I know some version of this has probably been thrown around on here before, but this is the season that "canoe envy" is the worst for me, and I assume some of you are like me.... Water is slowly opening, the rivers have been open for a few weeks, but the BW open water is still a ways out. So, hypothetical canoe dreams it is.

In today's scenario, you get a six place canoe rack with six canoes of your choice: any model, any era, any color, any trim/special features. These can be canoes you own (if you are lucky enough to have captured one of your favorites) or a canoe that you envy that you haven't quite gotten your hands on yet (or that you parted with for some reason.) With cost and availability as no issue, what six canoes would you have?

This question is so difficult for me and I don't think I actually have a perfect list together for my own question. Oops. The problem is, though I have paddled 40+ models of canoe these last five years or so, there are still so many that I haven't, and may never get to. Like what does a true Chestnut Prospector paddle like? Or even one of the Seliga's for that matter? Or maybe something goofier like a Beaver (aluminum.) I have seen one in person and had one slip through my fingers on a classifieds at one point. They're aluminum sure, but they are unlike any other aluminum ever. Just for the unique factor, I want to try one. And so many others. And what about a true birch bark? All the old ones are rightfully up on shelves and retired, but what did they feel like? And then there's something like the Merrimacs which are simply as pretty as a "modern" canoe can be. There are so many lovely canoes out there.

So here it is, my six:
1. 1982 Mad River Explorer - I was lucky enough to pick up a bargain on a practically new one last year. I can't give it up.
2. Seliga - I have been lucky to see a few, but never got to paddle one. I can't justify the cost, but in this scenario....
3. Beaver Marathon 18.5 - This seems a waste of a pick in a list of perfect canoes. Aluminum is never as pretty as wood nor as functional as kevlar, but something about the space-age lines on this thing have always fascinated me. It probably wouldn't stay on the rack forever, but for the sake of paddling it once....
4. Mad River TW Special - There were a few beautiful long-distance tripping canoes in that early 80s era that bordered on racing lines (the Swift Cirrus comes to mind.) And the Lamoille that followed the TW is also a wonderful boat. I am a sucker for the gel-coated kevlar with wooden gunnels and deck plates....
5. Maybe Langford of some kind? I have never been super familiar with their models, but everything I have seen has been top notch.
6. Maybe a Merrimac or a Navarro? Again, I've been fascinated by this classic/modern hybrid.

Just so many beautiful canoes, it's hard to pick!

1. 1980 Old Town Tripper: I own this canoe and bought it when I was 16. I can never give it up. Its toughness, capacity, and versatility on a far north wilderness trip brings back so many great memories. We still paddle and portage it around our house as our training canoe, but its long trip days (and mine) are behind it.

2. Placid RapidFire: this is my "I really want one" boat even though I have never paddled one. It just calls to me.

3. I agree with you on a Seliga. I have had the pleasure of paddling one ages ago and used to be fine with portaging one. I just love the look and nostalgia of a wood/canvas beauty.

4. Wenonah MN III - we rented one for a family trip and the 3 of us had an absolute blast. We 3 of us paddling full tilt, we were flying! Even though my son is fledging and will do fewer and fewer trips with us in years to come, it would be fun to have available for those times the 3 of us can trip together.

5. 1987 Mad River Explorer - While this is not a top canoe for me personally, my husband loves it because he got it for $50 and rebuilt the gunwales. So it would have to be on the trailer for sure.

6. Not sure at this moment. Maybe drive around with an empty space "just in case"

Hi TB,

Thought about this a bit over the past few days and really can't narrow it down. There are too many cool boats. Especially old models that are discontinued. Do we get an additional dispensation for solos? Just sticking to Wenonah solos I end up with a half dozen:

1. Advantage. I've got one and I love it.

2. Encounter. I have an old beater. Sure would be nice to have a new one in ultralight.

3. Original Advantage. The 16'8" version of the Advantage that was a little hotter than the current version. Only made for a few years in the '80's. Ultralight Kevlar with wood inwales only please.

4. C1-W. 16'6" downriver racer. I paddled a couple of these back in the mid 90's when you could pick one up used for $400. Fun boat that coughed me out a time or two. Wish I had bought one back then.

5. J-203 solo race canoe. So fast. So much fun.

6. Royalex Aurora. Gotta have a downriver boat.

And then, I'm going to want a whitewater playboat. Probably a Dagger or Bell Ocoee...

Tandems? Don't get me started on tandems.

And, along with this canoe acquisition fantasy I have unlimited time and money to take canoe trips, right?

Sounds pretty good!

Brian from Wenonah

Good question and I went the sentimental route and included the trips I dream about the most:

1. My dad's homemade canoe he built over 55 years ago, fiberglass, weighs nearly 100 pounds...but has sentimental value to me.

2. Wenonah Boundary Waters (kevlar) - the first canoe I ever bought.

3. Clipper Tripper, yellow. Again, my dad's canoe and the one we used to complete the Bowron Canoe Circuit in the early 90s. I hope to go back someday...

4. Homemade cedar strip canoe - I'd like someone to mentor me in building it.

5. Wenonah Basswood (solo) - I can't leave out my first solo and, besides, it is brand new and has never been paddled before so it has to come along for orientation.

6. Red Le Tigre Souris River Quetico 18.5 - the canoe my two daughters and I took on our 130-mile 16-day BWCA excursion the summer before they left for college.

How about 6 Trent Preszler canoes so I can sell them and make the list a little longer ???? maybe keep 1

1) NOVA craft prospector 18'- A large expedition boat that can take some wind and waves and built to take a beating.

2) Clipper Mariner- 22' dream to fill the 8 man one boat crew that makes everyone scratch their.

3) SWIFT prospector 14' SOLO

4) Northstar Northwind 17' my light weight boat to go fast but can still take some waves.

5) Blackfly Condor........................:)

6) Merrimack canoe- The "cottage boat" to take on morning/sunset paddles not for trips

Worth a mention

- a beater canoe to give to your friend you don't like who want to use one
- esquif
-pakboats

How about 6 Trent Preszler canoes so I can sell them and make the list a little longer ???? maybe keep 1

1) NOVA craft prospector 18'- A large expedition boat that can take some wind and waves and built to take a beating.

2) Clipper Mariner- 22' dream to fill the 8 man one boat crew that makes everyone scratch their.

3) SWIFT prospector 14' SOLO

4) Northstar Northwind 17' my light weight boat to go fast but can still take some waves.

5) Blackfly Condor........................:)

6) Merrimack canoe- The "cottage boat" to take on morning/sunset paddles not for trips

Worth a mention

- a beater canoe to give to your friend you don't like who want to use one
- esquif
-pakboats

If I were to have multiple canoes, they would for the multiple activities I like to do. My dream canoe is one that perfectly fits the job I want it to do and lasts a long time without much maintenance.

1. A standard light weight Kevlar, like the Wenonah Boundary Waters 17' model.

2. My current Grumman Eagle. That canoe is fast, built like a tank, and super stable in rough water.

3. A solo like the Bell Magic Solo. I've never been in a solo canoe so I don't know much about them.

4. Wenonah MNIII for a 3-person canoe.

5. Cedar strip canoe made by me. If only I had the time and space to do this.

6. A square back 14' Raddison in camo for duck hunting.

#1 prisim

#2 min II

#3 alumnacraft Q17UL

#4 J2 pro

#5 24'+ Ralph Frese voyager

#6 any 17' wood and canvas old town

Probilly going to have put one on the car,
the voyager will take a little extra space on
the trailer.....I see you have 9 people on
your permit. How many craft will you be
taking? Uh one

1. Stewart River Boatworks Traveler
2. Northstar Polaris Blacklite Ash Trim
3. Rehbein Canoe
4. Bell Northwind 16 Royalex
5. Epic Legacy XL K1 Kayak
6. Bell Rob Roy

Hard to limit it to 6. If I were to fill out the fleet, I could easily add 6 more.

My current fleet
18’ chestnut prospector, 1970s vintage wood canvas, river canoe
16’ Peterborough cruiser. 1941 wood/canvas. My preferred canoe
17’ canadienne, fiberglass, big lakes and rivers
16’ bell prospector, Kevlar
17’ wenonah escape, Kevlar

Somehow I don’t have any royalex canoes anymore. The 17’ old town Penobscot went on hundreds of trips. It earned my affection on many Ontario and Manitoba trips

1. Swift Prospector 14 Pack - Kevlar Fusion layup - All Purpose boat.
I'm really loving this boat.

2. Swift cruiser 15.8 - carbon fusion layup - for more efficiency

3. NS Phoenix - IXP - for a bit of faster water paddling

4. Placid RapidFire - Ultra light (22 lbs) - I was really tempted by this boat. Was SOOO close to pulling the trigger.

5. Place Spitfire 13 - Expedition light - for kiddo 1
6. Place Spitfire 13 - Expedition light - for kiddo 2

Hemlock SRT
Blackhawk Ariel
Swift Osprey
Kruger Sea Wind
Hemlock Peregrine

Need to ponder tandem bwca tripper and tandem river tripper…