!I take it out almost every weekend out on a lake not that far from my home. Taking it down the Green River in Kentucky in late June. Is it heavy? It’s cross section is unique with exceptional stability and durability. It nearly launched me and completely capsized with little effort at trying to tip it. https://oldtowncanoe.johnsonoutdoors.com/canoes/recreation/guide-147 $999.99. 800 lbs total has been no problem at all in heavy chop. I was worried about legroom up front, but it wasn't a problem at all. It is almost impossible to keep upright if any obstacle is struck from the side. Buy a canoe model to match the intended use. With a listed capacity of 900 lbs, I did not expect this with less than 1/2 the listed capacity on board. Condition: New. Each time we take it out, I am impressed more and more by its versatility. Includes paddles and life preservers. They don't even come close to tipping. Old Town Saranac 146 Canoes. We have owned the Guide 147 since 2001. It depends on your balancing ability. Incredible. I've had this canoe in several lakes in Oklahoma and Texas as well as white water rivers in Texas, it tracks great and is easy to paddle, not the fastest canoe out there buy no means but this craft will not disappoint you if you buy it with what its intention are for: Enjoyment in nature and paddling. But who cares? However it is rugged and takes bounces, rock hits well - Note: I paddle on quiet waters not rushing rivers. It’s not too heavy to carry huge gears for month’s long trip but light one to go on a few days’ family outing. I decided on the Old Town Guide 147. As long as you don't act crazy while doing it...standing to fish is no problem...I've also had to stand a time or two to retrieve my favorite lure from a low hanging tree branch lol. I have yet to take it on a river but that is coming soon. It is serviceable but not much more. The boat was also very tough, made from polyethylene. Other than the minor issues the Old Town Guide 147 is a perfect canoe for the casual paddler looking for a getaway on a local lake or lazy river. Replacement premium 3.5 mil vinyl die cut decal for your canoe or kayak. I had to sell mine due to lack of paddling partners. I thought I'd put it through its paces before writing anything. Hit a major boil at the bottom lost balance and rolled over. I know it makes it more stable but I'm no spring chicken anymore.. Can't go wrong buy it. Minor point, I did find the black gunwale to get hot to handle in the bright sunshine and the rivets as well. In excellent condition, only used twice. I did it by myself and it was fine. She ain't fast, but that's not the purpose of this canoe. Archived. My only complaint would be that it seemed a little slow as we had trouble keeping up with the rest of the group. I gave this two stars because we didn't sink and I was able to unload the canoe on some greater fool. I have a Pathfinder and it can be quite a pain to mount it the roof when solo, but once you figure out a system for doing this, it's not so bad. I am used to 16 foot rentals, but the 147 tracked just fine. Its large weight capacity for the length is great. It’s stabilized by ash center carrying the yoke and durable black vinyl gunwales. Would prefer a lightweight option. For a boat under 15' it's pretty roomy. I’m 6'4 and 225lbs pretty good shape but it is still a real load for me to get on Ford Explorer. I need to find a way to stop sliding off the rear seat when really paddling. Not the fastest but perfect for these purposes. Good family boat. Solo works fine but had to remove the back rest from the front seat and sit backwards with lots of ballast in the wind. UPDATE 7/11/05 - Took the canoe out yesterday and it lived up to the all the reviews posted here. (Pay for the 6 hour trip, and return to the livery in less than 3 hours) So we received our Guide 147 as a wedding present. Ships to: United States. I'm an old guy with a bad shoulder so it's a struggle getting the Guide on top of my 4Runner, but it's worth it. I'm talking about a 40" long by 2" high bulge the width of the canoe. Long story shortened, the Guide 147 didn't work well. The soft hull is great in the summer, feels fine on bare feet. Old Town canoes for sale. Ride low tide out and ride high tide in. I do not see where stability is a big issue and it maneuvers nicely with the proper strokes. Almost impossible to track straight with a serious crosswind. We love this boat, it does everything we want, and was cheap, only $400. What an excellent way to get into canoeing. Can't say enough about the durability. A savings of 200.00. I have used other canoes that were 16 footers with keel so they tracked better than the 174. It's a great little recreational canoe, yes it's heavy. The boat was thin in the bow and it was warped in the stern they say it was a number 1 it was junk they would not take back dont buy from old town find another company. On the plus side - good stability, handles well, it's very tough and durable, quality is excellent. The only reason I gave the boat a 9 is because it is very heavy at 74 pounds. Especially if your going to load it on top of an SUV. Overall by biggest two complaints were how ""tippy"" the boat felt and its limited ability to carry ample gear. A member of the local canoe club recommended this boat for a solo paddler as it was the one he used. So I finally got to the point where I could buy one and I recognized that Old Town was a good name when it came to canoes. Performing "S" turns on a mild current Creek were next to impossible without 3 strong corrective strokes and applying stern rudder. Secondly, the plastic seats get slippery when one us wearing wet nylon shorts or swim wear. I plan to use it on lakes and maybe venture out onto some rivers as well. Canoe Guide 147 Old Town. I am very satisfied with the Guide's low price and performance, I got my guide for my 8th grade graduation and I could not think of a better choise, it is a great entry level canoe, and it is fast on lakes, I easily give it a 10. The sharp entry of the canoe makes is surprisingly efficient in paddling. Overall, I'm very pleased and my kids loved it. Pros: Tough, Affordable, Versatile I wouldn't want to go on a long portage without pads though, and mosquitoes seem to revel in the shade provided by the canoe. My only suggestion is that if you go solo. I just bought my Old Town Guide 147 yesterday. We bought the canoe from Gander Mountain for about $430 in the spring of 2007 (having thoroughly read these reviews). Very stable on entry and exit. Love the durability of it and love the price ($450 in 2010 at Sports Autority). The center bulges up from the force of the water. I wasn't handling it all that well myself to be honest. With normal use and reasonable respect for a canoe, I doubt you'll ever get a soaking. Love it. Compare Compare Now. It featured with tri-layer roto-molded polyethylene crafted shallow arch bottom and straight side chine. Didn't even notice a difference heading into 10mph winds. Still good. The boat is to heavy for me to carry so I drag it to the lake. Description: This is a new, unused Guide 147, 14 ft 6in canoe. Old Town Guide 147 in good conditionMinn Kota Trolling MotorPaddles and PFD included. One person In the water, this canoes is very stable and easy to enter and exit without going for an inadvertent swim. I've used it in class III rivers in Tn and lakes in north Texas. I am new to the canoing world and was lured to this canoe based on reviews I read on this site and others. Location: United States, Washington, Graham. I have taken the liberty of installing rear and forward thwarts for stability and for gear protection. My very first canoe was a 2001 Old Town Guide 147. Moderator. I have only tipped this canoe 2 times in all the years I've owned it and both times were from hitting large rocks in fast moving but shallow water. The one negative thing that I'll offer is that it is on the heavy side and most certainly requires two capable people when affixing it to the roof of your vehicle. In a wind the 174 becomes a beast to paddle. I love this canoe and I think that everyone should at least try one before to buy one. Handles great in tight marsh channels. For solo paddling I did sit in the front seat backwards as suggested and in a cross wind it was a challenge. I just bought this at a local shop for $520, I have taken it out a few times on a small pond with my wife at the front and 2 small kids in beach chairs in the middle. I have used it mainly on lakes and lochs but also been on the sea and a few slow rivers. I also took it out on a 3 day river trip fully loaded with gear for 2+ people. Good initial and excellent paddling stability. hide. We have some pretty major scrapes and gouges from floating when the water was to low and they are all cosmetic. The 16's weighed about the same as the 174 but seem to plow through the water better. The kid at the store showed me another brand of plastic canoe and I told him to push in on the side and then push in on the side of the Guide. I've had this boat for over a year now, and I have to say it is a great canoe. I was looking for a stable, tough canoe to use paddling and hunting with my son. When you buy through links on this site, we may earn an affiliate commission that we use for site maintenance. It is easier to steer than th kineo, and I believe it even tracks better than the kineo. Common in most sections of Europe, The us and Australia, it is now building its way even to Asia and Africa. One thing for sure, my ways are changing for health reasons, also so I can take this 6 yr old canoeing in Arkansas on some level 1 family outings. Bottom line is this is an excellent solo boat for larger paddlers and for those with heavy loads. Stability is my favorite attribute in this canoe, both initial and while paddling. I got mine from my folks, they couldn't get along while paddling, kayaking fits them better. By then I plan to be 75 pounds lighter and j stroking like crazy. It handled all of our gear with no problem. Being a beginner, I expected to go through a learning curve, but the canoe tracked and paddled very well from the beginning. But, due to this increased stability, it handles like the tank it is. It was very hard to hike that sucker through the mountains and swamps in that wilderness. It makes fishing and soloing just perfect because the canoe isn't that long. If you want a good family utility canoe for the money the Guide 147 is the one to get. We got ours for $499 @ Canadian Tire. Took it out on a smooth lake yesterday and aside from that initial [in]stability, it was relatively A-OK. It's proven to be a great boat for fishing, although I wish the initial stability was a little better. The kids like to play with it in the lake because it doesn't tip over, but it still feels tippy. I would also recommend it to those who want a canoe for families since it's plenty stable for smaller children. It handles like a pig. The weight is 20 lbs higher than much more expensive models, but the cost savings and stiffness are well worth it. I have fished with kids, the wife, big fat guys, new paddlers, etc. Its a bit of a grunt to get up onto my 4x4's roof rack by myself, but that will come with practice. I use the foam blocks to transport it form my house to the lake and back. As for the weight I'm 5'7" and around 155 lbs and can carry it from the garage to the roof of my '91 Toyota Corolla have it strapped down and be ready to go in 5 minutes by myself, the carry yoke works great. NO canoe does everything perfect, but i say for 70% of your canoers out there this is a great fit. but not unreasonable. Due to lack of storage out boat is stored outside year around. It’s not too heavy to carry huge gears for month’s long trip but light one to go on a few days’ family outing. Bottom line I guess....it was a cheap boat and the moral of the story is you get what you pay for, and, why would I think it would work as a solo boat anyway?! The canoe has held up great. Includes paddles and life preservers. Primary reason I bought the Old Town was I found it at Academy Sports for 449.00. Trooper as she is isn't complaining, but I see her cramped up there. But if you want a good stable rec canoe for the lake or some river, or for some fishing you can't go wrong. 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