wrt Ally Pakboats and duckies, I've had extensive experience in both and
find Allys a far more enjoyable craft. Myron, as a canoer, I think you'd
also find the Ally more satisfying.
The Ally is far more canoe-like; dryer, easier to pack (much more room),
easier to tie things in, easier to paddle like a canoe as you're sitting
upright with a single blade, vs sitting much lower with a double-blade
paddle. Allys are a much better tandem than solo boat, though going solo
from the rear is so much like the same in a canoe.

Duckies shine over Allys in one major situation: big, crashing, class III or
higher ww; they don't sink and they stay in one piece. But they don't
sidesurf, keep you up out of the water, track worth a ****, or glide like a
canoe. And they are butt-ugly!

The downside of an Ally? Expense; once you blow a ww run, you may find some
pieces missing; if not packed right, they hog and are therefore less
efficient; you really need to tywrap the joints to keep its shape over a
week or more trip; they take longer to assemble than an IK.

I'd suggest you paddle an Ally, fully loaded, before you buy a duckie.

Just my $ .02.


"riverman" wrote in message
...

"Larry Cable" wrote in message
...
Or even a folding canoe?

I've tried a couple of the inflatable canoes on the US market, the Soar
16' and
the
Aire Traveller. I liked the Traveller better and it felt like you could
really
put a load on it for an extended trip. Personally, I like double blades
better
and will stick to IK's and regular kayaks.

Ally's folding canoe always gets good reviews. It looks and supposedly
handles
just like a regular canoe.

Both Innova and Grabner also make inflatable canoes also,

I can get my Force XL, a 4pcs paddle, helmet, pump, repair kit and a PFD
in a
large duffle with a total weight of under 60 lbs. Becoming an Airhead
might
solve
you water adventure problems.

Both good thoughts, although my experience with inflatables (duckies) are
that they aren't really hard enough in the chine to feel like a canoe
while
carving eddy turns. A grand canyon friend was aftermarketing some SOTAR
inflatables by putting 4" ethafoam floors in them that fit VERY snugly,
and
that stiffened them up enough to hold a cooler and ammocan for selfsupport
trips, but they still didn't feel like a canoe to me.

Ally's folding boats, OTOH, have always held a fascination for me. I'm
reluctant to buy one without a testdrive, but in the upcoming year off I'm
taking, I completely plan on tracking one down to see how it is. If I like
it, I'll definately get one. I saw a video on their website of one running
part of a class 2-3 rock garden, and it looked quite solid and durable.

Do I need to learn more about inflatables? You're right about solving the
adventure problems, though... :-(

--riverman