Many moons ago the Natives made & used canoes rather than boats, assuming we are not going to motorize either one , what are the pros & cons ?

canoe is fast and easy to move

boat is awkward and difficult to move

anybody got a square stern aluminum they want to sell cheap?

No motor, go with the canoe. You'll never get anywhere in a boat. Ok, you'll get somewhere....but not nearly as fast.

canoe goes in shallower water easier to drag over logs and sandbars. A fully loaded canoe is not nearly as tippy as people think.

Big water-You nead a big boat

And PFD's

Anyone owned a Scotts canoe square stern in the 12 ft version ? I,d be interested to hear your pro,s and cons.

i've got a 10' sit-inside kayak that i'm thinking of trading to a friend at work for the 15' fiberglass square-stern canoe he has. it doesn't leak right now but could use a little fiberglass-reinforcement to ensure no future problems. he tried my 'yak out the other day while i tried his canoe. i was amazed at how fast and mobile it was with just me in it. i could easily stand up and move around. i'm thinking that i'm getting a heck of a deal as he said he'll trade me the canoe and money to patch it for the yak, which i rarely use anymore. yay me, a perfect trapping vehicle!

Rp sounds like you got a heck of deal going there....Tom

I have a 15' coleman that I used for years then I upgraded to a bigger canoe. I need to patch a leak also, but I have a few lakes that are walk in that I can hide it out at for a couple of weeks.

RP that is a good deal!!! 36+ lb trolling motor on the side and away you go.

thank you all for your input.

Check this one out. I located this site and am interested. Anyone try one of these?
http://www.pirogue.com/copper.htm

I've been canoeing since I was 12 years old, so a tad bit of experience.

Canoe pros:

1. More portable . You can load it on the back of a truck or car with a rack and go to many locations.

2. Can access remote areas. The shallow draft in most canoes allows you to access some tight areas.

3. Lightwieght, sort of . One man can handle a canoe when transporting, etc.

Canoe Cons:

1. Less stable than a boat. There is no doubt that a canoe can be less stable.

2. Handling requires some experience and a certain amount of decorum when moving. You can't wiggle and wobble all over the place. Movement requires some sort of thought in a canoe otherwise you can go for a swim.

ive got both but like the canoe the best, we have scuddeled some elk out with the canoe that would have taken days other wise, i usd to have a side mount motor bracket but cant remember much good about it. anybody ever have a canvas covered one ?

i havnt tried paddeling from the bow seat turned around the other way as some suggest if you are alone, is this really helpful ?

Depends on the canoe your in. There are as many different styles of canoe as there are other boats. You can get a pure solo canoe where there is only one seat. Even in a solo canoe you can get ones designed for whitewater, flat water, tripping and even small pack boats.
Turning one around and paddling from the bow seat is usually done in a tandem boat, but here again there are many different styles. Some are intended from the get to be done that way others are designed as tandem only.
Do some study on this as I could go on and on about rocker, round bottom vs flat, keel or no keel, symetrical or not, ad infinitum.

Still curious anyone use a pirogue?

Thanks your comments are helpful !

No motor I prefer a canoe much easier to handle.

One thing about a canoe You can't climb over the side. At least I can't and I only weight a buck and 3/4.