Arkansas Canoe Club Forums

Hello all. Been lurking the site for a while. I grew up fishing and hunting out of a canoe. Never really done much whitewater. I look forward to joining the discussions around here. Probably won't be much help unless the topic is killing ducks.

I have been eyeing a new Buffalo 16 ft. Its main purpose will be to haul myself and gear for 2-3 day trips. Maybe one nighters, with my wife and gear accordingly. This boat needs to be quick and efficient for solo paddling. Very little if any whitewater usage. Mainly, I need a boat that is adept at river paddling, some moving water, but that won't factor into the decision of which boat I buy.

I have been looking for a few months. I have looked at the Buffalo, a Mad River Explorer 16, and a TBC Arkota. What do ya'll think.

Todd

bigbee wrote:... Probably won't be much help unless the topic is killing ducks....

This boat needs to be quick and efficient for solo paddling. Very little if any whitewater usage. Mainly, I need a boat that is adept at river paddling, some moving water....

... I have looked at the Buffalo, a Mad River Explorer 16, and a TBC Arkota. What do ya'll think.

Since you're new and responses may be slow over this "holiday" weekend, I thought I should at least say "Hi, and Welcome!" even if I don't have all your answers.

On duck hunting, not one myself, but some of my best friends are, and my foray into swamp paddling has made duck hunters into at least distant cousins, if not brothers.

On boat choices, found two previous threads that are worth reading,
http://forums.arkansascanoeclub.com/vie ... w=previous" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://forums.arkansascanoeclub.com/vie ... =3&t=17059" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I don't have experience with all three boats, so my comments must be taken with a huge grain of salt. I generally like the Buffalo Canoe as a "first and only canoe" for folks that want to run the Buffalo, Piney, Mulberry, etc. It is a somewhat "dated" design based on the old Blue Hole canoes that first appeared in the 1970's, and remains a good choice for mixed uses by those that want to run some WW. But it is not a "fast" boat, and I suspect either of the other two you mentioned would be better (faster / more efficient) for your specific goals, and yet still capable of running more WW if your desires change.

I do not own one, but have paddled tandem on many trips with friends who have owned the Mad River Explorer canoes.

My opinion here for what it is worth - the classic Mad River Explorer comes close to a perfect design for all around moderate white water and flat water trips. There are better designs for flat or WW but the Explorer is good on both and has stood the test of time very well.

I did a week long Boundary Waters trip in one and quite a few floats on class 2 light class 3 WW day trips.

I owned a Blue Hole OCA (Buffalo copied this canoe design) and it is also a good white water boat, not as easy to paddle on flat water as the Explorer but for trips on moving water around here it would work ok and the price is right.

check the Ft Smith Mohawk factory for their recommendations and maybe a blem or on sale unit.

Hey B B ...welcome

I would think you could get a better tracking boat than a buffy barge... I have a retired fleet boat. They can be had cheap. They are made for some easy whitewater. I know it doesn't take much headwind in a slow pool to make me have to REALLY pay attention to keeping it going where I want. Crosses currents easy tho.

Like Cowp sez, I have no experience with the other boats you mentioned.

I borrow my dads 14ft Buffalo quite often. It is one of the best handling boats I've paddled so far. I like manuverability, and that boat is great especially turning it backwards and doing some solo work from the front seat. It doesn't track quite as good as my dad's Discovery 169, but it's a totally different boat.