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#1
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Watson Canoes?
Hello all
Done a few searches, can't seem to find much on these guys. I'm in the market for a new/used canoe. I've been paddling increasingly over the past couple years and would like to get one for this year. I'm not looking at spending alot of money initially, and I will be renting the canoes before I actually buy one. I'll be heading up to Swift in Muskoka over the next week to see what they have. Budget is realistically around $1000 (Canadian), so that pretty much means used/demo/rental from Swift. I just found Watson canoes (www.watsoncanoes.com), and seeing as they are about 20 minutes from here, I was going to go check them out. They say the boats are hand-laid fiberglass, and the 16' Prospector is 58lbs, which seems manageable. Anyone know anything about these guys? Any assistance appreciated, Thanks Brian |
#2
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Watson Canoes?
On 18-Apr-2004, John Smith wrote:
I just found Watson canoes (www.watsoncanoes.com), and seeing as they are about 20 minutes from here, I was going to go check them out. They say the boats are hand-laid fiberglass, and the 16' Prospector is 58lbs, which seems manageable. I have no experience with Watson, but a 58lb fiberglass canoe in a hand layup at C$800 sounds like a poor quality canoe. There's no way that you can get an efficient hand layup in that price range (compared to vacuum bagging), so its weight must mean a light layup. Besides, anyone that calls a canoe with a plumb stem a Prospector can't possibly know anything useful about canoes. Swift makes good canoes and you'd be better off with a used Swift than an unknown. Mike |
#3
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Watson Canoes?
Michael Daly wrote:
I have no experience with Watson, but a 58lb fiberglass canoe in a hand layup at C$800 sounds like a poor quality canoe. There's no way that you can get an efficient hand layup in that price range (compared to vacuum bagging), so its weight must mean a light layup. Besides, anyone that calls a canoe with a plumb stem a Prospector can't possibly know anything useful about canoes. Swift makes good canoes and you'd be better off with a used Swift than an unknown. Mike Fair enough... So, it seems that I would be looking at either an Algonquin 15 or 16, or perhaps a Mattawa, if I were to get a Swift. The Mattawa looks to be a better canoe, I will have to try one. They will be in Guelph, Ontario next weekend, which is about 1 hours drive from where I am. Any comments on either of the above? Thanks |
#4
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Watson Canoes?
On 18-Apr-2004, John Smith wrote:
So, it seems that I would be looking at either an Algonquin 15 or 16, or perhaps a Mattawa, if I were to get a Swift. The Mattawa looks to be a better canoe, I will have to try one. I haven't paddled a Mattawa, but I did paddle an Algonquin 17 for a weekend once. I didn't realize that the A-17 was not considered a "serious" canoe - its marketed as a high-end family or good recreational canoe. I found it handled quite well and had decent speed. I would have rated as good or better than many other companies' high-end tripper canoes! I can't say much about the 15 or 16 foot versions other than to suggest that if they're comparable to the 17, they're good enough for most paddlers. If I had to buy a lake tripper tomorrow, I'd get the Swift Kippawa. If there's one available, give it a look. They will be in Guelph, Ontario next weekend, which is about 1 hours drive from where I am. I bought my last boat - a Boreal Designs Ellesmere sea kayak from Swift at Guelph two years ago. If you're lucky, you;ll find a deal like I did. Mike |
#5
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Watson Canoes?
Michael Daly wrote:
I haven't paddled a Mattawa, but I did paddle an Algonquin 17 for a weekend once. I didn't realize that the A-17 was not considered a "serious" canoe - its marketed as a high-end family or good recreational canoe. I found it handled quite well and had decent speed. I would have rated as good or better than many other companies' high-end tripper canoes! I can't say much about the 15 or 16 foot versions other than to suggest that if they're comparable to the 17, they're good enough for most paddlers. If I had to buy a lake tripper tomorrow, I'd get the Swift Kippawa. If there's one available, give it a look. I bought my last boat - a Boreal Designs Ellesmere sea kayak from Swift at Guelph two years ago. If you're lucky, you;ll find a deal like I did. Mike Thanks again. I've been trying to keep it to 15' or 16'. While the wife enjoys canoeing, I do see myself going solo from time to time (or maybe more). To be honest, I haven't done extensive solo in any canoe recently, but I figure that a 17' (or more) may be a handful at time, at least more so than a shorter canoe. I could be way off on that last point. I'll be doing lake paddling most of the time, doing rivers/creeks to get to the next lake, but I don't see any whitewater in the foreseeable future. We do camping, but have found we can fit all our gear into a 15' comfortably. I will be fishing extensively from this canoe. My main canoeing experience from the past few years is using three different canoes. One is at the wife's family cottage. This is a green plastic 17' Coleman with round metal tubes bracing the inside. I find it heavy and the most difficult to paddle. I took it out two weekends ago for my first paddle (only choice). I find it generally barge-like. The other two are at my cousins cottage, which we frequently visit in the summer. They have a 16 or 17', not sure of the material. It's red and plasticy, sort of like the Coleman, but stiffer, with no metal bracing. It's lighter than the Coleman, and seems fairly durable. It may be Royalex/lite, I've never seen one up close, so I'm not sure exactly what they look like. Anyways, this is a stable canoe, it seems OK, but it's still quite heavy. The last is a Swift, approximately 10 years old. it's a 15', not sure which model. I'm not exactly sure of the material, but the inside is a screen-like mesh pattern. It seems very light, although it doesn't seem like it would appreciate being banged into a rock. This canoe has no keel, so when I first used it, I thought it felt 'tippy'. After awhile, I got used to it and find the canoe much more stable than the red one, especially when you lean over the side, say, to unhook a fish! I guess that's the Primary/Secondary stability. Anyways, sorry to ramble, just looking for some input on what may be suitable for me... Thanks Brian |
#6
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Watson Canoes?
On 19-Apr-2004, John Smith wrote:
BTW, I should admit that I haven't canoed in years, since sea kayaking has taken over. I don't miss canoeing much - or at least, I don't miss the idiot in the front seat :-). The only thing I miss while sea kayaking is the ease of portaging my way away from the crowds (and power boats). To be honest, I haven't done extensive solo in any canoe recently, but I figure that a 17' (or more) may be a handful at time, at least more so than a shorter canoe. It can depend on the canoe. I did a lot of solo paddling in the old days and found that a good 17' canoe is easier to handle than a poor 15-16'. If you are talking about a solo canoe (i.e. single seat like the Osprey) then 15-16' is standard. But for a double, even 17 is not too much to handle solo if well designed. It seems very light, although it doesn't seem like it would appreciate being banged into a rock. If Kevlar, it can be quite tough even though light. This canoe has no keel, Keels affect tracking, not stability. Many canoes get their tracking stiffness from the bow and stern shape, so the keel is not critical. The advantage of this design is that they track well but still turn easily. so when I first used it, I thought it felt 'tippy'. After awhile, I got used to it and find the canoe much more stable than the red one, especially when you lean over the side, say, to unhook a fish! I guess that's the Primary/Secondary stability. Correct. Good secondary is more important than high primary. Mike |
#7
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Watson Canoes?
Michael Daly wrote:
It can depend on the canoe. I did a lot of solo paddling in the old days and found that a good 17' canoe is easier to handle than a poor 15-16'. If you are talking about a solo canoe (i.e. single seat like the Osprey) then 15-16' is standard. But for a double, even 17 is not too much to handle solo if well designed. OK, so my selections have now expanded to most of the line. Algonquin, Kipawa, Mattawa or maybe a Dumoine. I guess at this point I'm just going to have to head out on Saturday and paddle some of these things. Man I'm rusty... With the asymmetrical canoes, when you paddle them solo, do you still spin the canoe around and sit in the bow seat? Or am I missing the point of a kneeling thwart? Anyways, thanks for all your help. I guess it will probably boil down to $$, from what I've read, it doesn't seem I'll go too far wrong with any of these. Are there good deals at the sales? Here's to hoping I can get into something in Kevlar! Thanks again Brian |
#8
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Watson Canoes?
I've just purchased a 16' Prospector. I've also been to their factory and
spoken with Mark Watson. I researched the market fairly extensively before making a decision and since my requirement is mainly recreational I was not prepared to pay the prices quoted by Swift, Scott, Evergreen, Old Town etc. etc. I have looked at used Swifts in the past and have been frankly disappointed at what they have offered. The cost savings do not seem much considering the beaten up nature of most of the boats. Watson boats are hand laid up and seem well generally well constructed. They have a few canoes on sale and you might (like me) find a Prospector at about CAD $100 off. The current book prices are $799 for the Prospector single keel and $689 for the triple keel. Without doubt part of the reason for their low prices is their overhead. Their premises are small and very modest. However, they have been in the business for over 30 years and seem to enjoy a fairly good reputation locally at least. Regards, Roy I'm in the market for a new/used canoe. I've been paddling increasingly over the past couple years and would like to get one for this year. I'm not looking at spending alot of money initially, and I will be renting the canoes before I actually buy one. I'll be heading up to Swift in Muskoka over the next week to see what they have. Budget is realistically around $1000 (Canadian), so that pretty much means used/demo/rental from Swift. I just found Watson canoes (www.watsoncanoes.com), and seeing as they are about 20 minutes from here, I was going to go check them out. They say the boats are hand-laid fiberglass, and the 16' Prospector is 58lbs, which seems manageable. Anyone know anything about these guys? Any assistance appreciated, Thanks Brian |
#9
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Watson Canoes?
CORRECTION: The name of the Watson 16' boats is "Voyageur" -not
"Prospector". I've just finished reading "Fire in the Bones" and have "Prospector" on the brain Apologies, Roy "araby" wrote in message t.cable.rogers.com... I've just purchased a 16' Prospector. I've also been to their factory and spoken with Mark Watson. I researched the market fairly extensively before making a decision and since my requirement is mainly recreational I was not prepared to pay the prices quoted by Swift, Scott, Evergreen, Old Town etc. etc. I have looked at used Swifts in the past and have been frankly disappointed at what they have offered. The cost savings do not seem much considering the beaten up nature of most of the boats. Watson boats are hand laid up and seem well generally well constructed. They have a few canoes on sale and you might (like me) find a Prospector at about CAD $100 off. The current book prices are $799 for the Prospector single keel and $689 for the triple keel. Without doubt part of the reason for their low prices is their overhead. Their premises are small and very modest. However, they have been in the business for over 30 years and seem to enjoy a fairly good reputation locally at least. Regards, Roy I'm in the market for a new/used canoe. I've been paddling increasingly over the past couple years and would like to get one for this year. I'm not looking at spending alot of money initially, and I will be renting the canoes before I actually buy one. I'll be heading up to Swift in Muskoka over the next week to see what they have. Budget is realistically around $1000 (Canadian), so that pretty much means used/demo/rental from Swift. I just found Watson canoes (www.watsoncanoes.com), and seeing as they are about 20 minutes from here, I was going to go check them out. They say the boats are hand-laid fiberglass, and the 16' Prospector is 58lbs, which seems manageable. Anyone know anything about these guys? Any assistance appreciated, Thanks Brian |
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