Been researching and finally decided to post the question. Uses will be lake and inshore. Mainly just paddling with the wife (or a kid) and small 20# dog. No over-nights. A little fishing. First canoe, but loads of kayak experience.

The real question- 50# kevlar vs. 68# fiberglass canoe? Car topping on a Forester. Also don't want a 'pig' of a canoe that will discourage my passengers from going out with me. The Sawyer is rough- a couple of holes patched, bow seat replaced with wood slats (?). The Blazer is in better shape. Both stored under a house/shelter but outside. The Sawyer is ~$500 and the Blazer is $220. I guess I don't want to get into the Blazer and regret the extra 17# or that it doesn't paddle as efficiently.

Another concern is with inshore paddling, there will be shallow areas with possible oysters.

I fish from a SOT kayak- 64# thermoformed fishing kayak (Jackson Cuda LT).

I thought I replied but don't see my response. I have a friend with an X17 and it is definitely not a pig. It paddles nicely, makes good speed and turns just fine. When we paddled it our total load was under 400 pounds with the two of us plus light day packs. I've never paddled the Mohawk. Maybe you could get the X17 for $400 given all the repairs if you say that you'll also want to replace both seats.

Thanks. My fear is the Blazer is the pig. :)


Other concern is the age and condition of the X17. Hmm, I thought I posted photos of each, let me try again.

Sawyer X17




and the Blazer

I had a Blazer 17 in fiberglass and it was not a pig. Very stable and quite fast, it did well in the BWCA, including fishing and traveling with big dogs. I sold mine a couple of years ago, because I am getting to old to portage 75#. I wet footed mine, but it held up well to the occasional rock.

I can't attest to it handling oysters!

I still have a Royalite Mohawk Nova 16. Mohawk made good canoes.

Thanks Driftless, good to know about the Blazer

@justpaddlin- I got the price down to $400, thanks for the suggestion.

So love the weight of the X17, but the stability of the Blazer is attractive plus visually it seems to look in better shape. And it's half as much. :)

Decisions, decisions!

Are you confident that you can easily cartop a 68 pound canoe? Both boats may well weigh a bit more than whatever it says in their sales brochures. Manufacturers tend to be optimistic. The repairs and wooden slat seat on the X17 won't make it lighter. I have 7 canoes and the heaviest one is 50 pounds and even still I usually grab the lighter boats (I used a 35 pound solo today). If you ever hesitate to go paddling because the boat is a pain to load then you chose the wrong boat. The Mohawk does look better in the pic you supplied but it's more important to see the outside of the boat than the inside.

Good point, here's the outside of the Blazer

It looks nice. It's not going to be a pig, it has fine (sharp) ends and it isn't unusually wide in the middle so it should paddle just fine. Fiberglass isn't as tough as Kevlar but fiberglass can still take a lot of abuse. Oysters are worth avoiding with either boat because it basically takes something sharp to penetrate a composite canoe but even if something bad happens either canoe could be repaired fairly easily. I think the big consideration is weight...whether you could easily lift and load the Mohawk. If you buy the Mohawk and later decide to sell it you aren't likely to lose much money.

I could car top the Blazer, but it's something I don't want to do myself and will have limited help with wife or kids.

Currently use a Thule Hullavator (roof assist) for the 64# kayak which makes it A LOT more doable/enjoyable. Car topping the kayak was a serious headache and honestly deterred me from going out.

Thinking it that way, guess I'm leaning towards the X17- even though it's rougher. Should I not be worried about how the interior looks?

Just nervous that it's too rough. Won't know till I go see it... part of the adventure, right?

Both canoes seem to be a real good deal. Even with some needed repairs a 50# Sawyer would be a steal. Some resin, fiberglass cloth, and a coat of spar vanish and it would be ready to go. A web canoe seat cost about $50 and could be adapted to the rails up front. At 65 I am in the 60# or less boat. Most of my canoes are under 50#. At that price If I was close to them they would probably be hanging in my 9 canoe garage.

Thanks RedLakePaddler- I'm only getting older (52 now) so solid advice on the Sawyer.

Wish I could get both to test and as mentioned, pretty sure I could sell either and not lose any $. But budgets being what they are. :)

https://paddling.com/gear/sawyer-canoes-x-17-canoe/

https://paddling.com/gear/mohawk-canoes-blazer-16-canoe/

Thanks! I think I've read both of those reviews, LOL.

After thinking about it, the Sawyer seems to be the logical choice for me. Car topping, storing, etc. a 20# lighter canoe makes sense*. My 13' kayak is my max I want to deal with weight wise.

*As long as the Sawyer isn't beat to death/trashed.

Thanks again for the review links and advice. Anything I should be aware of with the Sawyer?

Lighter is better, especially as aging takes its toll. (Assuredly, it will take its toll.) You seem to be a hands-on guy so changing out the slatted seat won't be an issue. Patching/touching-up here and there won't be an issue. With the Sawyer, pulling a back muscle while car-topping or unloading won't be an issue. :) Just my 2 cents.

I have a 68 lb Mad River Explorer 14' in my collection of canoes & kayaks. It stays home. It's a bear to handle, anymore. I always reach for the lighter ones.

to close this thread out- I went for the Sawyer. Wow- so that's what a light weight kevlar canoe feels/paddles like! Overall, very good shape for a 33 year old canoe-- low use.

Gonna need to replace the front seat for sure and the back seat soon. It's doesn't have a gel coat but that's okay.

Thanks to everyone who responded with advice!

Congrats!

Yes!

Great choice and glad to hear that it's in better shape than you expected. Attached link shows one place where many canoe folks in the states shop for seats. Link

I hope you enjoy the canoe! I found it funny that I found this thread after you bought my boat!

LOL!

We've taken it out twice and have enjoyed it! Great paddling canoe- I can paddle it from the stern with little effort while my bow partner just sits and takes pictures (ask me how I know :).