Know you’d like to do a canoe trip, but not sure which canoe will work best for you? There are several types of canoes out there, each with unique advantages and disadvantages. At Golden Eagle Lodge, we rent aluminum, Royalex, and Kevlar canoes. Below we’ve listed some Canoe information about each of these in hopes that it helps you, find the right fit for your needs.
Aluminum – With a weight of about 80lbs, the aluminum canoe is the sturdiest and most stable on this list. It’s a great watercraft for fishing and touring around the lake, however, it is not the most enjoyable canoe to portage. This type of canoe is recommended for beginners who do not plan to portage from lake to lake, though it can be used for this, the lighter weight canoes available are much more desirable. The aluminum canoe also has a keel that runs along the hull which allows it to track a straight line much easier but at the cost of precision maneuverability. Aluminum canoes are the easiest canoes to handle on windy days and their overall stability is the main selling point for this design.
IXP – Weighing in at 64 lbs, the IXP canoe is a good, all purpose canoe. If you are familiar with canoes, think of the IXP as Royalex 2.0. These canoes use the same design as our Kevlar canoes, but are built with a heavier and more impact resistant hull material. The IXP canoe can be used for BWCA trips, or any other expedition, and are a good alternative to the Kevlar for those who don’t want to be as concerned about bumping rocks or getting wet feet while loading and unloading at portages. The main draw of the IXP is its good stability, while also maintaining good maneuverability. It takes the strengths of both aluminum and Kevlar canoes and combines them together.
Kevlar – The lightest weight canoe of the bunch, our 17′ Kevlar canoes weigh approximately 42 pounds. The Kevlar canoe is the ultimate “BWCA canoe trip” canoe. Their lightweight design makes them a breeze for portaging and the most popular choice for overnight BWCA trips. Like the IXP, the Kevlar does not have a keel, and that coupled with its even lighter weight gives the Kevlar canoe the most amount of maneuverability, speed, and precision of any canoe on the water. For any kind of portaging, as far as canoes go, Kevlar canoes are the gold standard. Do note that with their extreme light weight, they are more fragile than other types of canoes. Extra caution must be taken with Kevlar canoes at portages and landings. Do not stand or sit in a Kevlar canoe while it’s on shore or resting on a rock.
