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| My Old Town 12' Pack (left) and 14' Hunter Canoes |
Every now and again I happen onto a forum website where somebody explains they have an opportunity to buy a used Old Town canoe, so they're seeking the opinion of people who have owned and used them. This post is for those folks who want to know about two great Old Town canoes no longer being manufactured.
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| Grandson Kevin off to fish in my 12' Old Town Pack canoe |
I am very fortunate to own two discontinued models -- a 2010 Old Town 12' Pack canoe (33 pounds), and a 1986 Old Town 14' Hunter canoe (52 pounds).
I wouldn't part either for any reason because -- for me -- they are two of the best -- solo -- fishing canoes ever made. There are slightly better tracking and faster canoes, and I wouldn't take them on a river with anything greater than class 1 water, but for flat-water fishing they are as good as anything ever built.
I'm now 73 years old and these two canoes are just the ticket for an old man. They are both light weight and easy to paddle solo with a traditional paddle or a double bladed kayak paddle. They are also both capable of carrying all the gear I need for a two or three day flat-water canoe adventure.
Finally, they are both low maintenance -- especially if you keep them under a roof.
Old Town 12' Pack Canoe:
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| 1986 Old Town catalog page for the 12' Pack |
I picked up my first Pack canoe on a 1987 trip to Montana, but I made the mistake of selling it about 2004. It was such a perfect solo canoe I replaced it with a new one in 2010.
Old Town finally discontinued the Pack canoe a few years ago. I suspect the main reason it was discontinued is that shipping companies tended to beat the hell out of them, and nobody wants to pay a thousand dollars for a brand new damaged canoe. When I bought mine from LL Bean, the shipper severely damaged two of them so much that I rejected them. Finally, a third one arrived with just minor damage I could live with.
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| 2010 Old Town catalog page for the 12' Pack |
Don't get the wrong idea, these royalex canoes are plenty tough if you treat them right. I've car-topped royalex canoes all over the Western United States and Canada without any damage. But, I also don't drag them on sand bars or gravel beds.
Old Town 14' Hunter Canoe:
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| 1986, 14' Old Town Hunter canoe |
The 14' Old Town Hunter canoe is just a tad larger (2 feet longer) and heavier (19 pounds) than the 12' Pack, and it is also a delight to double paddle.
I think a 14' canoe, that weighs just 52 pounds, is just about the best all around canoe ever made. It's just fine to solo, but is also comfortable with two paddlers.
The only reason I use my Pack canoe instead of the Hunter canoe is wind. The extra two feet of length makes paddling, in seriously windy conditions, just that much harder.
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| 1990 Old Town catalog page for the 14' Hunter |
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| Pack canoe with Spring Creek stabilizer and oars |
I've also added outriggers and have rowed both of these canoes.
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| Hunter with an Essex wooden rowing outrigger |
My Pack canoe on its brand new Malone Xtralight trailer. This will save a lot of stress on my old back. See you on the water.
1986 Old Town Hunter 14' Canoe (cane seats) — VERY GOOD CONDITION + extras.
Has one crease in hull that occurred more than 15 years ago and has not been a concern.
SPECIFICATIONS: Length: 14' , Width: 35” , Depth: 12” , Bow Height: 20” , Weight: 53 lbs. , Capacity: 505 lbs.
EXTRAS INCLUDED:
Two (2) Carlisle ash beavertail paddles.
Two (2) Carlisle Magic (kayak style) Paddles 230 cm.
One (1 compl.) Essex Rowing Rig with two (2) take-apart rowing oars.
Two (2) NRS PFDs (one blue and one green fisherman style).
One Canoe Carrier with Tie-Downs, Foam Block Style (4).
More Canoe Extras
Collapsable handle, nylon, trout landing net
Two painter ropes with snaps
One clamp-on Scotty rod holder
Two strap-on seat-back cushions
One folding anchor kit in padded bag
Two SeaSense Bailer Buckets with Lid
Two large sponges
One large waterproof carrying bag (not in photo)
I WILL TAKE $1,800.00 CASH FOR ALL
LOCAL PICKUP IN CHATSWORTH, CA 91311 ONLY
COMPARE:
1986 OLD TOWN HUNTER 14' CANOE, +++ ALL YOU NEED & MORE
SPECIFICATIONS · Length : 14' · Width : 35” · Depth : 12” · Bow : 20” Weight : 53 lbs. · Capacity: 505 lbs.
COMPARE TO A NEW
Nova Craft Prospector 14, $3,719,00 + S&H — CANOE ONLY
SPECIFICATIONS
Length: 14’ • Width: 32” • Depth: 13.5” • Weight: 45 lbs • Capacity: 550 lbs
Great job compiling all those old info sheets on the Packs. I noticed that the specs are basically identical, except the 2010 version is rated up to 600 pounds, while the 1986 version is rated for 400. Any idea why? I just got a used Pack that is an early 2000's model with a cane seat. I'm assuming that the cane seat puts it in the category of the earlier boats with the 400 pound limit, but I'm not sure.
ReplyDeleteHi John, The capacity is also dependent on weather, wind, etc. I can spend a whole weekend on a calm lake with a hundred pounds of gear and my 200# frame, but going down a river with any kind of rapids is another story. I floated the upper Missouri for six days back in 1995, and was glad a 16' Penobscot with a capacity closer to 800#. That said, the Pack fits about anything the average 75 year-old can tackle. :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Drifting. I ended up calling Old Town, and they said they changed the rating from 400 to 600 by measuring differently--6 inches below the gunnel for 400 #, and 4 inches below the gunnel for the 600 # rating. Same boat all years. With 4 inches of clearance, if you leaned to one side, you might take in some water!
ReplyDeleteThanks John. Good to know.
ReplyDeleteAfter reviewing canoes, I would like to purchase an Old Town Pack canoe. Any idea of where to start looking ?
ReplyDeleteYour best bet to find a Pack is on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace but you need to be persistent and react quickly.
ReplyDeleteThey sell very quickly and the price keeps going up.
I recently sold one on Craigslist and had a buyer within four hours and it was gone in less than 24 hours.
I have another one for sale and multiple people interested but none have set a time yet. First one to set a time to meet gets it, I don't think that the people realize that they are going to miss out by waiting.
I still have one for my wife which I won't sell, I don't want to sleep in the garage.
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DeleteI'm looking for an old town pack canoe. Anyone selling?
ReplyDeleteGood luck.
ReplyDeletehave a hunter in excellent shape for sale
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ReplyDeleteA nice clean, but modified, Pack sold on eBay today... $961.00 local pickup. I figure that's good price, especially when the 119 sells for $800.00.
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