This classic Canoe is a hidden Gem
Sit down this winter with any canoeist who has paddled in the Quetico Superior country of Minnesota before 2000, and they will reminisce on the craft by which they navigated the land's waterways. Over whisps of warmth from a hot coffee, old-timers have reminisced fondly of their aluminum Grunman Canoe, reminding me of days popularized by both metal and wooden canvas hulls. While these boats had their day in the north country, their popularity has waned with the growing presence of composite canoes. While lighter canoes have ballooned in popularity, cost-effective options that are still backcountry ready have seemingly been jetisined, even from the used boat market.
With this being said, several post-2000s designs produced by storied companies in the canoe tripping world still hold up, even in a world of IXP and T-Formex. Few boat builders are as prolific as Old Town Canoes, which started producing canoes in Maine back when William McKinley was president. While the company has produced multiple classics in its tenure, few are as elite as the Old Town Penobscot. The geometry and design of the boat, named after the County in Maine where Old Town Canoes is located, make it one of the most versatile canoes ever made.
Designed with a long water line and planning hull with a nearly non-existent bow and stern rocker, the Penobscot is not, at first glance, an ideal canoe for advanced backcountry tripping, where whitewater may become a factor. The Penobscots' true whitewater potential lies in its width, allowing it to maneuver through narrow rock gardens found in both the Quetico Superior Country and the large river basins feeding into Hudson Bay. Additionally, a thwart located behind the bow seat allows for a bow paddler to sit just behind the webbed seat, lifting the bow profile for running larger wave trains and drop pools.
Photo Credit: Erik Eckilson
Additionally, a thwart located behind the bow seat allows for a bow paddler to sit just behind the webbed seat, lifting the bow profile for running larger wave trains and drop pools.
Compared to other whitewater focused design, including the Esquif Canyon, the Penobsot is lighter for portaging while holding up better in headwinds, compared to its whitewater-centric peers. Additionally, when compared to popular designs like the Northstar B-17, the planning hull of the Penobscot creates a more nimble boat with an equally long waterline, for nearly a fourth of the retail price of Northstar Canoes.
While the Penobscot is still in production, following Old Town's acquisition by Johnson Outdoors and the phasing out of Royalex as a hull layup, the quality of the commercially available Penobscots has taken a sharp decline. This said, the Roalex layup run of the Penobscot can still be found on the used market, often times selling for just north of $1,000. As a diamond in the rough in the history of Old Town Canoes, the Penobscot is a Swiss Army Knife that offers quick and effective accessibility to canoe tripping.
