Post by ldmrt on Jul 15, 2012 6:56:15 GMT -5
I was part of a group from work and we rented canoes from Andre Arpin in Kedgwick for a day trip down the Kedgwick River. I was given one of the Esquif canoes, the Prospecteur model, which I was excited to try because of good reviews I had heard of for this brand.
Well.... I have to tell you, I did not like this canoe. It was very tippy, and seemed very off balance the entire trip. We only had 1 hard sided cooler which was placed in the center of the canoe, and 2 small bags since it was a 7 hour trip, we didn't need much gear. Granted, my partner was a newbie, it was his second trip ever in a canoe and he did jump around a bit and wasn't always seated in the center of his seat but the canoe was tilted to the left the entire trip even when he was seated properly.
Eventually, with about 4 Miles left in the trip, I leaned to the left and in we went. The canoe didn't take in much water and it was in a low spot, so we had no problems taking it to shore and it was when we went to get back in that it flipped over AGAIN!!!! I've been canoeing for 33 years and this is the second and third time I have ever flipped a canoe! Nothing was hurt except for my pride, and my partner's pager. He's the medical director of my hospital laboratory!!!! How's that for making a good impression??
Another thing I didn't like was when we went through any waves, you could feel the center of the canoe buckle up with each wave, making it unstable again.
The only thing I did like about it was that it was very easy to steer when we really had to.
Well.... I have to tell you, I did not like this canoe. It was very tippy, and seemed very off balance the entire trip. We only had 1 hard sided cooler which was placed in the center of the canoe, and 2 small bags since it was a 7 hour trip, we didn't need much gear. Granted, my partner was a newbie, it was his second trip ever in a canoe and he did jump around a bit and wasn't always seated in the center of his seat but the canoe was tilted to the left the entire trip even when he was seated properly.
Eventually, with about 4 Miles left in the trip, I leaned to the left and in we went. The canoe didn't take in much water and it was in a low spot, so we had no problems taking it to shore and it was when we went to get back in that it flipped over AGAIN!!!! I've been canoeing for 33 years and this is the second and third time I have ever flipped a canoe! Nothing was hurt except for my pride, and my partner's pager. He's the medical director of my hospital laboratory!!!! How's that for making a good impression??
Another thing I didn't like was when we went through any waves, you could feel the center of the canoe buckle up with each wave, making it unstable again.
The only thing I did like about it was that it was very easy to steer when we really had to.