Review Old Town Pack Canoe

Super light canoe maiden voyage. 2014 manufactured kevlar solo canoe

[@captgregbrown5773]

Great video you have done I live in the Fla Keys and wish I was there, I have a Guide 14.7 and it is to heavy for me to lift with me being disabled. I just spent 3 years in a wheelchair and you make me want to get out on the water again thanks for a great video.

[@audyitter9637]

Greg, Thank you for watching. Best wishes on your recovery and returning to outdoor activities.

[@joeblank618]

I took the seat out of mine and put in another thwart which I rest the back of a folding seat like yours against , I put a float cushion under the folding seat to bring it up and make more comfortable . Made the canoe much more stable and works well with a double blade paddle . We sail the canoe occasionally also .

[@audyitter9637]

Joe, thank you for watching this video. Experienced Canoeist, like yourself, know to modify a newly acquire boat to fit the paddler. I modified my seat a second time lowering it 6 1/2 inches. I also use a kayak paddle for paddling against the current of the Ohio River. I canoe paddle on the down river way.

[@inthewoodswithbigfoot3941]

I simply love to paddle a canoe. It is so peaceful and calming...

[@audyitter9637]

In the Woods with Bigfoot, Thank you for watching the video. Yes, I too find great peace on and in the water. I can always tell if I'm in a good flow when I begin paddling. If I feel I'm working too hard or feel slightly unsteady, I calm myself in any of a number of ways. Within moments, I hardly notice I'm paddling and feel as if I'm gliding over the surface. It's quite extraordinary.

[@warrenweisfus709]

I have had a pack canoe for 27 years. Love my kayakcanoe! Installed 2nd thwart where seat used to be. I sit in a boat cushion on the floor, lean back against a 2nd boat cushion leaning against 2nd thwart. Double ended kayak paddle for locomotion. It’s like a little sports car on the water!

[@audyitter9637]

Beautiful!

[@ShakespeareCafe]

Nice review. Just picked up one off craigslist. Can't beat a canoe for hauling camping equipment.

[@audyitter9637]

You're super lucky to find one from what I hear. I sure hope you enjoy yours as much as I do mine. Happy canoeing.

[@elvisslo]

Pretty cool looking Audy! Looks fun!

[@audyitter9637]

Ken Lua. Thank you for watch and taking time to comment. She's a beautiful craft and a vital part of my now six boat fleet (four kayak and two canoe). Light, super sturdy, (with the seat lowered 6 inches)and easily supports a full winter camping layup (two 60 liter packs) with room to spare.

[@elvisslo]

@@audyitter9637 you're lucky! My old town Saranac 146 weights 80 lbs!

[@audyitter9637]

@@elvisslo I am very lucky. My paddling mentor, Frank once told me, "The most expensive boat is the one you never use." A $200 boat used once cost $200 per trip. A $1,000 boat used 500 times cost $2 per trip. My cost per trip of my fleet of boats is $1.72 per trip and under 30 cents per paddled mile. Weight become a greater factor as we age. My first canoe, an Old Town 169 weighed over 90 pounds. I can still maneuver its replacement, a Freedom Mad River 75ish pounds. But 30 to 50 pound boats, which is the weight range of the 4 kayak and the Pack Canoe, is much preferred and allows me to paddle with great frequency (up to 100 times a year).

[@elvisslo]

@@audyitter9637 All I can't is you da man Audy!

[@pappy451]

i just bought a used Old Town Guide Solo 119 . it's 11'9" long, 32 1/2" wide weighs about 50-55 lbs . i don't think they make this one anymore . that one you have weighing only 33 lbs would be much nicer . BUT . . . i do not regret buying mine ! Looks like the kayak paddle is they way to go . i'll carry both !

[@audyitter9637]

I'm so happy to hear you found a boat that's just right for you. Yes to the kayak paddle - or as I refer to it while paddling a canoe = a double blade paddle.

[@stefanhikingstevens920]

beautiful

[@robertpendergast2620]

Real nice!

[@audyitter9637]

Robert, thank you for watching and the kind comment. May the lake near you be calm and the sun warm your body, mind and spirit. Happy Springtime.

[@ArfOtis]

Is that saddle lake? It's a pretty morning with the fog. Great find on the unused Pack. You should have tried it in the stock configuration first just for comparison. I think I would have liked it better with just the seat lowered a bit for single blade paddling but I am a traditional canoe guy. I keep trying to get a Pack but they disappear quickly when offered. I'm still happy with my 14' Wenonah Vagabond in Royalex. It's 9 pounds heavier but almost 3 inches more narrow than the Pack and I think it probably tracks better. I tried one of the OT 119 boats and it waddled like a duck!

[@TheSpewup]

Hello I hope you are well. I am in the UK and hoping to have an Old Town Pack very soon. I have watched your video a number of times and others and wondering why eventually you done away with that seat with the back to it that sits on the bottom of the canoe? Does that seat have a brand name? I remember from another video that you mentioned lowering the seat 6” inches so I guess that is 6” inches lower than it’s original height? How did you get on with that? Best wishes from Stewart

[@audyitter9637]

TheSpewup: Thank you for your questions. The seat with the back is L.L.Bean. I elected to stop using it as I enjoy reducing equipment when practical. Yes, I lowered the seat 6 inches from the original height. This lowered the boat's center weight providing improved stability. It still provided me sufficient height to allow me to comfortably paddle. Note: I'm 5'10" tall. Your paddling comfort seat height may be different if you are not as tall. I'm very excited for you to receive your boat.

[@journeybrook9357]

Is that a life jacket/ best? Been seeing similar wear on other videos. I've been using skiers and want to up grade on for paddling. It not comfortable in the kind I've been using.

[@audyitter9637]

Thank you for the question. Life jackets are like a pair of boot. Some styles will service you well, others less so. I actually had to watch the video again to see which of the 5 styles of life jacket I was wearing. This one was a gift from the Gods. That is to say, I found it floating on the Ohio River several years back. It had signs of being in the river for more about a week. Thus, it likely floated a hundred or so miles. It fits me well as the strap system is very adjustable. It also covers a minimal area of the chest and back so it's not overly hot to wear.

[@timothyroche6445]

used boat how much did you have to pay for it for it , sir,I am looking for one to portage into small lakes

[@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. 😏😉

[@audyitter9637]

Josh, best wishes. The new material and designs are cool but seem very pricey to me.

[@Thejoshrandall]

@@audyitter9637 I agree, the smart money is on a used Royalex. There are plenty out there in great shape for great deals especially if you are looking for a 16 or 17. Takes some dedication and/or luck to find the shorties. I hope the t-formex takes off and pads the used market here in the next few years but I don't know, used market may never "recover" Regardless I ignored the market for too long and missed the Royalex window when it was wide open. I can't afford to wait any longer. I've got to get it done now before I get any older. Pack, Hunter, and 15' Camper or equivalents are on my radar, until then I will make due with my MR freedom 16 and my brick they call a guide 147. BTW thanks for the review, I'm going to edit my first post with a wittier one if you don't mind

[@audyitter9637]

Just saw this on craigslist in the Cincinnati area: cincinnati.craigslist.org/boa/d/covington-canoe-old-town-pack-solo-kayak/7370165946.html

[@raftguide72]

Camper is a 16’ boat. The pathfinder is closer to 15’

[@MericaBack2backWWChampions]

Weight limit is actually 550-600lbs from every source I can find. Cool video though!

[@audyitter9637]

That's excellent. Thanks sharing the information. I'm super glad you like the video.

[@MericaBack2backWWChampions]

@@audyitter9637 great video by the way! I'm curious, what amount of gear(weight) have you loaded and felt comfortable?

[@audyitter9637]

@@MericaBack2backWWChampions I've loaded 65 pounds. That's house, bedroll, kitchen, woodcutting tool and three day food supply.

[@ericl2969]

Old Town has been notorious for years when it comes to over-rating the load capacity of their boats. Following their advice, a suitable load would leave you with just 6 inches of freeboard. A canoe loaded to be that low in the water is very prone to swamping from even small waves (especially because its inertia will prevent it from quickly rising up and over a wave), and will have very poor stability due to a much "rounder" cross section being below the waterline. A typical 12-foot boat will be maxed out at around 300 pounds, and even that is way too much weight for efficient handling.

[@martinneps9387]

How much do these sell for please comment back thank you looking for a one man Canoe

[@audyitter9637]

Thanks for the question. I purchased mine, never having touched water for $1,000. It came with a canoe storage cover, a camp chair, an inflate life vest, and a paddle. Thus, I paid around $800 for the boat and $200 for the accessories. That said, I'm confident the price is significantly higher now due to inflation, more limited supply and many more people finding paddling during isolation.

[@martinneps9387]

@@audyitter9637 I am looking for that type of boat it's the perfect size

[@timothyroche6445]

want to sell it lol

[@audyitter9637]

Not quite yet. However, this spring I'll be selling three or four kayak. At that time I'll consider selling one or two canoe. I'll let you know then.

[@timothyroche6445]

@@audyitter9637 k

[@minut0987]

Tippiest piece of shit i ever bought!!!

[@minut0987]

By the way.....Dont buy one!

[@audyitter9637]

Minut0987, I'm so sorry you're experience is not as positive as mine has been. This is the fourth canoe I've owned since the year 2000. Upon purchase, I noticed the seat was factory set even with the rails. I knew that to stabilize the boat I'd need to lower the seat at least 4 inches. In the end I lowered it 7 inches. This dramatically changes the float characteristics of the boat. Toss in 50 pounds of camping gear and it becomes even more stable. I hope you still have yours and can modify it to fit.

[@MrBluoct]

Says Dr. Doom

[@CanoeingTheEdgeOfTheWorld]

Nice review. The older Royalex boats were really nice. Let's hope the new T-formex material proves to be as durable.

[@audyitter9637]

Thank you for the kind review comment. Yes. I will monitor the market reviews of the new T-formex canoes over the next decade. The weight is within 10% (and usually less) compared to the older Royalex material. I am very fortunate to own two Royalex canoe - this video featured solo canoe and a 30 year old Mad River Freedom tandem canoe. Amazingly durable boats.

[@jacklowe3788]

Thanks for the video - Always wanted a pack but few years back I acquired Discovery 119 but have never really tried it out @6' 240lbs. I might be little too Large for this boat but git good deal on it so got it anyway - as I have the bad habit of buying canoes more than I should on a whim - have rack full if several models that make my wife mad, lol

[@audyitter9637]

Jack Lowe, Thank you for watching the video. I too have a few too many boats. However, I've identified two I plan to sell in the near future. That'll leave me with JUST 2 kayak and 2 canoe. LoL.

[@bumpstaggers4177]

This is just what I need. 45 and my back is getting tired of 16'+ canoes. Great video sir.

[@audyitter9637]

Thank you Bump Staggers for the kind comment. Yes, I too am planning for the future physical limitations of lifting a 72 pound 16 foot long royalex canoe and this new Old Town Pack boat is great. That said, as I near 60 years of age, I still sling a beautiful Mad River Freedom to the waters edge a couple time a year

[@southfloridaarcheryguy114]

The older I get, the more I appreciate lightweight boats.

[@audyitter9637]

@@southfloridaarcheryguy114 I feel the years also. With age and experience come wisdom. Lighter and more compact is definitely the way to go. Recently I've changed my diet to more plant based and less beef. I shed a few pounds and feel better when I'm moving. The result is I can travel further and a bit quicker.

[@markdrury]

Great video and review - thanks for sharing! Do you think this boat may work for a 7-10 day trip, assuming you packed light/small and were able to filter your drinking water?

[@audyitter9637]

I have all the confidence in this boat and my level of experience, therefore, yes this boat would service me well for a multi-week long experience.

[@jonnyboat2]

Get yourself some dense foam knee blocks/pads to kneel on. Center yourself in the canoe with the pads right against the sidewalls, use your kayak paddle and you can make that thing fly with the torque you’ll get. I have a kayak and an adjustable double ended canoe paddle that varies in length and can be rotated for different paddle orientation as well as taken apart and used as two separate paddles.

[@audyitter9637]

Jonnyboat2 Thank you for watching the video and an excellent recommendation for body position and kayak paddle use. I'm finding a kayak paddle dumps/drags a good bit of water into the canoe. I'm making a longer paddle using cedar lumber to correct this. I'll post a video when the paddle is finished.

[@RustyKnorr]

I find the kayak paddle also drips a lot of water in the boat, a much longer paddle is necessary, I think in the 260 to 280 range. Also, I suggest learning a proper J stroke. You are doing a pry off the gunnel and that is much slower and less efficient.

[@audyitter9637]

@@RustyKnorr Thank you for watching the video. Yes, I'm currently making a longer kayak paddle. It's becoming an adventure in itself. You are absolutely correct, I was doing a pry stroke as I was not confident with this new boat.

[@audyitter9637]

Excellent recommendations. I'm currently making a longer kayak paddle and look forward to posting a video of it upon completion.

[@thomasrobertson68]

I know you put your see on the floor of the canoe to help with stabilisation did you find it the web seat was in a awkward spot I have the old town discovery

[@audyitter9637]

Thank you for watching the video Thomas. I did not find the seat on the floor was awkward. It provided a benefit of being more centered (bow to stern). It also afforded me a foot brace when I had my pack stowed at the bow. All that said, I modified the canoe a few weeks later, lowering the web seat about 7 inches and not using the camp chair.

[@Ivanskrakow]

Wonder if is big enough for a 35ib dog?

[@audyitter9637]

Ivan, Thank you for viewing the video. I would not hesitate to take a 35 pound dog that is canoe trained with me in this canoe along with multi-day camping gear (provided the gear is reasonable in size). This canoe comfortably allows a paddler to pack gear in the bow and stern. I've paddled with two packs large packs. The canoe actually becomes more stable with more weight. Enjoy your next adventures.

[@ambushit6484]

I actually sold my kayak and got the pack for my 100 lbs German Shepherd. I can fit the two of us plus all my camping equipment. Great boat.