BWCA 2 or 3 person canoe? Boundary Waters Trip Planning Forum
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PaddleBoi
member (23)member
  
02/27/2021 04:37PM  
My father (180lb), my son (80) and I (210) will be renting a canoe from an outfitter in June for a short four day trip. We will not be putting in many miles, just want to give my son the best experience possible and take my dad back to a place he hasn’t been in probably forty years. I am an experienced paddler and my dad still paddles a few times a year.

I’m conflicted on a 3-person canoe with a real adventure seat for my son or a 17’ NorthStar and put him on a pack or camp chair. I pack light so we wouldn’t need the size, but I want him to feel like he has his own seat. Only concern with the 3-person is day trips and fishing without the added weight.
 
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MidwestFirecraft
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02/27/2021 05:54PM  
As long as your not solo the 3 person with his own seat would be better in my opinion. I wouldn't have him paddle from the middle though. I take my 11 year old daughter fishing in my 18.5 foot canoe. With her weight up front and me in the 3rd seat it works great. This is a pic of me paddling while my daughter trolled on Horse Lake:
cyclones30
distinguished member(4163)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberpower member
  
02/27/2021 06:16PM  
I'd vote for the 3. Otherwise when you're wanting to fish or anything on day trips, you're still messing with a pack or something to try and get him a spot to sit in the middle.

You can always throw one of your packs in if it makes you feel better about weight. (or better, your food barrel/pack)
andym
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02/27/2021 06:39PM  
I would get the three person canoe and have him paddle. It might not be a big extra power but makes him part of the whole process. A few years ago we had a 3 and 7 year old along. The 3 year old had one of those small souvenir paddles you can buy at Zups (literally bought from Zups by the checkouts) and the 7 year old had a small paddle, maybe a 48”. The 3 year old didn’t do much but loved his paddle so much that he would take it swimming with him. The 7 year old paddled a bit and really dug in one day when his little brother was cold. Probably still didn’t add much speed but he got to help.
02/27/2021 06:40PM  
3 person canoe for sure. If it were me I wouldn’t think twice about it.
straighthairedcurly
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02/27/2021 06:51PM  
If you are renting a canoe no matter what, then I suggest the 3-person. We took our own 17 foot canoe for our 3 person family up until my son turned 14, so it is certainly doable. But if you are renting anyway, go for the bigger boat so your son feels like part of the paddling team. We rented out first 3-person canoe last summer and it was a blast. Not a problem for 2 people to take out fishing, either.
02/27/2021 07:08PM  
plander: "3 person canoe for sure. If it were me I wouldn’t think twice about it. "


+1
BAWaters
distinguished member (123)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
03/01/2021 07:08PM  
My 2 teenagers and I tripped in the Northwind 17 with a removable center seat last year. It worked, but it was clear that a 3 person would have been much better.
03/01/2021 07:50PM  
3 person boat.

3 seats.

3 paddlers.

Have Fun.
tumblehome
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03/01/2021 09:06PM  
bobbernumber3: "
plander: "3 person canoe for sure. If it were me I wouldn’t think twice about it. "



+1"


+2
03/02/2021 08:25AM  
Plus 3.
03/02/2021 10:28AM  
I agree with the 3 parson canoe either way, but I do wonder how old your son is. 80lbs could be a wide age range depending on if they are tall and twig-like, or shorter and stockier. If they are middle school range then you want to encourage their independence more and they are likely to have longer limbs and need more space to stretch out. If they are elementary school age and on the shorter end, then a 2 person canoe is less of a big deal. Either way, there is no reason not to go with the 3 person if you are renting. Just that you could go with the 2 person if the kid is on the younger/smaller side AND you have a canoe available without renting.
 
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