Coleman canoes

[applejack]

Following my 'point me towards a modestly priced open canoe' thread. I'm pleased to say that yesterday I picked up a 15' Coleman...not sure of the model?'...complete with Endless River bouyancy wedges and three Pelican paddles locally in N Wales. I think I got a good deal at £175.00 all in.
However,reading up on Coleman canoes it appears they divide opinion. Some serious paddlers consider them the Ladas -or at best the Land Rovers -of Open canoes being heavy,slow.bulky and as manoeverable as the QE2! Some people though actually like them.
I got this boat to do some river touring on the local Dee and Severn and hopefully Scotland one day. I don't think I would getting above grade2 although I'd like to do the Dee just below Llangollen and someone said this is grade3 ?
Any ex or current Coleman paddlers care to offers their thoughts on this barge as a tourer with the occasional bit of rough stuff thrown in ?
Also..I can hear some sloshing in the middle seat. I've read that the seats can take in water which gets trapped. I've thought of taking the seats out.Drilling them to let out the water and then filling them with builders expanding foam. Anyone done this ?

[Adrian Cooper]

I would strongly advise against builder's expanding foam. It can absorb water over time. If it were mine and I wanted to keep the seats, I would drill a hole, drain the water and then put a bung in the hole.

[Adrian Cooper]

paddlers care to offers their thoughts on this barge as a tourer with the occasional bit of rough stuff thrown in ?

I'm sure it will be fine. It will easily last until you think you fancy something lighter, faster, more manouvrable, less flexy. What does your dog think of the new boat? :-)

[chriscw]

It looks great to me and a big improvement on the older Colemans.

[Hackworth]

If I were you I would drill a small hole at a low stress area low down, and leave it open. Colemans are pretty sturdily put together and can saok up a few holes in the seats!

I would also drill a really small one high up to admit air

[Pete]

I'd keep the paddles & wedges and put the boat on ebay. You should make a small profit at this time of the year and with this weather. Put that towards a better boat and know that you got your paddles and bouyance FOC.

[Martyn Hartley]

I think you found yourself a bargain.OK you know it's not as classy as your dog, but it should serve you well as a first boat.

You might want to upgrade in a couple of years, but you will get most of your money back even then

See you on the water...

[coblake]

I would say you got a damn good deal on it. If it paddles fine, don't mess with it. However, as others have said, just drill weep holes in the seats. Throw a good sized sponge in the bottom to soak up any drips, squeeze as necessary, repeat. Enjoy.

[matt_outandabout]

I paddled a RAM-X 17' for many a year, and it got me through 4*+ paddling, as ever with sports the marketing tells you that 2012 model X is better than 2010 Model Y and that it makes you not only a better paddler, but more attractive and better able to hold beer.

Great wee boats for getting out and paddling. As above, holes/bungs would work fine, as will cheapo foam for now, especially if you store boat upside down.

Bargain as well

Enjoy :)

[waterbourne]

How are you getting on with it?

I had an old ram x 17.5

It was a tank. I bought it for £60 and sold it for £450 on ebay.

It was a cracking boat. The only downside for me was the 45kg weight and getting it onto a car.

I then bought an old town camper 16 royalex which is about 26kg...

My mate has an identical coleman to my old one and when we go paddling, I noticed that his is way better for tandem trips, especially with kit in. Its quicker and holds the speed longer due to the weight and length.

I do miss my old coleman, they are under rated in my opinion. I wouldnt take one on white water where you need to maneuver it though!!

[twopigs]

I do miss my old coleman, they are under rated in my opinion. I wouldnt take one on white water where you need to maneuver it though!!

I did hear a story from a current BCU Level 5 canoe coach about three Coleman canoes on the Upper Dart .... He was young and impressionable and did not know any better.....

Only the one he was paddling was carried out (unscathed), the other two had twisted and bent frames and tears in the plastic. They put them on the bank and waited for the next big rain event to carry them downstream.

[Adrian Cooper]

I understand you don't need to go anywhere as hardcore as the Upper Dart to wreck a boat, Paul. ;-)