I'm looking to replace some of the tanks in our fleet (all going on 55-60 years). We teach college students and they beat the heck out of the canoes sometimes, and I've therefore avoided composite canoes (well, let's be honest - we haven't had new canoes since 1998, when we got a handful of Royalex canoes).

Alumacraft doesn't do canoes any more...
Grumman - my welder (Dick in Ely) doesn't want to work on them - he says he can't get parts anymore. I'm hesitant to buy a canoe I can't get fixed (easily). We pop our share of rivets, and at least on the older canoes the seats and esp. the faceplace grips eventually tear. We've gotten these fixed repeatedly but I assume they will keep happening with years of wear.

Dick seemed pretty down on a few other brands (but I'd have to check what they were). Does anybody have a sense of what's good out there?

Thanks tons.

Probably be a bunch available from scout camps in the near future.

Marathon Boats has been building "Grummans" for quite a while now. Used to make a light weight model, 64 lbs, doesn't look like they do anymore but didn't dig deep. Assume can get parts from them but we know what assuming does. Don't know anything on price but don't think will be cheap.
You probably know all this but just in case.

alpinebrule: " Marathon Boats has been building "Grummans" for quite a while now. Used to make a light weight model, 64 lbs, doesn't look like they do anymore but didn't dig deep. Assume can get parts from them but we know what assuming does. Don't know anything on price but don't think will be cheap.
You probably know all this but just in case. "

Yeah I should call them about the parts. I'm hoping to hear from someone in real life about their experience, and I'm hoping to hear back from Packsack - someone there sells them. Just trying to get a lot of perspectives at the moment. If we need to, we'll move on from aluminum, but dear lord the money we've saved with these things is incredible, when you consider that they are rockin' Quetico permit stickers from the early 60s in some cases.

I suggest you call an outfitter, they mostly have Kevlar canoes for rental. Most have a huge pile of aluminum canoes that just sits there.

Maybe you should teach your college students as to how to treat the canoes better.
Seems to me that popping rivets is on extreme end the way to treat a canoe.

Meyer Boat Company in Adrian, Michigan makes Michicraft aluminum canoes. Google it.

Plenty of used Grumman canoes available, many in nice shape. I have been buying nice ones in the $400.00/range for a local nature center where I volunteer. I find them on Craigslists for SE Wisconsin and NE Illinois.

deerfoot: "Plenty of used Grumman canoes available, many in nice shape. I have been buying nice ones in the $400.00/range for a local nature center where I volunteer. I find them on Craigslists for SE Wisconsin and NE Illinois."

That was the going price in the Mpls. area until recently. $600-$700 seems to be the current rate.

jhb8426: "

deerfoot: "Plenty of used Grumman canoes available, many in nice shape. I have been buying nice ones in the $400.00/range for a local nature center where I volunteer. I find them on Craigslists for SE Wisconsin and NE Illinois."

That was the going price in the Mpls. area until recently. $600-$700 seems to be the current rate."

Really, but then I haven’t been shopping for any in the past couple of years. Good thing the center got theirs since $6-700.00 would be out of their price range.

OldScout48: "Maybe you should teach your college students as to how to treat the canoes better.
Seems to me that popping rivets is on extreme end the way to treat a canoe."

I sort of agree. It's not like rental car places have a "college kid" lot where you can crash your car and the rental place has to deal with it. They take care of it or....they get to at least help fix it.