a weekend trip with two small children in such a boat.

We have found that a big 17-ft canoe like an OldTown Tripper handles 4
plus reasonable gear for a weekend trip with 2 pre-teens, gets crowded
by the time the older kids hit 11 or 12.  It depends on how much you
pack.  My family leaves the kitchen sink at home, but sometimes take the
two-burner stove.  (And sometimes we tow a kayak, so we can take
*everything* we might need.)

 >  Kayaks are out as well as most wide beam ones.
 > With a 3 and 6 years old, one needs a stable platform.

They learn (!) and stability lies in the paddle and in knowing when not
to go out with kids.

 > Not counting all the gear one is expected to take.
 > For familys of this size tht insist on one boat here at the livery

You sound like the livery I went to once where they had 65# Royalite
canoe for people staying on the big lake, and 86# Crosslink canoes for
those wanting to portage into the backcountry.  Sheesh!  (I did not rent
from them.)

 > We give them a 20 ft Micmac freight.

Talk about a bear to carry!  This must be a real grizzly bear to portage.

 > Small kids and normal canoes just dont work.

 > 3 people is all we let in any of out boats rented out.
 > If heavy gear load, then they have to adjust or get extra canoe
 > or take a Yak along.

I do not know your location, but I have to say that this sounds like you
are not only letting liability fears wag the dog, but you are padding
the bill.  Most 17-18 ft canoes have a designed load range of about 200
pounds, from maybe 450-500 up to 650-700 pounds, with a 1000-1200
maximum at deep load.  A family of parents (350 pounds) and kids (35
(age 5-6) + 65 (age 7-9)) just barely gets into the designed load range.

 > If the family of 4 wants only ONE boat.
 > Id say it be a larger Canoe, square stern that a 2 hp motor can be 
added if
 > need be. Also can take a leeboard set up and sail rig.

This is not normal canoe usage, with few paddlers able to handle a sail
rig and not many more into motors.

I personally have an OldTown Tripper, and a Swift Winisk.  The latter
has a bit smaller load, but is a good boat for family tripping.  It is
light enough to carry.

Recomendations for the original query?  What is available where they
live?  How much do they want to spend?  Does it matter if they can
portage more than 100 metres?  Skill level of the parents?

About the only thing I agree with in Windwalker's remarks is that a
kayak is not generally very useful for such a family.

GaryJ
-- 
Director, Family Canoeing Centre
Recreational canoeing courses for the whole family.

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-- 
Director, Family Canoeing Centre
Recreational canoeing courses for the whole family.

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