I found this solo canoe on Craigslist today. I'm driving down after work today to take a look at it and will most likely purchase it. It is located a few hours from me so I'm wondering if anyone can offer any info on this boat before I make the trek?

Solo canoe on Craigslist

i do a lot of river paddling, this boat would be perfect, also fine for bwca. at $250 this is a steal. if you don't end up buying it let us know.

Yeah, it seems like a steal. I'm jumping in the car in 10 min. I just hope they hold it for me.

Mad River Guide.....later called the Freedom solo. Better for rivers/Whitewater but ok for flat water. A little touchy empty but firms up and feels better with a load. Should be around 57 pounds in Royalex.

MattM: "I just hope they hold it for me."

If you're driving a few hours to get there, they BETTER hold it for you. (Geez, I'm sorry sir, a guy just left with it 5 minutes ago.)

We were meeting the guy who sold us our first canoe at a boat ramp so we could do a test paddle. On the way there he got a higher offer while at a stop light. But he was honorable and turned it down.

Hope you get the boat. That's a sweet deal even if it is some sort of off-label, fake "bad river" boat. Does that make it a bad bunny?

I recently bought a used tent of BWCA.com and am currently buying a used canoe off here. For the tent, I paid and trusted the tent would come. It arrived and was exactly the condition described. For the canoe, I've made a deposit and will pick it up in a few weeks.

In both cases, I trusted the BWCA.com community over the wild world of craigslist. I wouldn't have felt nearly as comfortable about paying on spec were it not for the community aspect of this site.

The seller was true to her word and held it for me. The boat is in good condition, and I feel extremely lucky to have stumbled across this deal. I think a quick trip to the St. Croix is in order.

A very good canoe at a good price. Way to jump on it!

Now I just need to treat the wood, give it a good cleaning and wait for the dang DMV to open on Monday so I can register it and get it in the water.

Any suggestions on treating the wood? I was just planning on sanding it lightly and applying Watco Exterior oil finish.

$250, Looks like it WAS a steal? SPEAKING of "Steals," though, you have a thwart missing. The Guide was made with two and it will paddle better if you can put one in.

Thanks ozarkpaddler. I noticed the missing thwart when I picked it up. I was wondering why it was removed. I just ordered one from amazon and will install it in short order.

The mad river guide is a great boat. Wonderful for moving water and not bad at all on the very flat. If you decide it’s not your cup of tea, you’ll have no problem re selling. Contact me if you like and I’ll be a happy buyer :)

Didn’t see the price but from the others’ tone, sounds like congrats are in order.

Wow what a great deal.

MattM: "Any suggestions on treating the wood? I was just planning on sanding it lightly and applying Watco Exterior oil finish. "

Watco will work fine. Use it on both of my boats. As you noted it needs one thwart. That will stiffen up the hull significantly.