Old Town Pack Canoe - Two Year Review And Rambling - Bonus Bald Eagle

[@Motorcyclewindtherapy]

I've now come up on 14 years with my OT Pack. Still the greatest canoe I've ever owned in decades of paddling. I'd buy another one instantly if I could ever find one. I have a 17' canoe for big family trips...and I guess I'll settle on a traditional 119 for a back up to the Pack. Enjoy your Pack! 33 pounds of greatness to me,!

[@CHARLESCRANFORD]

I have had mine on two years now. I also have an Old Town Camper, for non-solo trips. My Pack only had one tiny dent and one small scratch, when I bought it used. It now has many battle scars. I had to replace the cane material, in the seat, that had dry rotted. Have you had to make any repairs on your Pack?

[@Motorcyclewindtherapy]

@@CHARLESCRANFORD recently I took it down some 8 miles of class 2...got way too many scars and I bent the seat bolts. I got the wooden dowels and seat hardware directly from Old Town in less than a week and she's good as new again. I need to use their repair kit on 2 small places where I'm wore thru the vinyl into the white...but I only have the underside exposed to the sunlight during rides to the water and I am mostly a morning fisherman/paddler...so I may wait until winter on that. Generally, it's a lot more scratched than I'd like since she's irreplaceable now...but I love her and choose her over my other boats most every time out! Happy paddling!

[@CHARLESCRANFORD]

@@Motorcyclewindtherapy I got the same seat, from Old Town. and put a third seat in the middle of my Old Town Camper. I thought I was going to have to cut it to fit, but it was the perfect size to use the existing holes for the thwart and I only had to drill two new holes. The guy I bought my Pack from, had only used it on lakes, so it was almost new. I try and keep it off the rocks, but the ones you don't see are the ones that get you. And they are boats that like to be in the water. I think a good used scratched up boat is better than one that looks new because it never gets used. Thanks again for the conversation. Keep paddling.

[@MrBluoct]

Either add any protective guards of any kind? Any suggestion cleaners? Preferred paddles and your sizes?

[@MrBluoct]

Was not aware OT had any support for this older model

[@potcrak1]

A two inch flag of duck tape on the inside bottem of the paddle helps with the drip.

[@CHARLESCRANFORD]

I have seen that. I just got some bee's wax to try waxing the paddle. If that doesn't help, I might try the duct tape method.

[@potcrak1]

@@CHARLESCRANFORD try the duck tape first so you don't have a pound of wax that doesn't help and is a pain to remove or use that rain shedding stuff used on windshields. Rainex?

[@CHARLESCRANFORD]

@@potcrak1 Too late. I just waxed my paddle, for Saturday. I left it in the car to warm up in the sun. Wasn't that hard to apply or remove the excess. I had thought of Rainex but opted for natural bee's wax. I figured it would be better for the waterways. And yes I now have one pound of white beeswax (am I that predictable?). I was thinking of making some fire starters with some cedar that I have saved.

[@jsangel567]

1st view and comment! More important though.. Thanks for the update and fantastic scenery!

[@CHARLESCRANFORD]

Thank you. It was a beautiful day.

[@Thejoshrandall]

Knowing there are so many minty RX canoes in garages all over the country, longing to be in the water, keeps me up at night. If anyone has, or knows of a Pack, Hunter, or 15' Camper or anything close in RX from MR, Dagger etc. being held prisoner, ready to escape, it would really help me get some sleep.😉😏

[@CHARLESCRANFORD]

Barn find canoes are the best, especially when the owner doesn't know what they have and you can get them for a song. It is sad thinking of them being trapped. I prefer to think of them as being preserved for a later date. Good luck finding a good RX canoe.

[@Thejoshrandall]

@@CHARLESCRANFORD lol, yes , thanks

[@WisconsinEric]

I traded my 2013 Old Town Pack Angler for a 2012 Old Town Penobscot 16RX in a cash-free trade. I have no regrets but I do miss my OT Pack canoe. Sounds as though your Camper 16 and Pack 12 make the perfect combo.

[@CHARLESCRANFORD]

I have heard that the Penobscot is a perfect boat, if you want one boat for both solo and tandem paddling. I struggle to get my Camper on top of the car, especially after a long paddle, but my Pack practically lifts itself onto the car. Thank you for the comment....keep paddling.

[@gregmccaslin7400]

Thank you for the review . just out of curiosity , how much do you weigh ?

[@CHARLESCRANFORD]

I am usually between 175 and 185. Summer finds me more active and lighter. I put on the Winter weight for insulation. My Pack Canoe rides a little bow high, without cargo up front. If I put about 50 pounds, up front, it levels it out. I feel like it could carry much more, if I need it to. Thank you for the question.

[@vincentleung7697]

I have just bought an used Pack. I am wondering If the canoe can carry two persons. My wife and I together are less than 300lbs.

[@CHARLESCRANFORD]

Congratulations on finding a Pack! They are getting rare. The Pack is designed to be a solo canoe. My son and I have paddled in my Pack, and it handled well, but he was young and only weighed about 50 lbs. I also used my Pack on a river clean up day and had over 600 lbs in it. It sat noticeably lower in the water, but in no way felt unstable. You could probably paddle with two adults, but one person would not have a seat. Give it a try on a nice calm lake to see how it handles. The only thing I would be worried about would be the forward paddler could possibly get entrapped under the thwart during a capsize. Good luck and let me know how it works out.

[@vincentleung7697]

@@CHARLESCRANFORD Thanks for your insight!

[@smd182]

If you ever need/want to sell this thing please let me know 😬, I would love to have one.

[@CHARLESCRANFORD]

Sorry, but I don't have any plans on parting with this canoe. But just in case, I will add you to the list. You are not the only person that has told me they are looking for one to buy. If you look carefully enough, you will find one. I lucked across this one on Craigslist listed as just "Nice Canoe"....that was all, no pictures, make, model, nothing. I texted the guy and said he would probably get more inquiries if he listed the make and model. He responded that it was an Old Town Pack and that he would change the listing's description and post some pictures. I told him to not worry about going thru the trouble because I was coming to buy it. I got a flat tire, on the way, but one hour later, I had my almost as good as new Pack on top of the car. Thank you for the comment and good luck finding one.