Old Town Saranac 146: an Honest Review

The Old Town Saranac 146 canoe is a recreational budget canoe. This fishing canoe has been mine for 5 years and it was time for a boat review. There is a lot packed into this 14 foot 6 inch canoe, but is it worth purchasing? Here is my review and feelings on it.

[@jjrjr6016]

I have this canoe and it’s gonna warp regardless , I went to Lowe’s and purchased 2 cedar fence pickets , I removed the middle section and slid the pickets under the front and back seat , not far just an inch or 2 , then I put the middle section back on , was amazed by how much it helped , it’s not perfect but helps a lot, a great upgrade especially if you want to stand ( put a couple short stainless screws in middle so they don’t slide

[@KissTheFish]

Awesome upgrade idea. I may do it this season

[@jjrjr6016]

@@KissTheFish if you want to go all out there is room for a 1”x 8” x 3/4” I do believe there is enough slack in that bottom for 3/4 “ vs the 5/8” picket . Looking at the rear seat where it is gonna slide under if you use the 1x8 I would suggest trim the outside corners forward a couple inches being the bottom starts to curve up at that point . And an idea to cut the length from foam block to foam block and remove front or rear seat also to lock it in , no screws needed . It really not only supports the bottom but adds a touch of class too . I wish I had some way to send you a pic of my stand assist bar also , I think you would like it

[@jjrjr6016]

@@KissTheFish to open round dry compartment easily lift the handle , turn the handle 90degrees , the handle not the lid , and pull up

[@SmokeDogNY420]

Fair review. This canoe really takes a good beating when you run into rocks and logs...nice to see you've gotten a lot of use out of yours.

[@Midwesthookset]

Great, honest review👍🎣 looks like a pretty decent rig!

[@KissTheFish]

Thank you very much!

[@sangamonriverrats6769]

great review!!!! i have had mine for about 6 years, the only dislike is the seat us very uncomfortable

[@KissTheFish]

Thank you! I wish they were more comfortable too.

[@keneofugotti4957]

Thanks for this review. Im currently looking at this same Canoe. $647 at Dicks sporting goods. 6/23/23

[@KissTheFish]

If you get it I hope you enjoy it

[@willrandolph9664]

I payed same plus 400$ shipping for mine. Gonna do some mods, put grip tape on floor, transom 50# thrust Minkota

[@HomieGXC]

This was extremely helpful, thank you!

[@KissTheFish]

Thank you for watching!

[@mattmeir1246]

Awesome, thank you for the reply. I'm in the process of picking one up this weekend!!

[@KissTheFish]

I hope you enjoy it! I've loved mine

[@Xng88]

Got mine 2 yrs ago still look brand new. Got a mount and a trolling on it. Gonna buy some PVC pipe and do some DIY stabilizer soon.

[@KissTheFish]

It's a fun boat! I've put a lot of fish in it, and my son and I have put a lot of miles paddling in it comfortably

[@jessewurm1103]

Just got lucky and picked one up for free! Needs a little tlc… grab handles broke, paracord on the seats snapped but other than that it looks great! Waves in the bottom just like yours but almost no scratches

[@KissTheFish]

That's awesome! I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

[@jessewurm1103]

@@KissTheFish thank you! It’s exactly what i was looking for! Can’t wait to get on the water

[@intiaboats]

I bought a Ram-x Wind River, which is of similar design, a foot longer. I appreciate you showing how the hull has developed the "washboard" issue, as I noted that on mine, last Fall. The seat design in your's is better, especially the existence of a backrest. However, I noticed that you removed the steel tube that runs longitudinally along the keel indentation of the inner hull. While I find some flex of the floor, it is not as exaggerated as you have shown your's to be, so, you may find that installing a similar tube may improve the floor issue. I'm thinking of filling mine with lead shot to improve the righting moment. Very informative video! Thanks!

[@KissTheFish]

Thank you very much for watching! I know the revised/updated Saranac 146 has the tube support as a beam, unfortunately this one did not come with it. My friend has the same boat and when I saw his all I could think was "man that's a good idea" haha. Thank you for the idea to install one. I think I'm going to. Happy travels out there

[@krisk4513]

Great video. Do you know if you could put a back rest somehow on the bench seat in middle?

[@KissTheFish]

Thank you! The way it is set up with the stock middle piece I don't think you can. The middle has a console that opens and a foam block to the bottom under that. I can't recommend this because I haven't personally done it, but I would imagine if you removed the stock middle piece and put in two cross members for the hull support, then you could totally put a backrest seat on that. I don't want to misguide you though, because I have not personally removed it before.

[@jjrjr6016]

Yes install cross brace from gunwales at desired location and add resting pad to it , don’t remove the console section it is main structural support for the center of that boat

[@jscancella]

Have you ever tried some of the foot propelled kayaks? I find it a pain to keep in the same spot because I drift and then have to put my rod down to reposition with the paddle

[@KissTheFish]

I haven't tried one but would love to. I agree it can be a pain being drifted around even with an anchor. Maybe that will be my next years Christmas gift haha

[@kristin347]

Try a drift sock, we just got one for use with our Saranac 146. Nice and compact and light weight when not in use. Works like a charm!

[@KissTheFish]

Thanks for the recommendation! I will check them out

[@MultiFurd]

Has the bowed hull affected handling or performance ?

[@MultiFurd]

Looking to buy one used and it looks like good condition except for the same problem on the hull

[@KissTheFish]

It has not affected performance or handling. The bottom is slightly soft when I stand, but I tend to spread my legs so I don't stand on 1 point. I've never felt as though I would go through, it just has a little flex. If you can get a good deal, it's definitely worth it! I would buy it again in a heartbeat

[@athappyhiker]

I just sold mine. It was super comfy paddling and tracked well. Just too big and heavy for one person to manhandle 14.5 feet of canoe onto a car top.

[@KissTheFish]

I can understand that! I would love to have a small kayak just for myself for those reasons

[@dontall71]

The boat has character.

[@KissTheFish]

Definitely

[@iandtexarkana4549]

Since Old Town canoes have a lifetime warranty, I wonder if you can return the warped canoe for a new one?

[@Vstromxt]

Will it sink is the question? Used to have an aluminum sears and roebuck. It wouldn't sink. Had flotation in the front and rear.

[@KissTheFish]

So this has foam blocks under both seats and in the middle. I'm not going to try to sink it, but it is advertised as you could flood it and it won't sink

[@mattmeir1246]

Do you ever go in it by yourself? And if you do, where do you sit in the middle or the back? And is it sturdy enough to do so?

[@KissTheFish]

90% of the time I'm in it by myself and I always sit in the back. It is sturdy and I don't feel like I'm going to flip, the only feeling I ever get is that the bottom is a little soft (flexible) which I got used to.

[@DaltonUber]

Can the molded seats be removed to be replaced with web seats?

[@KissTheFish]

The seats are only held in by 4 bolts, however Old Town does state that the molded seats reaching the bottom of the boat provides structural support to the boat. So can it be done? Absolutely and there are some good videos on YT of this (see the video from The Del called "Canoe mod. Front seat removal and thwart install".) Just watch out because this flat bottom already flexes alot. Good luck!

[@dougroberts3643]

That watertight, pain in the butt storage compartment, looks to have an o-ring that keeps water from entering. I wonder if you could put a light coat of Vaseline on that o-ring and lip surrounding the o-ring.

[@KissTheFish]

I'm definitely going to try that. Anything to make it easier to open! Thanks for the idea!

[@dougroberts3643]

@Kiss The Fish Another idea I had is to use a fine grit sandpaper and sand lightly around the lip of the lid that goes down into the hole. Sand a little at a time and continue checking the tightness. Obviously you don't want to take off to much or it will get to loose and not work at all.

[@user-pi5lo6jt5v]

Just leave top off and use it as open stg.

[@markabendroth1774]

Q tip and Vaseline or chapstick

[@zekebeagle9029]

I own one. It's a poor solo canoe. Because of the seat type, can't flip it around and be near the middle. OK for two people I guess. The middle "seat" is worthless added weight. I removed it and built a cedar thwart with hull support. Saved 7 lbs and now possible to kneel near the middle. Still a heavy, slow canoe. Have a 13' Grumman double ender. 20 lbs. lighter and so much more maneuverable., but a lot more expensive.

[@likeadog7752]

You can’t flip the seat around?

[@zekebeagle9029]

@@likeadog7752 No You can't - it has a back as you can see. You could replace it with a traditional, backless woven seat I guess.

[@jjrjr6016]

It’s a good fishing canoe with 2batteries up front a 45lb thrust on the back , a stand up assist bat at center console and cedar fence picket slid under the seats and console makes for a well balanced sturdy fishing 🎣 boat , a lazy old fisherman’s boat

[@codymoore7528]

I want to put my gear and dogs in one. Can the middle and front seat be removed?

[@chriscutler9859]

I've got this same boat. The seats and middle console provide stability and shape to the boat. You might want to design some structural support if you remove them. I fish all the time with my dog in this boat and she loves it.

[@chriscutler9859]

If it helps, my boat also had the same problem with buckling or warping. I removed the seats and console, added a thick 8’ x 1.5” pvc pipe that I cut in half down its length and reinstalled the seats. Problem solved.

[@KissTheFish]

Sounds like a good modification!

[@myles4534]

Where did you get the seats

[@KissTheFish]

These are the stock seats it came with. I don't know if they still come with them but they are pretty comfortable

[@user-or2kj2iu9y]

Why don’t you put worms in that container?

[@KissTheFish]

The little water tight one? That would definitely work. I do use the middle storage box for lures and batteries and such when I'm fishing

[@duanepinkston2983]

How staple is this boat better than a kayak

[@KissTheFish]

It's pretty stable. I stand and fly fish in it, which requires a lot of motions and I feel stable always in it

[@timothyhaskell8262]

There ISN'T ANY KEEL. If you're out on a lake, the wind will have its way with you.

[@KissTheFish]

Hasn't bothered me at all and I canoe by myself in ponds and lakes. I do carry a lot though so the weight probably helps