Hey folks,

The wife gave me the green light to finally buy a canoe.

I have two young kids.

Is there a way to paddle with four in a SR17.

Not tripping with four. Just paddling around local lakes.

My kids are 4 and 1 now. Just want to introduce them to paddling and have a boat I can trip with.

Thanks.

I know you are super excited with the new canoe. Will they fit? Yes. But if it were me I would suggest wait until they take swimming lessons and then be sure that they wear a PFD. For now I would get a sitter and take your wife a paddle. Just my thoughts, others will chime in.

Sure they will fit for say trips. We have an Souris River Quetico 17 and can haul lots of gear in it. So two little kids would be no problem. I do agree though to be sure and have them in PFDs which I'm really not sure if they make PFDs for 1 year olds.

Yes, you could do that group in an SR17. You will definitely want the 1-year old where someone can control them. Maybe with the bow paddler. The 4-year old could sit on something if they are calm.

Infant PFD's are available. It's amazing how well infants take to swimming, both my children went to YWCA infant swim classes before they were 1 year old. As long as you are confident and willing I see no problem.

butthead

I've paddled with small kids. PFDs, paddle on calm days, stay close to shore. use common sense and you'll be fine. The biggest challenge is keeping a 1 year old's interest. Keep some toys (that float) to play with and some snacks. Keep the trip short.

I would think that 4 in a SR 17 would be a bit tight. I see now you state just for paddling around, not necessarily tripping. I have paddled the SR 18.5, with 4. Two adults with two children sharing the 3rd seat. The kiddos were 9 and 10 at the time. We packed fairly light and it was just enough room for the group.

Thanks for the info!!!

quote Royce: "
I would think that 4 in a SR 17 would be a bit tight. I see now you state just for paddling around, not necessarily tripping. I have paddled the SR 18.5, with 4. Two adults with two children sharing the 3rd seat. The kiddos were 9 and 10 at the time. We packed fairly light and it was just enough room for the group.

"

Same thoughts here. I have a SR 18.5 and love it but it's getting smaller in a hurry. My wife and I have taken our 2 boys for the last 4 years. This summer they will be 6 and 8 when we take our trip in June. They have always shared the middle seat in front of me but I'm nervous this is the last summer that this is going to work. However, if your just going to paddle around on some local lakes like you mentioned I'm sure it will work just fine.

Absolutely would work, especially for paddles around lakes and not tripping with gear. This is my wife and two younger boys in a 16' Adirondack with close to half of our gear for 5 nights in the BW. PFD's obviously a must for those little ones. There'd be a ton of room in front of the stern paddler for the 1 year old, while having him/her in direct reach of the paddler. Behind bow paddler, the 4 year old.

Absolutely, and if you want to be a bad example like your screen name, paddle with your bent shafts backwards.

Our son was two when we first started taking him canoeing. Initially, he stood in the bow in front of my wife, but then we got a generic snap in third seat for our Wenonah Spirit II, which would easily fit two side by side (for when your one-year old is a little older). We used the seat when we took him to the BWCA when he was four. A pain to portage, but we didn't go too far.

Third seat

Yes, it would work. It's a very stable canoe.

We bought our canoe when the girls were 4 and 2. We ended up getting the SR Q 18.5 instead of the 17 because we thought it was more versatile and would fit our family for a longer amount of time. They can still sit side by side in the 3rd seat and they are 12 and 10. It also works well paddled tandem. I've used it for tandem trips with my wife, a friend, and each of my daughters on our annual daddy/daughter trip. With a little one though I stay on small lakes and trim the canoe with all of the packs as far up in the bow as possible.

It would work no problem. I have a 17' spirit II.
I'd put the littlest one up front with bow paddler and depending on the 4 yr old a drop in seat or if you need him closer I used a soft sided cooler he could sit on within reach.

That's what we did with our one and only. He's just kinda graduated from suiting up front with mom to on the cooler in front of me to the drop in seat. Now if I can just get him to keep paddling FORWARD life would be perfect. Lol.

FYI I think I still have our infant pfd if you need one. Floats them face up and supports the head.

I would get the biggest boat you can handle. If you like Souris River, I'd get the Quetico 18.5. There will be room for them to have there own seat in no time at all.

Our grand nephews and nieces were and are still being introduced to the canoe at about 2-2 and a half. We have a big, wide 18+ footer that is stable enough for them to roam about while we paddle. Hang over the side and grab that floating stick? No problem. We never ask them to sit still. That is just not something they want to hear when exploring a new activity.

With the first one at 2.5 we thought maybe 45 minutes on the water would be about it being confined to the canoe. That was about the time Hayden managed to grab that stick and used it like a paddle for the next two hours! At three he had his own little paddle which he plans to hand over to his little sister this summer when he helps make his next, bigger paddle.

Get a boat big enough for them to have freedom of movement.

One other thing we do with young ones is go swimming with the canoe. Warm day, warm water, nice beach, PFDs all around. Have FUN tipping it over! They get a real feel for how the canoe interacts with the water.

I have done 3 adults, 80# dog and gear for a 7 day trip with a SR17. It can be done but was very cramped.

quote TwoByGreenCanoe: "I have done 3 adults, 80# dog and gear for a 7 day trip with a SR17. It can be done but was very cramped. "

You have a picture of that TBGC? That would be an awesome photo to see. Wondering how much freeboard you had left.

I hear what you're saying, oisinirish, about getting the kids to paddle forward. At times, I tell my boys to sit and rest.....rather have them sitting and enjoying the ride than just dipping the paddle in the water.

quote butthead: "Infant PFD's are available. It's amazing how well infants take to swimming, both my children went to YWCA infant swim classes before they were 1 year old. As long as you are confident and willing I see no problem.


butthead"

Yes and get a PFD rated to float them upright.

quote Bumstead: "

quote TwoByGreenCanoe:.


I hear what you're saying, oisinirish, about getting the kids to paddle forward. At times, I tell my boys to sit and rest.....rather have them sitting and enjoying the ride than just dipping the paddle in the water."

Lily dipping would be acceptable. He tries to decide where we're going or stopping or backwards. Lol

Seriously though. If you need a PFD I'll shoot you picture. No strings attached. Except you have to name it "Float Mikey". Hehe.

quote Oisinirish: "

quote Bumstead: "

quote TwoByGreenCanoe:.



I hear what you're saying, oisinirish, about getting the kids to paddle forward. At times, I tell my boys to sit and rest.....rather have them sitting and enjoying the ride than just dipping the paddle in the water."

Lily dipping would be acceptable. He tries to decide where we're going or stopping or backwards. Lol"

Lily dipping....hilarious. I'm certainly going to use that term with the 3 guys I go with this year to add a little humor to the day.

Also think the comments of having the really young one up with the bow paddler sounds like a great idea. My boys were all swimmers when I first took them, but this really makes sense for a 1-2 year old. They could feel like they were flying over the water like on Titanic.