How many people in a 16', 16.5', and 17' canoe?

Question

I'm trying to plan a camping trip that involves lots of canoeing. I know there are 3 seats in a 17' canoe, but can you fit 4 or 5 people in such a canoe? What about a 16.5' canoe?

Answer 1

16' = 1 to 2 people, 16'5" = 1 to 2 people.   A 17' canoe should not have more than 3 adults in it.  In fact, if you add in a cooler, food, and miscellaneous picnic items, I'd say no more than 2 adults and one child.  

Canoes, like all boats, are designed to float and be stable when the water is at a certain level up the side of the boat; this is called "freeboard".  Overload the boat, and the gunwales are too close to the water.  You typically want at least 6" of freeboard.  Any less, and you will all be swimming in no time, and your 6 hour trip will seem like an eternity.  

There is a reason that 16' to 17' canoes only have 2 seats (95% of them DON'T have 3 seats).  Rent 2 canoes for your trip, and you'll be much happier.  

IF for some reason you need 4-5 bodies in one canoe, then you need to go to a bigger canoe.  

You could have 3 paddlers and 1 passenger in this 20' canoe (with minimal extra gear):

http://www.wenonah.com/products/template...

If the reason for putting everyone in one boat is that it's your family, and your children are young; please think about the fact that if they aren't paddling, they will be extremely bored and they'll let you know about it.  Incessantly.  

If they are 12 years old or older, they would be capable of paddling in the bow of the boat.  If some of them are a little older, you could rent a canoe for you and the youngest ones, and 1 to 2 kayaks for the older kids.

Answer 2

I would say yes as long as you are not taking any gear with you.  Also it will be a lot harder to steer the canoe with this weight.  I would go with 3 to be safe and you can always come back and get the other two.

Answer 3

The capacity of the canoe will depend on its actual volume. As a practical matter, 2 paddlers and a passenger may be safe in placid water.  Again the size of the canoers will determine the load. A three seat canoe may be tippy! The center boater should be sitting as low as possible to stabilize the canoe. A wide 16 ft. canoe can carry more than a narrow 17ft canoe. You may try larger canoers...

Answer 4

Trial and error!

On a serious note, at university we had 10 of us in a 16' canoe - we ended up wet.

It is all about weight, not about how many people or gear.  If you have loads of heavy gear, it might only take one adult.

If your adults all weight 200kg, your not gonna get many in the canoe before getting wet, but if you all weight 55kg then 5 of you would be fine.

Have a look online at the canoe you have, or are highering and look up its maximum capacity weight.

Or just ask the question on here and get others to answer it for you!

Also, any serious canoe'r will tell you not to actually sit on the seats, but to neel on the floor and rest against the seats.  This lowers the centre of gravity making it more stable.

GOOD LUCK