I am planning to buy a whitewater canoe, preferably used. I looked a
little on the web, but found little on how to choose a whitewater canoe.

I have been running whitewater in my Old Town Camper canoe, not exactly
the right canoe for the job, but I have successfully run class III. I
got carried away and added a removable saddle and thigh straps, sort of
like putting racing stripes on a VW bus. The people I paddle with have
been bugging me to get a real whitewater boat, they say that I have the
skills, I just need a better boat.

Given that I have been paddling a 36 inch wide and 16 foot long canoe, I
don't want too radical a change, although any whitewater canoe would be
a big change. One of the local people had a boat for sale, but he said
that it was probably more extreme than was appropriate for me. I weigh
200 pounds, so I need a larger boat, especially if I add camping gear.
Are there any common models that I might find used that I should look
for? Are there any relatively inexpensive new models worth considering?
I suppose I am looking for a whitewater canoe appropriate for larger
intermediate whitewater paddlers.

Since I have no experience to speak of in whitewater canoes, I am
inclined to think that a paddle test is of limited use for me. When I
have paddled whitewater canoes on flat water they feel very strange and
unstable. I guess if I sat in one and flipped it in flat water that
might be a reason not to buy it. ;-) Rather than depend on my own
uneducated taste, I would rather get an appropriate whitewater boat and
gradually become accustomed to it.

Comments? Suggestions?

Richard

--
http://www.fergusonsculpture.com
Sculptures in copper and other metals