Hi everyone,
New here and fairly new to lake tripping (love my class I-II wilderness rivers). Now that I live in Des Moines, IA, I'm taking a closer look at the BWCA and Quetico regions for some extending tripping. Now that I have a job, I can afford a decent, but probably not top of the line canoe and certainly not a new one. With that in mind, I'm coming on here to get the advice of you more experienced guys and gals. Here's what I'm looking for:

1. A good quality solo canoe (kevlar or similar) for solo tripping up to 2-3 weeks in the BWCA and Quetico regions, but which I also plan to use to tool around with my 40lb dog on easy rivers and lakes in my local region. Do any of you have any recommendations of models I should be looking for or suggestions about how to find one?

2. A good tandem canoe for BWCA tripping AND wilderness river tripping. I've just noticed that someone about an hour away from me has put up a post for a Yr 2000 Royalex Penobscot 17 for a $1000. He's also advertising a 1983 Sawyer Cruiser 17'9" for a $1000. Do any of you have any recommendations about either of these given how I intend to use them? Are these fair prices? Are there any other models you'd recommend I keep an eye out for?

For the solo, I'm willing to travel as far north as Minneapolis, east to Omaha or Lincoln, Nebraska, west to Iowa City or the Quad Cities, and South to Kansas City asap.

For the tandem, I'm willing to travel as far as I would for the solo, but I can also travel as far north as Ely or Gunflint in early August when I head up for our first boundary waters trip (11 days).

Thanks a lot to any of you willing to offer some helpful advice. My ideal budget is around $800-$1200, depending on the deal.
~Travis

Check out this website it pulls from all of the craigslists nationwide and also several other paddling websites that list canoes and kayaks for sale. PaddleSwap.com

Thanks. Just checked. There's nothing on there now that meets my needs, but I'll keep my eye on it!

If you are willing to pick one up, start contacting outfitters in the Ely area. Sawtooth and Sawbill on rt 61 and just north of 61 in the Tofte area also usually put boats up for sail on their websites around now. Their kevlar canoes can be a tad bit cheaper and in your price range. Just a couple of other ideas to consider.

Ya we got our Souris River Quetico 17 from Voyaguer North Outfitters in Ely. Had some scratches to it but that’s just more character to it. Plus I didn’t cry when I put a scratch on it.

I have a nova craft prospector 16 ft tandem in royalex if your interested.

tom14: "I have a nova craft prospector 16 ft tandem in royalex if your interested. "

Are you in iowa?? Love the blue....

Illinois

I'm not familiar with the model or if it will work for you, but right now there's a Bell Merlin ultralight solo canoe on the St. Paul Craigslist for $1,000 you may want to look at. Just posted yesterday - google "solo canoe" and you'll find it. I'd doublecheck the capacity if I were you - you + dog + gear for 2 - 3 weeks can add up. You may wish for something bigger.

Rockwood Lodge (off the Gunflint) has some used tandems for sale - Spirit IIs and Minn IIs. I bought a canoe from them last year, and would recommend them.

If you want to go slightly more esoteric, there's Urban Boat Builders in St. Paul that build skin-on-frame canoes. They have some used tandems for a pretty good price ($1250).

Thanks for this info. Checking into it.

Friend has a royalx tandem Winona adirondack, I think it's in excellent condition and a good deal. He wants $700 for it. I think it's between 60 & 65 lbs and it's 16 or 17 ft. Big enough for week long trips up north and and tough enough for Des Moines river rocks.
He is about 1.5 hrs. from Des Moines.
I own one also and I won't ever sell mine.

Update: The canoes I mentioned in the original post for a $1000 each didn't work out. The Penobscot 17RX was not in that great of condition and the Sawyer doesn't meet my 2-3 week tripping needs. I'm looking into the 16RX models that have been mentioned, but still very much looking for a 17RX tandem in very good, excellent, or "like-new condition" and a solo tripper (Kevlar or Royalex under 55lbs).

Thanks!

I don't think you find a 16' royalx under 60 lbs. I wouldn't recommend taking a kevlar down a river unless you like to make repairs!

The OT Penobscot and Wenonah Sundowner are the only tandem 17 Royalex canoes I currently know of 65lbs or less that's good for lake and river tripping. Open to other suggestions. My impression from reviews is the OT is a bit better. Open to being wrong. Would consider a Wenonah II Royalex, which weighs in at 68lb. Will not consider anything that weighs more than that.

There are plenty of 15-16' dedicated solos that weigh less that are made of Kevlar or royalex. The owner of the Bell Merlin ultralight solo mentioned earlier has no photos. Not willing to drive 7hrs r/t to without first seeing photos.

So, basically still looking for one tandem and one solo canoe that meets above criteria.

This post can be deleted. Found my 17RX! $800. Decent shape

Travis send me an email and I can give you a few suggestions on places to go visit in Iowa. I am guessing you might not be from the area.

E-mail with what you're looking for. Iowa has some great rivers to paddle and I have been on almost all of them in NE. Iowa.