Straight Up Kayaks

What type of canoes weigh the least?

I am interested in buying a canoe. I need to make sure that my wife and I can easily carry it. I'm not looking to spend the money required to get a kevlar or carbon canoe. Should I look at canoes that are made of aluminum, plastic or fiberglass if weight is a big concern?

Public Comments

1. The weight of the material going into a canoe affects durability and manoeuvrability. Unfortunately an aluminum canoe, although the lightest is also the least stable - easily capsized.
2. Fiberglass is heavy. ABS is very strong and lightweight but also expensive. Old Town and others make polyvinyl canoes that are heavy (80 lbs for a 16') but two should be able to carry it short distances. I can carry it myself.
3. First, aluminum canoes are not the lightest. Second if you are not looking to spend the money of a kevlar canoe, then it appears you are looking for Royalex. In terms of cost it is between aluminum and kevlar. Weight for 17ft. canoe: aluminum about 85 pounds, Royalex is about 65 pounds and kevlar would be about 45 pounds. Two brands I am very familiar with are We•no•nah and Bell, check them out on the web.