Hello--
I have a lead on a used Old Town Penobscot 17. It appears to be a Royalex canoe, in decent shape, but it's hard to tell from the pictures. The seller wants $300. While I would love a Kevlar canoe, they don't seem to be in the budget. I would like a good all-around canoe, especially one that can be used for BWCA trips.

I've poked around the forum, and these canoes do seem to have a following. Are they good all-around canoes? Before I drive out to look at it, any advice on Royalex canoes? What problems should I look for? Any issues with these canoes?

Thanks,
Gary

I have a Penobscot 17. It is royalex. (If it is an odd dimension, like 174, then it is 3 layer poly)

If the canoe is in decent shape, it is priced to sell and wouldn't last a day on Craigslist.

They're very good boats that often sell for much more than the guy is asking. I'd be suspicious, but these boats are pretty tough, so it'd have to be in very rough shape for me to not at least take a look. Good luck!

As far as the canoe, I have used it mostly on rocky rivers in Northern IL and also the lower WI River. It carries a load well, a younger child in the middle and seems to handle well enough for me. I have only been canoeing for about 3 years.

I have also paddled in the bow of the Penobscot and felt like I had a lot of room up front.

As far as what I would look for. Check the wood seats and thwart. Does it look rotted out like the canoe was stored outside? Royalex can be damaged by extended exposure to the sun.

Check for any obvious signs of being wrapped around a river rock. Some royalex boats end up being used in white water. Just from looking at pictures you can tell a well used white water canoe. I would want to see a picture of the bottom of the canoe before driving very far to look at it.

Check for deep scratches or holes in the hull.

Great canoe, and if Royalex and in decent shape, it would be a steal. Don't assume it is Royalex, it might not be. If it is Royalex it will weigh aprox. 65lbs. Wish I still had mine, but wouldn't trade my Kevlar.

If it is really royalex, that is a heck of a deal!

Thanks for the feedback, everyone. I saw the canoe today and picked it up. It's in decent condition and well used, but no holes/gouges/cracks:


The worst part is the badly applied keel plates:


The canoe was on Craigslist, but not MPLS/St. Paul; it was in St Cloud CL. The seller was willing to meet me half way in between, which was nice.


He didn't list at as Old Town or Penobscot 17, but as "Rolex Canoe," so that probably cut down on the hits he had. He threw in a life jacket and some metal/plastic paddles.

The seats need new webbing and the wood parts could use some varnish, but I'm excited to finally have a canoe we can use on BWCA trips.

Hahaha, Rolex canoe! Good find, looks solid. When I was too poor to rent Kevlar I always got a Penobscot 17 royalex, it's a terrific canoe for the boundary waters.

Apparently Facebook keeps a close watch on us, or it was just a fluke, but I went to look at Facebook the other day and the marketplace feature had a picture of a canoe. I was not aware of selling through Facebook, but I had a look around and found yet another Penobscot 17. For those of you in the Twin Cities Area, see https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/257490984896349

gna: "Thanks for the feedback, everyone. I saw the canoe today and picked it up. It's in decent condition and well used, but no holes/gouges/cracks:

The worst part is the badly applied keel plates:

He didn't list at as Old Town or Penobscot 17, but as "Rolex Canoe," so that probably cut down on the hits he had. He threw in a life jacket and some metal/plastic paddles. "

The old misspelled online listing. One of the few ways to uncover a diamond in the rough and get a deal.

The skid plates are not pretty which could also help explain why the listing was up for awhile.

Have you had it out and paddled it yet?

rdgbwca: "

gna: "Thanks for the feedback, everyone. I saw the canoe today and picked it up. It's in decent condition and well used, but no holes/gouges/cracks:

The worst part is the badly applied keel plates:

He didn't list at as Old Town or Penobscot 17, but as "Rolex Canoe," so that probably cut down on the hits he had. He threw in a life jacket and some metal/plastic paddles. "

The old misspelled online listing. One of the few ways to uncover a diamond in the rough and get a deal.

The skid plates are not pretty which could also help explain why the listing was up for awhile.

Have you had it out and paddled it yet?"

No, not yet. I need to register it first. I may wait to get another year on my tag.

I did find a couple of small cracks that I filled with JB Weld Plastic Epoxy; they may not have needed it but I did it anyway. I chipped off some of the resin that dribbled from the keel plates, and thought about putting a bit more resin on the worn one. I have been sanding/varnishing the thwarts, yoke, and seats. I bought some 1" webbing to repair the seats, based on a thread I found here. That, along with portage pads, seems like a good winter project.

A good boat at a good price, I still have one out on the rack that has made many trips to the bwca. advertised at 65lbs but mine is closer to 73lbs