The Pros and Cons of Aluminum Canoes

Aluminum canoes are the result of airplane manufacturing technology. After World War II, the demand for airplanes dropped, so the Grumman company converted its plant to aluminum canoe manufacturing, figuring that aerodynamic design would make a good canoe. Turns out they were right and aluminum canoes became very popular. They were inexpensive, nearly indestructible and lighter than a lot of the wood canoes that were available then.

Aluminum canoes are still very popular, even though there are much lighter materials available and they have some distinct advantages. They are still a great canoe for summer camps or for keeping at the lake home for the kids to paddle around in.

There are three situations in which you don't want an aluminum canoe: white water, wildlife watching and portages.

Aluminum canoes are difficult to use and may be downright dangerous in white water. They tend to stick to the rocks and you probably want to avoid the rocks in white water. They're heavy and hard to maneuver, too. Aluminum canoes are great on flat water, but not when it's rough and you have to get around twists and turns

It's fun to paddle a canoe into a marsh and sit quietly watching the wildlife. They pretty well pretend you're not there as long as you???re quiet. Which you are not, if you are in an aluminum canoe they're noisy in all environments. Just the water hitting them makes noise

Finally, you definitely do not want to carry an aluminum canoe over a portage. They are heavy! You want a nice light canoe if you have to carry it anywhere. That includes unloading it from your car. Aluminum canoes are best used where you take them to the lake and leave them there permanently.